Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 Panasonic - Review 🏆

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 is a premium compact camera that aims to balance portability with excellent image quality and versatility. This model features a 1-inch 20MP sensor paired with a 15x zoom Leica lens, covering an impressive range equivalent to 24-360mm.

Key features of the TZ200 include:

• Large 1-inch sensor delivers excellent image quality, especially in low light
• 15x zoom lens offers great versatility from wide angle to telephoto
• 4K video and 4K photo modes allow capturing of 8MP stills from 4K video
• Fast autofocus with 49-area contrast detection
• OLED electronic viewfinder provides clear eye-level framing
• Touchscreen LCD monitor flips up for selfies and vlogging
• Built-in Bluetooth and WiFi for wireless image transfer and remote control
• Travel-friendly body with numerous direct controls and customization options

With its long zoom range, array of features, and excellent image quality from the 1-inch sensor, the TZ200 aims to be a versatile all-in-one camera for travel and everyday use. Its balance of portability and performance make it appealing for enthusiasts looking for great quality from a compact body.

Design

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 has a sleek, stylish design that makes it easy to carry around. Its dimensions are 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.8 inches and it weighs just 340 grams, so it can fit into a pocket or small bag. Despite its compact size, the TZ200 doesn't feel flimsy or cheap - the metal body provides a premium feel.

The camera comes in a classic black color option that looks professional and sophisticated. The matte finish helps avoid fingerprints and smudges. There is a textured grip on the front right of the camera that makes it easy to hold securely with one hand. Overall, the TZ200 is a compact yet sturdy camera with an attractive design.

Image Quality

The Lumix DC-TZ200 features a 1-inch 20.1MP MOS sensor paired with the Venus Engine processor. This combination enables the camera to capture high-resolution images with excellent detail and vivid colors.

The larger sensor size compared to typical compact cameras provides superior light gathering capabilities. This allows for cleaner images with lower noise levels, especially when shooting at higher ISO settings. The ISO range is 125-12800, expandable to 80-25600. This gives you the flexibility to shoot in low light conditions with minimal noise and grain.

The Venus Engine provides high-speed signal processing to produce images with natural color reproduction. It effectively suppresses noise while preserving resolution. The engine also helps enable fast autofocus and continuous shooting capabilities.

Overall, the image quality from the TZ200's 1-inch sensor and processing engine matches what you would expect from a higher-end compact camera. It's a noticeable step up from typical small-sensor point-and-shoot models. The larger sensor size in particular makes a big difference for dynamic range and low light performance.

Video Capabilities

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 is capable of recording high-quality 4K video up to 30fps. It can also shoot Full HD 1080p video at up to 60fps. The 4K video is recorded at 100Mbps for excellent detail and smooth motion. One of the benefits of 4K recording is that you can crop or stabilize footage in post and still retain a Full HD 1080p video. The TZ200 also has some nice video features like 4K Live Cropping which lets you set the framing in camera and punch in up to 2x while recording. There is also a Post Focus mode that lets you select the focus point after recording. Overall, the TZ200 delivers versatile, high-quality video recording capabilities in a compact camera.

Autofocus and Speed

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 has a lightning-fast autofocus system that makes capturing sharp images a breeze. It utilizes Depth From Defocus technology to achieve focus speeds as fast as 0.1 seconds. This allows you to lock focus onto subjects quickly before they move.

For flexibility, the TZ200 offers a variety of focus modes including Face/Eye Detection, Tracking, 49-Area, Custom Multi, 1-Area, and Pinpoint. Face/Eye Detection works great for portraits, automatically focusing on and tracking people's faces and eyes. The 49-Area mode is useful for static scenes, automatically picking multiple focus points to ensure sharpness across the frame.

The TZ200 has 49 focus points spread widely across the frame. This gives you lots of compositional freedom and allows focus to be acquired from edge to edge. Focus points can be selected manually for precise control.

