Panasonic Lumix TZ200 Panasonic - Review 🏆

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 is a high-end compact camera designed for enthusiasts and professionals looking for impressive performance in a pocketable form factor. Part of Panasonic's popular Travel Zoom (TZ) series, the TZ200 builds upon its predecessor with significant upgrades while retaining a sleek and lightweight body.

Key features of the Lumix TZ200 include a large 1-inch 20MP sensor, powerful Venus processing engine, versatile 15x optical zoom Leica lens, high-resolution 2.3 million dot electronic viewfinder, 4K video recording, and an extensive array of shooting modes and manual controls. With its blend of advanced imaging capabilities, portability, and manual controls in a point-and-shoot design, the TZ200 offers a compelling option for those seeking premium image quality without the bulk of a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

Design

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 has a sleek and stylish design that is very pocketable, making it easy to take with you anywhere. Despite its compact size, it still has a good grip and feels sturdy in the hand.

The body is constructed from metal and high-quality plastics that give it a premium feel. The dimensions are 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.8 inches and it weighs just 340 grams including the battery and memory card. So it's small and lightweight enough to carry around all day without any hassle.

The smooth black finish looks modern and stylish. There are almost no protrusions besides the small grip and the controls are nicely integrated into the design. Overall the TZ200 has a very clean high-end aesthetic that looks great.

While compact, the camera still feels solid with no creaking or flexing. The materials and construction seem durable enough for regular use. The smooth finish resists fingerprints well too. So the TZ200 checks all the boxes for a quality-built travel camera.

The Panasonic DC-TZ200DEGK is another excellent variant that offers additional features and enhancements for photography enthusiasts. It comes with an improved sensor and upgraded lens capabilities, ensuring sharp and vibrant images. For more information, visit the official page: Panasonic DC-TZ200DEGK.

Image Sensor

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200 features a large 1-inch 20.1MP MOS sensor, which is around 4x the size of the sensors found in most compact cameras. This allows the TZ200 to capture more light and produce higher quality images, especially in low light conditions.

The 20.1MP resolution provides plenty of detail for large prints while keeping image files manageable. Combined with the Venus processing engine, the sensor delivers excellent image quality with natural colors and sharp details. Low light performance is quite good for a compact camera, with the sensor and Venus engine minimizing noise levels when shooting up to ISO 3200. This gives the TZ200 flexibility to capture sharp handheld shots indoors and in dim environments.

Overall, the 1-inch sensor gives the TZ200 capabilities beyond typical compact cameras, putting it closer to entry-level interchangeable lens models. The larger sensor size directly translates to better low light performance and higher image quality.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II is another model in Panasonic’s lineup that delivers exceptional performance. Featuring a 1-inch 20.1MP sensor as well, it offers excellent image quality and versatility. The FZ1000 II is equipped with a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 16x optical zoom lens, providing a wide range of focal lengths ideal for various shooting situations. Its fast autofocus system and 4K video capabilities make it suitable for both photographers and videographers, enhancing the overall flexibility and performance of this advanced bridge camera.

Lens

The Lumix TZ200 is equipped with a high-quality Leica DC Vario-Elmar 15x optical zoom lens, which provides a 35mm equivalent focal length range of 24-360mm. This versatile zoom range lets you capture wide-angle landscapes and group shots, as well as get closer to distant subjects with the telephoto end.

The lens has a fast maximum aperture range of f/3.3 at the wide end and f/6.4 at the telephoto end. This allows for better light gathering and blurred backgrounds when shooting at wider apertures. The f/3.3 aperture at 24mm is great for low-light situations.

For impressive zoom power, the 15x optical zoom allows you to get very close to your subject without significant quality loss. This is ideal for travel and wildlife photography. The lens also features Power O.I.S stabilization which compensates for handshake to enable sharper handheld shots. This is especially useful at longer focal lengths where hand shake is more apparent. Overall, the Leica lens provides excellent optical performance in a versatile zoom range.

Autofocus

The Lumix TZ200 has a contrast detection autofocus system with 49 areas. It offers a good selection of focus modes including Face/Eye Detection, Tracking, 49-Area, Custom Multi, 1-Area, and Pinpoint.

Face and eye detection work very well, quickly identifying and locking onto human subjects. This is useful for portraits and group shots. Tracking mode also performs admirably, smoothly following moving subjects around the frame.

Autofocus speed is generally fast and responsive in good lighting conditions. The TZ200 can acquire focus and capture shots with minimal delay. However, autofocus does slow down somewhat in low light situations.

