Panasonic Lumix TZ200 Review

February 27, 2018 | Tim Coleman | Rating star Rating star Rating star Rating star Half rating star

Introduction

Panasonic updates its premium superzoom compact camera (aka travel-zoom), the Lumix DMC-TZ100, with the launch of the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 (also known as the Lumix ZS200). However, the TZ100 will not be phased out and the two cameras will be available simultaneously, with the newer TZ200 the slightly more expensive option.

The Lumix TZ200 is billed as the one camera you need for your travels. In fact, Panasonic puts the TZ100 and TZ200 in a class of their own, being the only superzoom compact cameras with a large 1-inch sensor. 

Alternatives include the Panasonic Lumix DC-LX15 and Sony Cyber-Shot RX100 series of cameras. These cameras share similarities with the TZ200, but feature wider apertures lenses with a more limited zoom range. 

We rather like the TZ100 which is an already solid camera. So just how much does the Panasonic TZ200 build on the TZ100? This review highlights any improvements, changes and new features of the TZ200.

We’ve had time shooting time with a pre-production version ahead of its launch in Mallorca and included plenty of sample pictures. Now we have used a full production version in the UK too. Let’s take a look to see how we got on.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200 retails at £729 and shipping is scheduled for 12th March 2018, available in black or silver. Those that pre-order the camera in the UK will get a free leather case with it. In the US the Panasonic DC-ZS200 costs $799 and will be available in stores on 20th March 2018.

Ease of Use

At a Glance

  • NEW 24 - 360 mm 15 x optical zoom lens with control ring
  • 5-axis hybrid OIS
  • 20.1MP 1in sensor
  • Burst shooting up to 10fps (single AF) and 6fps (continuous AF)
  • NEW 2.33-million-dot LVF with 0.53x magnification
  • 1.24-million-dot 3in LCD touchscreen
  • 4K video up to 30fps (with 1.5x focal length magnification)
  • Up to 120fps FHD video
  • 4K Photo mode at 30fps with NEW Auto Marking feature
  • USB battery charging
  • NEW Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
  • NEW L Monochrome mode
  • NEW 3cm macro
  • Low Light/ Starlight AF370-shot-battery life

As you might expect from a compact camera that costs more than £700, the Panasonic Lumix TZ200 is a solid bit of kit. It has a premium feel about it, with a hard-wearing aluminum frontage.

The design is sleek too. It’s similar to the TZ100, but put them side by side and the tweaks become evident. There is a good thumb grip plus a new textured strip on the front of the TZ200 body, which provides a little extra grip. It's a welcome addition because the smooth metal front of the TZ100 is quite slippery. 

Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
Front of the Panasonic Lumix TZ200

As a compact camera, the Lumix TZ200 will easily slip into a pocket. It’s essentially the same size as the TZ100, though slightly larger in all dimensions when compared to the Lumix LX10 and Sony's RX100s.

On the camera’s rear you won’t find a control wheel, but there are several buttons each controlling regularly used settings such as AF mode, drive mode, plus the 4K photo mode. The buttons are small and you could say fiddly, but the same is true of any camera this size that offers so much manual control.

A large control wheel on the top handles nicely, while the lens zoom lever is positioned around the shutter button.

Really, the big point of interest here is the new lens. It’s a 15x optical zoom lens made up of 13 elements in 11 groups, with a 24-360mm equivalent focal length range. That’s up from the 10x zoom range of the TZ100, which features a 25-250mm lens. No other compact camera with 1in sensor comes close to the Panasonic TZ200. 

Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
Top of the Panasonic Lumix TZ200

That wider zoom range does come at a cost - the maximum aperture is a little slower in the TZ200, being f/3.3-6.4 compared to f/2.8-5.9. The minimum aperture is f/8 at any focal length.

Truly, it’s quite the feat to cram in such a long reaching zoom lens into a compact camera with 1in imaging sensor. What's more, the macro focusing has also been improved, down from a minimum of 5cm to 3cm. Again, for a camera with 1in sensor, that’s impressive.

