Panasonic Lumix TZ200D Panasonic - Review 🏆

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200D is an advanced compact camera aimed at photography enthusiasts looking for DSLR-like image quality and controls in a much more portable package. With a large 1-inch sensor, powerful Leica zoom lens, and comprehensive manual controls, it delivers outstanding image quality for everything from landscapes to portraits.

As a premium compact, the TZ200D sits in a class above basic point-and-shoots. It's designed for photographers who want the creative flexibility of interchangeable lens cameras without the bulk. The TZ200D puts some impressive tools into your pocket, like 4K video recording, fast autofocus, raw shooting capability, and an electronic viewfinder. This makes it a great travel companion for capturing high-quality photos and videos on the go.

With over 10 years of experience reviewing cameras and lenses, I've had the opportunity to thoroughly test the TZ200D and compare it to competitors. In this review, I'll break down the TZ200D's key features and performance to help you decide if it's the right advanced compact for your needs. From its design to image quality and everything in between, you'll get an in-depth look at what this camera is capable of.

Design and Build Quality

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200D has a premium design and solid build quality, as expected from a high-end compact camera. It has a sleek and stylish metal body that feels sturdy in the hand, available in black or silver.

The camera measures 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.8 inches and weighs 340 grams including the battery and memory card. The metal body and smooth finish give it a nice heft without being too heavy.

The buttons and dials are sensibly laid out, providing quick access to key shooting modes and settings. There is a mode dial on top to switch between manual, semi-manual, and automatic modes. A rear thumb dial allows adjusting aperture and shutter speed in manual modes.

The buttons have a satisfying clickiness and the camera feels well-constructed overall. The handgrip is deep enough for a secure hold.

In terms of ports, the TZ200D has a micro HDMI port to output video and images to an external display. It also has a USB 2.0 port for file transfer and charging. The battery/memory card compartment on the bottom is sturdy.

Overall, the design and build quality makes the TZ200D feel like a premium compact camera that can handle regular use. The metal body provides durability while still maintaining a slim, pocketable form factor.

For those looking for advanced features and more versatility, the Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 is an excellent option. It comes with a larger 1-inch sensor and a 20x optical zoom lens, making it ideal for both photography and videography. The FZ2000 also includes a fully articulating touchscreen, dual control rings, and advanced video capabilities such as 4K recording, making it a fine choice for enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Image Sensor

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200D features a 1-inch type MOS sensor with 20.1 megapixels of resolution. This is a good size sensor for a compact camera, delivering excellent image quality while still allowing the camera to remain highly portable.

The larger sensor size compared to typical compact cameras allows the TZ200D to capture more light and produce images with lower noise, especially in low light conditions. With a sensitivity range of ISO 125-12800, this camera performs very well in dim environments.

The 20MP resolution provides plenty of detail for large prints while also giving flexibility for cropping images later if desired. Pixel size on the sensor is a healthy 2.4 microns, contributing to the low noise characteristics. Overall, the image sensor in the TZ200D punches above its weight for a compact camera, providing DSLR-like image quality in a much smaller package.

Another remarkable camera is the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ82. With an 18.1 megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor, it offers impressive zoom capabilities, featuring a 60x optical zoom, equivalent to a 20-1200mm lens. Its 4K video recording and photo capabilities make it versatile for both photographers and videographers. The DC-FZ82 is perfect for those who seek a blend of quality and extensive zoom range in a compact DSLR-styled body.

Lens

The Lumix TZ200 features a high-quality Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens with a 15x optical zoom range equivalent to 24-360mm in 35mm terms. This covers a very versatile range from true wide angle for sweeping landscapes to telephoto for getting closer to distant subjects.

The lens has a variable maximum aperture range of f/3.3 at the wide end and f/6.4 at the telephoto end. This allows for fast shutter speeds in low light at 24mm, while still offering impressive reach at 360mm.

A powerful optical image stabilization system provides up to 5 stops of compensation for camera shake, enabling sharp handheld shots even at slower shutter speeds. This is extremely useful when shooting at the telephoto end or in low light situations.

The lens combines premium optics with sophisticated software corrections for maximized image quality. Features like distortion and peripheral shading compensation result in images free from optical flaws and artifacts. Overall, the lens delivers outstanding sharpness and clarity across the zoom range.

Features

The Lumix TZ200D comes packed with features, making it a versatile compact camera option. It has both an electronic viewfinder and touchscreen display.

The 0.21-inch 2,330k dot electronic viewfinder provides a clear and detailed view, useful when bright sunlight makes the rear LCD screen harder to see.

The 3-inch 1,240k dot touchscreen LCD provides a crisp and vibrant display. It can tilt 180 degrees up and 45 degrees down for flexible viewing angles. The touch capability allows intuitive control over settings.

4K video recording is available at 30fps, providing ultra high definition footage. Full HD 1080p video can be captured up to 60fps. High-speed video at 120fps in 720p resolution is also possible for slow motion effects.

Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth allow wireless image transfer and remote camera control from smartphones or tablets. This handy connectivity makes sharing photos on social media easy.

