Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

Bottom Line

It costs more than other ultra-zoom cameras, but reviews say the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 is worth it. The extra cash buys you an extraordinary 24x Leica lens, which delivers the best photos and videos in its class. It's quick, easy to use and loaded with features. Whether you're a beginner, a seasoned photographer or an avid video shooter, experts and owners say you'll be happy with this camera.

Ease of Use

Full manual controls and the best auto mode around. Although it's not small -- nearly as big as a compact digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera -- the Panasonic FZ200 feels nicely proportioned and comfortable to hold, reviews say.

To frame your shot, you can use either the tilt-and-swivel LCD screen or the electronic viewfinder. Both work well, although testers say it feels like Panasonic cut some costs here. The viewfinder is sharp but small, and "it also shows sensor wobble," says Richard Sibley at Amateur Photographer, adding that "Straight edges become slanted when panning the camera from side to side." Jeff Keller at DPReview.com notices a distracting colored "rainbow effect" at times. Unlike other cameras at this price, the FZ200 lacks an eye sensor to automatically switch between the LCD and viewfinder. You have to press a button to switch it yourself, which several critics find clunky.

Critics like the control layout, though. "It's clearly suited to the advanced photographer," says Paul Nuttall at WhatDigitalCamera.com, noting its full manual controls. Keller agrees: "There are plenty of buttons, dials, and switches on the camera, and most of them are well-placed."

Still, beginners will feel at ease with Panasonic's "Intelligent Auto" mode, which Keller calls "the best point-and-shoot mode on the market ... [it] does it all for you, including scene selection, face detection, blur reduction, shadow brightening, and smart sharpening."

Performance

Class-leading photos, videos and speed. At its heart, the Panasonic FZ200 is still a small-sensor camera, but its outstanding lens lifts it above cheaper point-and-shoots in tests.

"Excellent picture and video quality for its class," CNET's Joshua Goldman says, and other critics agree. Grainy image noise is the biggest issue, but even that doesn't really cause problems until ISO 800 in test after test. Above that, the FZ200's strong-armed JPEG noise reduction leaves "blurred and smudged areas, with odd oversharpened-looking pixels," says Sibley at Amateur Photographer, adding that you won't notice it on small prints. Besides, thanks to the bright lens, you don't need high ISOs that often, Goldman says, and you can always shoot RAW (and do your own noise reduction later on your computer) to harvest more detail from the 12-megapixel sensor.

Speed is a plus. "Snappy performance, especially startup, focusing, and shot-to-shot speeds," says Keller at DPReview.com. The FZ200 can rattle off 12 full-resolution frames per second (fps) at a single autofocus -- or 5.5 fps if you want continuous autofocus -- which Keller calls "super fast."

Videos "are equally as good as its photos," Goldman says. Sibley agrees that it's "a great camera for shooting video." Hit the one-touch record button, and you'll be filming full 1080p HD video with continuous autofocus, stereo sound and the same excellent image stabilizer that keeps long-zoom photos rock-steady. You can zoom while you're filming (although your audio will pick up the sound), and manually control the aperture, shutter speed and ISO.

Battery life is rated at 540 shots per charge, which Keller calls "above average." But Sibley says, "I found that I was able to take almost 300 raw and JPEG images, with heavy use of the screen and menus. This is a more realistic figure in a real shooting situation."

Durability

Plastic body feels solid, but not that solid. The Panasonic FZ200's plastic body feels generally sturdy, testers say -- but exactly how sturdy is up for debate.

Some are completely satisfied. "The all-plastic Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 certainly feels like it could withstand the odd knock," says Mark Goldstein at PhotographyBlog.com. Nuttall at WhatDigitalCamera.com praises its "excellent build quality," and Sibley at Amateur Photographer says, "The polycarbonate body is well built and feels solid, with no creaks, unwanted movements or parts that feel flimsy."

Still, others aren't sold. "The plastic body makes it feel like a lesser camera than you'd expect for $600," CNET's Goldman says. Keller at DPReview.com makes the same point: "In some places, it doesn't feel as solid as one would expect on a $600 camera." However, no owners at Amazon.com lodge any complaints about the FZ200's durability.

Features

"A lens that no other camera can match." Panasonic's flagship ultra-zoom comes "loaded with features," says Keller at DPReview.com. "It has all the bells and whistles that you'd expect."

Most importantly, Keller says, you get a "lens that no other camera can match." It's the only 24x ultra-zoom that maintains an f/2.8 maximum aperture through its entire enormous zoom range.  This Leica lens lets in more light than its rivals, so photos and videos are a cut above. A lens hood comes with the camera, and you can buy filters and conversion lenses too.

Other high-end features: The FZ200 can shoot RAW files, and it has a hot shoe (so you can add external flashes and other accessories). Jacks allow you to hook up a microphone and a wired remote.

There's no shortage of extras, either -- including some truly useful ones, experts say. Intelligent Resolution "nicely sharpens your photos," Keller says. Face Recognition "sees" your favorite faces (you can register up to six) and makes sure to focus and expose them properly. It's "very useful for group shots where you want your loved ones to be the centre of attention," says Goldstein at PhotographyBlog.com.

Other popular features are present and accounted for. Intelligent Zoom uses a better-quality digital zoom to double the zoom length; digital zoom always degrades image quality, but the results look fine at small sizes, Keller says. Panorama lets you sweep the camera across the scene to create an automatic panoramic shot. High Dynamic Range (HDR) shoots a few different exposures and then combines them into one more vivid shot. Handheld Night Shot uses a similar trick to help you get steady night shots without a tripod. You can choose from seven Photo Styles (vivid, monochrome, etc.) and 14 filters (Soft Focus, Miniature, etc.). The FZ200 can also shoot in 3D.

You won't find GPS or Wi-Fi, CNET's Goldman notes. Otherwise, critics declare the FZ100 fully loaded.