Of course the lens retracts into the body when not in use and the protrusion is not too bad. There is a control ring on the lens, through which changes to camera settings such as focus and aperture can be made. 

In order to shoot sharp images and smooth videos, a lot rides on the unchanged 5-axis hybrid Image Stabilisation (IS), especially when shooting at those extended telephoto settings. Offering a 360mm focal length is all very well, but keeping the camera steady to get sharp shots is paramount.

Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
Rear of the Panasonic Lumix TZ200

From our experience, the image stabilisation is pretty darn good. It is possible to get sharp handheld shots at 360mm with a shutter speed as slow as 1/60sec. Certainly we papped away and have found it quite easy to get sharp shots from a distance.

The same goes for video. As well as ensuring the sharpest possible shots from the lens, stabilisation helps in the composition of images and video. Without stabilisation, the view is very shaky and moves about. With stabilisation activated, the correction for hand-shake makes composition and viewing significantly easier. 

We’ll comment more about image quality at these telephoto lens settings later. 

Panasonic says autofocusing has been improved in the TZ200. It’s a similar system to the one used in the Lumix GX9, meaning you get the same AF modes to choose from. These include Face Detection, Tracking, 49-Area (where all the 49 contrast detection AF points are in play), Custom Multi (up to 13-AF points in play), 1-Area and Pinpoint.  

Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
Pop-up Flash

For general shooting in high contrast light, auto focus is fast and precise. In low contrast light things get a little slower, but on the whole we found the number of total AF misses respectably low. The wide coverage of AF points means off-centre AF is not only possible but easy. 

Manual focusing handles nicely via the control ring around the lens. Focus magnification up to 20x means you can be more confident that your manual focusing is accurate. 

Images can be viewed on the 3in 1.24-million-dot touchscreen. That’s a slightly higher resolution than before. Touch AF (especially Pinpoint and 1-Area) plus touch shutter work a treat. For us, Panasonic is one of the industry leaders for touchscreens - they are a pleasure to use and offer plenty of functionality, here including a menu with an additional four user-assigned FN controls. 

There is also the 2.33-million-dot LVF, which has a 0.53x magnification. That is respectable for such a small camera. Now we say ‘also' because in use the natural inclination is to use that lovely touchscreen, not the viewfinder. You see, although the viewfinder is quite the step up from the TZ100, it is still very hard to see the scene through it, especially when in bright light.

Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
Viewfinder

We are informed that the TZ200 is the only compact camera in Panasonic's range that features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connection. You can now remotely control and share images using a smart device via the Panasonic Image App through an always-on Bluetooth connection.

We find initial connection via Bluetooth a bit hit-and-miss. If you can get past step one and get connected, then the Panasonic Imaging App runs like a dream and offers some useful features. 

Battery life has been improved, up from the 300-shots of the TZ100, to 370-shots when using the LCD screen or 350-shots using the viewfinder. That’s class leading by a good margin.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200 can be charged via USB as well. While testing the camera we have connected it to a portable 20,000mAh Power Bank, which would provide multiple full-charges of the TZ200’s 1025mAh battery. We think USB charging is an undervalued feature in cameras with low capacity batteries. With a Power Bank in play, you could get weeks of use out of the camera without needing to plug it in at home. 

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 20 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 7Mb.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 features a 1in sensor with 20.1MP. That’s the same as the Lumix TZ100, Lumix LX15 and Sony Cyber-Shot RX100 series of cameras. In theory image quality should largely be the same. That would be no bad thing - these are the only cameras this small that have an imaging sensor so big. 

However, the big test is on that new lens. Of all 1-inch sensor cameras this small, the 15x optical zoom lens in the TZ200 offers the longest reach. Is it a bridge too far? Let’s take a look at each aspect of image quality.

Noise

Cameras like the Lumix TZ100, Lumix LX15 and Sony Cyber-Shot RX100 series lead the way when it comes to image quality in pocket compact cameras. The TZ200 joins this esteemed company. 