The TZ200 can shoot bursts at up to 10 frames per second with continuous autofocus, or up to 50 fps with focus locked on the first frame. This is perfect for capturing fast action sequences in crisp focus. The buffer allows around 33 RAW images or hundreds of JPEGs to be captured in a single burst before slowing down. So you can keep shooting those action sequences.

Overall, the TZ200's blazing fast and highly configurable autofocus system makes it a joy to use for everything from portraits to sports.

Display

The Lumix DC-TZ200 has a 3-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1240K dots. The screen uses TFT LCD technology and has a wide viewing angle, making it easy to see from various positions.

Despite its compact size, the display is crisp and clear thanks to the high resolution. Images and videos appear sharp on the screen with good color reproduction and contrast. The touch capabilities allow you to easily navigate menus, set focus points, and adjust settings through touch gestures like pinching to zoom.

The display can tilt up 180 degrees and down by 45 degrees giving you flexibility when shooting from high or low angles. Overall, the display provides an excellent on-camera preview and playback experience. The size, resolution, and touch functions make it intuitive and enjoyable to use.

Connectivity

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 offers excellent connectivity options for transferring photos and videos as well as remote control. It has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in for wireless connections to smartphones and tablets using the Panasonic Image App. This allows you to wirelessly transfer images, remotely control the camera, and add location data to images.

For wired connections, the TZ200 has both a micro HDMI port as well as a USB 2.0 micro B port. The micro HDMI allows you to connect the camera directly to an HDTV to playback photos and videos. The USB port can be used to plug the camera into a computer to offload images and videos. It can also be used with a separate USB charger to charge the battery. The camera is compliant with USB charging standard, so most standard USB chargers should be compatible.

Overall, the connectivity options on the TZ200 allow seamless sharing and transferring of photos and videos as well as remote control capabilities. The implementation of both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi provides versatile wireless connections, while the micro HDMI and USB ports handle wired connections and charging needs.

Battery Life

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The battery life is fairly good for a compact camera of this type.

On a full charge, the TZ200 is rated for up to 370 shots per charge when using the rear LCD screen, or 250 shots when using the electronic viewfinder. This is decent battery performance that should get most users through a full day of shooting before needing to recharge.

The battery can be charged in-camera via USB, which is very convenient. This allows you to top up the battery on the go if needed. Overall the battery life is solid if unspectacular. It's on par with other cameras in this class. Most users will be satisfied with the shots per charge, but you may want to pack an extra battery for extended outings or trips.

Pros

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 has several notable pros based on reviews and its specifications:

• Impressive zoom range - The 15x zoom lens provides a very versatile 24-360mm equivalent focal range, allowing you to capture wide landscapes and get close to distant subjects. The optical image stabilization helps reduce blur from camera shake.

• Large 1-inch sensor - The relatively large sensor delivers excellent image quality for its class. It performs well in low light and provides good dynamic range. The larger pixels also contribute to better quality.

• 4K video and 4K photo modes - You can shoot Ultra HD 4K video up to 30fps and leverage features like 4K Post Focus mode to select focus points after shooting. There is also 4K burst shooting at 30fps.

• Fast autofocus - The autofocus system is quick and accurate, even in low light conditions. It utilizes depth from defocus technology for faster focusing. The autofocus also works well for video recording.

Cons

• The zoom range is relatively limited compared to other travel zoom cameras. The 15x zoom (24-360mm) may not be enough reach for some users who want to get closer to distant subjects.

• The small 1-inch sensor struggles somewhat in low light conditions, with more image noise compared to larger sensor cameras. This can make low light photos appear grainy.

• The camera lacks a built-in flash. You need to use the separate flash unit that comes with the camera. This makes the camera less convenient for casual indoor shots.

• The touchscreen does not flip out or rotate, limiting creative shots at high or low angles. A vari-angle screen would make the camera more versatile.

• The camera is expensive given its sensor size and zoom range. You can find cheaper 1-inch sensor cameras with longer zooms.