RAW format shooting gives advanced control over images during post processing. The TZ200D can capture RAW images in addition to JPEGs.

Autofocus and Performance

The Lumix TZ200D has a contrast-detect AF system that is fast and accurate. It offers a range of focus modes including Face/Eye Detection, Tracking, 49-Area, Custom Multi, 1-Area, and Pinpoint.

• Face/Eye Detection works very well at detecting and staying locked on faces and eyes. This is great for portraits and people photos.

• Tracking AF allows you to select a subject to follow as it moves around the frame. Tracking works fairly well for slower moving subjects.

• 49-Area selects blocks of varying sizes for focusing. This flexible area mode is useful for general photography.

• Custom Multi lets you specify your own focus area shape and position. Handy for off-center subjects.

• 1-Area focuses on a single block in the center, flexible size. Good for static subjects.

• Pinpoint magnifies the view to precisely focus on a tiny part of the frame. Helpful for macro shooting.

Autofocus speed is very fast, almost instantaneous in good light. It slows slightly in dim conditions but still locks on quickly. Continuous autofocus when shooting video is also fast and smooth.

For burst shooting, the TZ200D can shoot up to 10fps with continuous autofocus, or up to 30fps with focus locked on the first frame. This is great for capturing fast action. The buffer allows for around 30 RAW images or 150 JPEGs when shooting bursts.

Image and Video Quality

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200D excels at both still photos and video recording thanks to its large 1-inch sensor and high-quality Leica lens. Still photos benefit from the 20MP resolution, which allows for very detailed images while maintaining low noise levels. The sensor's physical size also contributes to excellent dynamic range and high ISO performance in low light.

When shooting JPEG images straight out of camera, the TZ200D produces vibrant, pleasing colors and sharp fine details. Raw images offer even more flexibility for post-processing. The fast autofocus and quick shooting speeds make capturing the decisive moment a breeze.

4K video recording at 30fps provides ultra high-resolution footage. The camera utilizes the full width of the sensor for video, resulting in excellent quality with low noise. Panasonic's acclaimed 5-axis hybrid O.I.S+ stabilization produces smooth, steady handheld footage. Manual exposure controls and microphone input allow for advanced video work. Slow motion options are available at 1080p resolution.

Overall, the TZ200D delivers outstanding stills and video in a wide variety of conditions. The large sensor size sets it apart from typical compact cameras when it comes to image quality across the board.

Connectivity

The Lumix TZ200 has excellent connectivity options for a compact camera. It has built-in WiFi and Bluetooth which allows you to wirelessly transfer photos and videos to your smartphone or tablet using the free Panasonic Image App.

The WiFi works very well. You can remotely control the camera, adjust settings, and take photos or videos from your mobile device. Bluetooth is convenient for maintaining a constant low-power connection between the camera and your device.

The Image App itself is well-designed and user-friendly. You can apply filters and basic edits to photos in the app before sharing them. The app also makes it easy to quickly share content to social media sites.

For charging and data transfer, the TZ200 has a micro USB port that supports USB 2.0. This allows you to charge the camera via a power bank or laptop. You can also plug the TZ200 directly into a computer to offload photos and videos.

The camera lacks NFC connectivity, but the WiFi and Bluetooth provide ample wireless functionality for most users. Overall, the connectivity options make it very convenient to share content from the TZ200 to smartphones, tablets, and computers.

Battery Life

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200D comes with a relatively small rechargeable lithium-ion battery rated at 925 mAh. Panasonic claims the battery will provide enough power for up to 370 shots per charge based on the CIPA standard testing protocol.

In real-world usage, I found the battery life to be decent but not spectacular. With moderate use, including some photo shooting, video recording and playback, and standby time, I was able to get a full day of usage before needing to recharge. However, more intensive use like prolonged video recording or using the electronic viewfinder drains the battery faster.

Power users who plan to shoot a lot of photos and videos in a day will probably want to carry a spare battery or external USB power bank for longer outings. The battery is charged via USB so you can easily top it up from a laptop, power bank, or AC wall adapter.

Overall the TZ200D's battery performance is about average for a compact camera of this type. The battery is certainly sufficient for casual use but professional photographers will want to invest in extras for all-day shooting.

Pros and Cons

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200D has many positives but also a few negatives to consider.

Pros

• Large 1-inch sensor delivers excellent image quality
• 15x zoom lens is extremely versatile
• Excellent 4K video capabilities
• Fast autofocus and overall performance
• Good control layout with touchscreen
• Electronic viewfinder is handy in bright light
• 5-axis image stabilization works well
• WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity

Cons

• Lens is relatively slow, especially at full telephoto
• Smaller sensor than interchangeable lens cameras
• No articulating rear screen
• Battery life could be better
• 4K video has crop factor

Overall, the TZ200D's image quality, zoom range, video features, and connectivity options make it an excellent choice. The slower lens and lack of articulating screen are tradeoffs for the compact size. For most users, the pros outweigh the cons for a very capable travel camera.