We’ve had a look through RAW and JPEG images at 100% to make our observations. These are 20.1MP files, with image dimensions of 5472x3648 pixels. Any observations noted here are less obvious when images are viewed smaller, which is often the case these days. 

There is a sensitivity range of ISO 125 to ISO 12,800. Any image taken with a setting up to ISO 800 demonstrates good control over noise and therefore sharp detail. Even in shadow areas noise is pretty well controlled. If the situation allows it, we’d avoid ISO 1600 and higher in order to obtain the best possible image quality. 

Get to ISO 1600 and detail in shadow areas starts to turn for the worse and further declines with each ISO setting up to the maximum ISO 12,800. It’s mostly luminance noise, though there are patches of chroma noise at ISO 12,800. In highlight areas, detail looks pretty clean even at ISO 1600, maybe ISO 3200 too. 

The other factor to the loss of shadow detail is how dynamic range is reduced with each ISO setting. Again, get to ISO 1600 and beyond and shadow detail is impacted more severely. Look in shadow areas at the higher ISO settings and you’ll see noise plus less detail in tones - in short you won’t see too much.

To put these observations into context and to reiterate our opening paragraph, the Panasonic Lumix TZ200 is one of the best compact cameras around at control of unwanted image noise. 

JPEG

RAW

ISO 80 (100% Crop)

ISO 80 (100% Crop)

iso80.jpg iso80raw.jpg
   

ISO 100 (100% Crop)

ISO 100 (100% Crop)

iso100.jpg iso100raw.jpg
   

ISO 125 (100% Crop)

ISO 125 (100% Crop)

iso125.jpg iso125raw.jpg
   
ISO 200 (100% Crop) ISO 200 (100% Crop)
iso200.jpg iso200raw.jpg
   
ISO 400 (100% Crop) ISO 400 (100% Crop)
iso400.jpg iso400raw.jpg
   

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

iso800.jpg iso800raw.jpg
   

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

iso1600.jpg iso1600raw.jpg
   

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

iso3200.jpg iso3200raw.jpg
   

ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

iso6400.jpg iso6400raw.jpg
   

ISO 12800 (100% Crop)

ISO 12800 (100% Crop)

iso12800.jpg iso12800raw.jpg
   

ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

iso25600.jpg iso25600raw.jpg

Focal Range

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200's 15x optical zoom lens has a focal range of 24-360mm. That’s most situations covered in one lens. 

When making 4K videos and using some of the shooting modes such as 4K Photo Mode and Post Focus Mode, the focal length is multipled by 1.5x - that’s 36-540mm range. 

In addition to the optical zoom is a 60x digital zoom, though image quality declines when zooming beyond the maximum 360mm optical zoom setting.

24mm

focal_range1.jpg
 

360mm

focal_range2.jpg

Chromatic Aberrations

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 handled chromatic aberrations well during the review, with just a little purple fringing present around the edges of objects in certain high-contrast situations, as shown in the examples below.

Chromatic Aberrations 1 (100% Crop)

Chromatic Aberrations 2 (100% Crop)

chromatic1.jpg chromatic2.jpg

Macro

The minimum focus distance is 3cm from the front of the lens, when the lens is set to its widest focal length of 24mm. The TZ100 has a minimum focus distance of 5cm, so there is an improvement here. 

You’ll see in our sample image that the flower fills the frame. Such a small minimum focus distance is really impressive for a camera with 1in sensor. 

On a side note, the minimum focus distance at the telephoto lens settings is impressively close too. You’ll be able to get images of subjects with lovely out of focus backgrounds when using the telephoto lens settings. 

Macro

macro.jpg

Sharpness

When the TZ200 is used in optimum conditions and in its prime settings, you can expect very sharp images indeed.

Centre sharpness in the TZ200 is excellent at f/4 and very good at f/5.6, especially at the wide and short telephoto lens settings. Overall detail is a little softer at the telephoto settings and this is because of more than one factor. 

There are the unavoidable hurdles to obtaining sharp detail at telephoto lens settings as long as 360mm, such as physical distance from your subject, so we’ll scratch that off. The bigger issue is that detail is softer at the more closed apertures, whatever the focal length. Take the same image at f/4 and f/8 (the latter is the minimum aperture) and detail at f/4 is significantly sharper (plus contrast is better too). 