Overall, autofocus accuracy is excellent across the focus modes. The TZ200 reliably focuses on the intended subject with a high degree of sharpness. Missed focus is rare, even at the telephoto end of the zoom range. This makes the TZ200 well-suited for travel, wildlife, and sports photography where fast and precise autofocus is a must.

Video Recording

The Lumix TZ200 offers high quality video recording capabilities. It can shoot video at up to 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. For lower resolutions, it can record 1080p video at up to 60 fps. The main video format is MP4 using the H.264 codec. There is also an option to shoot in the AVCHD format.

For stabilization during video, the TZ200 relies on its 5-axis hybrid optical image stabilization system. This helps reduce shakiness when recording handheld videos while walking or moving. The stabilization provides smoother, steadier video footage overall.

The 4K video quality is quite good with decent sharpness and color reproduction. At the highest setting, 4K video exhibits nice details and depth. Lower resolution 1080p video also looks nice, making the TZ200 a versatile camera for shooting high-quality videos.

Connectivity

The Lumix TZ200 offers a good range of connectivity options for transferring photos and videos as well as controlling the camera remotely.

In terms of physical ports, the TZ200 has a micro HDMI port for connecting the camera directly to an HDTV. It also has a combined USB 2.0 Micro-B / Micro-HDMI port which supports charging the camera as well as data transfer. For wireless transfers, the TZ200 has built-in Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.2 LE. The Wi-Fi allows you to wirelessly transfer photos to smartphones, tablets or computers. It also enables remote shooting from your mobile device using the Panasonic Image App. The Bluetooth LE connection provides a low power way to connect the camera to your smartphone for quick image transfers or remote shooting without having to go through the Wi-Fi setup process each time.

Overall, the TZ200 provides a nice range of wired and wireless connectivity options for sharing your photos as well as controlling the camera remotely. The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth make it easy to maintain a connection to your smartphone for convenient transfers and remote shooting capabilities.

Display

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200 has a 3.0-inch touchscreen display with 1,240K dots resolution. The screen is a fixed type and occupies the entire back of the camera. With its high resolution, images and videos appear sharp and detailed on the display.

The touch capabilities allow you to use touch focus, touch shutter, and touch zoom. You can tap anywhere on the screen to instantly focus on that point. Touch shutter will snap a photo immediately after focusing. Pinching and spreading two fingers zooms in and out when viewing images or shooting. The intuitive touch controls make operation quick and convenient.

Overall, the display is bright, vibrant, and responsive. It provides a great viewfinder alternative when composing shots. The ample resolution and touch functions also make playback and menu navigation a smooth experience.

Battery Life

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200 is powered by a DMW-BLG10 lithium-ion battery. This battery provides approximately 370 shots per charge according to CIPA standards.

Some key things to note about the TZ200's battery life:

• The battery is rated for 370 shots using the rear LCD, or 250 shots using the electronic viewfinder. This is decent but not outstanding battery life for a compact camera.

• Battery life will be reduced if you use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or 4K video recording frequently. The more power-hungry features you use, the faster the battery will drain.

• The battery can be charged in-camera via USB, which is very convenient for travel. This allows you to top up the battery using a power bank or laptop without needing a separate charger.

• Power saving features like Eco mode can help extend the battery life by reducing LCD use and other battery-draining functions.

• Overall the battery life is fairly average for a compact camera with this size sensor and feature set. Carrying a spare battery is recommended for all-day shooting or travel.

Pros and Cons

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 is a powerful compact camera with a lot of great features, but also some limitations to be aware of.

Pros

• Large 1-inch 20MP sensor provides excellent image quality for a compact camera
• 15x zoom Leica lens maintains fast f/3.3-6.4 aperture throughout zoom range
• Sophisticated autofocus system with 49-area contrast detect AF
• 4K video recording at 30fps with good quality footage
• Touchscreen interface and high resolution 1.24m-dot viewfinder
• 5-axis hybrid optical image stabilization effective up to 3.5 stops
• Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth allow wireless image transfer and remote control

Cons

• The 15x zoom range is useful but can't match longer superzoom lenses
• Continuous shooting maxes out at 10fps, decent but not exceptional
• Max video resolution limited to 4K 30fps, no 4K 60fps option
• Battery life could be better at around 350 shots per charge
• No built-in flash (small external flash included)
• High price tag, especially for a compact camera

In summary, the TZ200's image quality, lens, video features and connectivity options make it a versatile compact for enthusiasts and travelers. But the price is steep, battery life is just okay, and the zoom range isn't extraordinary. It excels at what it does, but has some limitations compared to higher-end cameras.