When you are shooting anywhere from 284mm to 360mm, the aperture range is reduced to f/6.4 (maximum) and remains f/8 (minimum), meaning you don’t have the sharpest apertures available. At 250mm (the max reach of the TZ100), the maximum aperture is f/6.3. 

(We’ve already commented about the optical lens stabilisation, which does make the telephoto settings useable in conditions as dim as a grey cloudy day.) 

In summary, the reduced maximum aperture (compared to the TZ100) is a compromise for that longer reach of 360mm. You’ll know whether or not that extra reach will make all the difference to you, but for this reviewer the 10x optical zoom of the TZ100 is sufficient.

And what of sharpness in the corners of the frame? A complex lens like this has its work cut out to achieve sharp detail from the centre all the way to the edges. Sadly, corner softness is evident in the TZ200, though it is not anything out of the norm. We would expect to see this kind of softness in other similar cameras too. It’s just the corner detail of the TZ200 is sufficient rather than jaw dropping. 

So to summarise this section, we’d say the lens performs best at its wider half and with the aperture as close to f/4 as possible. 

Lens Distortions

We’re going to provide some good detail in our analysis of lens distortions, not least of which because the new lens is one of the biggest selling points of the TZ200. It is the aspect of the camera that is most likely to let overall image quality suffer. 

Our observations are based on RAW images using SILKYPIX (because the RAW files are not available in Adobe suites just yet), plus JPEGs.

First, vignetting. We’ve taken the same image of a neutral background at f/3.3, f/4, f/5.6 and f/8. The maximum f/3.3 aperture is available only at 24mm. There is minor vignetting at this camera setting, which is reduced at f/4 and then all but gone at f/5.6. Truth be told, vignetting will not really be noticeable in real world images at any aperture. 

Next up, barrel and pincushion distortion, as checked in images of a brick wall. We took images at 24mm, 50mm, 165mm and 360mm and at a variety of distances from the wall at each focal length. Barrel distortion should be most apparent at 24mm and at the closest physical distance from the wall in our test. We could not see any. 

Likewise, we might expect pincushion distortion at the more telephoto settings. While we could see a little at 360mm, it’s very minor. All in all, barrel and pincushion distortion are very well controlled at wide, mid and telephoto lens settings. 

Finally, chromatic aberrations. Of these three types of lens distortion, chromatic aberration is the most obvious. In high contrast detail like the edges of buildings and tree branches against a bright sky, it’s not too uncommon to observe minor magenta fringing in RAW format images. 

Still, look at the equivalent JPEG images and chromatic aberration is better controlled. Certainly, we have not been overly concerned about the negative impact on image quality and it’s easy to eliminate chromatic aberrations in those RAW files post capture. 

All in all, lens distortions are kept to a minimum at any focal length or aperture setting. Impressive. 

24mm

distortion1.jpg
 

360mm

distortion2.jpg

Flash

There is a built-in flash in the TZ200 which has the option of red eye removal, slow sync, 1st or 2nd curtain and exposure compensation up to ±2EV. 

Off

ISO 64
 

On

ISO 64
 

Red-eye

ISO 64
 

Slow-sync

ISO 64
 

Slow-sync Red-eye

ISO 64

Night

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200's maximum shutter speed is 30 seconds, which is great news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 60 seconds at ISO 1600. The camera takes the same amount of time again to apply noise reduction, so for example at the 15 second setting the actual exposure takes 30 seconds.

Night

night.jpg

Shooting Modes

Shooting modes wise, there is little lacking in the TZ200. In fact, you’d struggle to find a non-Lumix camera that offers more shooting modes to play around with. 

In addition to burst shooting up to 10fps (single AF) and 6fps (continuous AF), there is the Time-Lapse Shot, Stop Motion Animation, HDR (available in JPEG mode only) and Multi Exp. These modes are not just gimmicks. Panasonic has provided the sort of features and functionality for each mode that make them useful creative tools.

Take Multi Exp for example. You can shoot up to four exposures, always with the option to retake the most recent frame. These can be stored in RAW format and it is possible at any time to add or subtract images in the original file. 

We’ve mentioned about Post Focus in other Lumix reviews. It is an interesting shooting mode. The camera takes several pictures ranging the entire focus range of the scene and compiles these photos into a short video clip (much like the 4K Photo Mode). It is then possible to select any frame from this clip or even stack them together in order to maximise the areas in sharp focus (you’ll need a tripod for a focus stack).

The 30fps 4K Photo Mode is brilliant. There are three shooting options in 4K Photo Mode, with a ‘Pre-Burst' option that captures a video up to 1 second before the shutter is pressed. Pre-Burst proved valuable when capturing street scenes where our human reactions were not quite quick enough to the moment.

Once a 4K Photo capture has been made, the camera automatically presents what it thinks are the best shots from the sequence, based on motion or face detection. Any saved images are by default 3328 x 2496 pixels (around 8.3MP). 

Dynamic Range Optimizer

Off

TZ200-DRO-off-02.jpg
 

On

TZ200-DRO-on-01.jpg

Post Focus Stacking

Off

TZ200-post-focus-off.jpg
 

On

TZ200-post-focus-stack.jpg

Photo Styles

As for Photo Styles, Panasonic introduces another monochrome Photo Style, called L Monochrome. We’ve played around a bit with this mode and the overall look is great.

Standard

Vivid

TZ200-photo-style-standard.jpg TZ200-photo-style-vivid.jpg
   

Natural

Monochrome

TZ200-photo-style-natural.jpg TZ200-photo-style-monochrome.jpg
   

L.Monochrome

Scenery

TZ200-photo-style-L-Monochrome.jpg TZ200-photo-style-scenery.jpg
   

Portrait

 
TZ200-photo-style-portrait.jpg  

Filter Effects

In all, there are 22 Filter Effects, 24 Scene Modes, 8 Photo Styles (including the new L Monochrome) and panorama up to 180°. What more do we need?! Filter Effects are applied to JPEG images only, though you can still shoot in RAW format simultaneously for the original un-filtered image.

Expressive

Retro

TZ200-filter-effect-expressive.jpg TZ200-filter-effect-retro.jpg
   

Old Days

High Key

TZ200-filter-effect-old-days.jpg TZ200-filter-effect-high-key.jpg
   

Low Key

Sepia

TZ200-filter-effect-low-key.jpg TZ200-filter-effect-sepia.jpg
   

Monochrome

Dynamic Monochrome

TZ200-filter-effect-monochrome.jpg TZ200-filter-effect-dynamic-monochrome.jpg
   

Rough Monochrome

Silky Monochrome

TZ200-filter-effect-rough-monochrome.jpg TZ200-filter-effect-silky-monochrome.jpg
   

Impressive Art

High Dynamic

TZ200-filter-effect-impressive-art.jpg TZ200-filter-effect-high-dynamic.jpg
   

Cross Process

Toy Pop

TZ200-filter-effect-cross-process.jpg TZ200-filter-effect-toy-pop.jpg
   

Bleach Bypass

Miniature

TZ200-filter-effect-bleach-bypass.jpg TZ200-filter-effect-miniature-effect.jpg
   

Soft Focus

Fantasy

TZ200-filter-effect-soft-focus.jpg TZ200-filter-effect-fantasy.jpg
   

Star Filter

One Point Color

TZ200-filter-effect-star-filter.jpg TZ200-filter-effect-one-point-color.jpg
   

Sunshine

Toy Effect

TZ200-filter-effect-sunshine.jpg TZ200-filter-effect-toy-effect.jpg

Panorama

panorama_01.jpg
 
panorama_02.jpg
 
panorama_03.jpg

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Panasonic Lumix TZ200 camera, which were all taken using the 20 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample RAW Images

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Panasonic RAW (RW2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 25 second movie is 282Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 17 second movie is 197Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 50 frames per second. Please note that this 34 second movie is 111Mb in size.

Product Images

Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200

 

Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200

Conclusion

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200 is a featured-packed-powerhouse-pocket-camera. We’d struggle to list all the great things about the TZ200 here. 

Handling wise, things we love the most about the TZ200 include the touchscreen (which is one of the best around) and the best battery life in its class (plus on-the-go USB charging). 

In-camera RAW image editing and bluetooth connectivity for image sharing and remote control further extend the usefulness of the TZ200 on-the-go. Truly, the compact TZ200 is about as travel-friendly a camera as you could hope to find. 

Naturally, we did not gravitate to using the EVF or the built-in flash, but to have the option is great. A tilt-screen would create a comprehensive set of features around the body and it need not bulk out the camera any more than it is already. Maybe in the next instalment? 

In reality, we are not sure how much that extra reach of the lens is worth it. There is a slight pay-off for that extended maximum focal length of 360mm, in the shape of a reduced maximum aperture. Given how image quality drops at f/6.3 and beyond, it is not possible to get the most out of the extended telephoto settings. 

When used in its wide to mid-telephoto settings, image quality is excellent. This is backed up by a plethora of shooting modes, including the excellent 4K Photo Mode and a comprehensive video specification, where you can shoot slow motion up to 120fps plus 4K. 

All in all, if you want a camera that can slip into your pocket, then you’d struggle to find a more comprehensive option than the Panasonic Lumix TZ200. Highly Recommended! 

4.5 stars

Ratings (out of 5)
Design 4.5
Features 5
Ease-of-use 4
Image quality 4.5
Value for money 4.5

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Panasonic Lumix TZ200.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX15

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX15 is a powerful compact camera. The LX15 features a large 1-inch CMOS sensor, 4K video recording, fast 24-72mm f/1.4-2.8 lens, and a a tilting 3.0-inch LCD touchscreen, all in a camera that you can fit in a trouser pocket. Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX15 review with sample JPEG, RAW and video files to find out if Sony should be worried or not...

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100 is a new flagship travel-zoom compact camera for 2016. The TZ100 (also known as the Panasonic ZS100) offers a 20-megapixel 1-inch MOS sensor, 10x wide-angle zoom lens, 4K video recording, lens control ring, RAW file format, focus peaking, touchscreen control and an electronic viewfinder. Read our in-depth Panasonic TZ100 review now...

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV is the latest version of Sony's flagship pocket camera for enthusiasts, now offering 4K video recording, a new image sensor and an electronic shutter. Is this the ultimate compact camera? Read our Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV review to find out...

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V offers the World’s fastest auto-focusing speed, the World's most AF points, and the World's fastest continuous shooting speed, for a humble compact camera. Is this enough to justify the $1000 / £1000 price-tag? Find out by reading our expert Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V review, complete with sample photos, test shots, videos and more...

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Panasonic Lumix TZ200 from around the web.

ephotozine.com »

Panasonic has expanded its line-up of serious compact cameras with the addition of the flagship Lumix TZ200, the highly anticipated TZ100 upgrade. The Panasonic Lumix TZ200 is a fixed lens, serious compact camera with manual controls that's designed to fit easily in your pocket while still offering a large zoom which makes it perfect for travel. It's also joining the TZ100 in the TZ line-up rather than replacing it which could mean we see reductions in the TZ100's price but those looking for improved specs and performance will be able to pick up the TZ200 in March for around £729 (Graphite silver or Black models will be available).
Read the full review »

Specifications

Pixels Camera Effective Pixels 20.1 Megapixels
Sensor Sensor Size / Total Pixels / Filter 1-type High Sensitivity MOS Sensor / 20.9 Total Megapixels / Primary Color Filter
Lens Aperture F3.3 - 6.4 / Multistage Iris Diaphragm (F3.3 - 8.0 (W), F6.4 - 8.0 (T))
Intelligent Zoom 30x
Lens LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR
Optical Image Stabilizer 5-Axis HYBRID O.I.S. +*
Focus Focusing Area Normal: Wide 50 cm - infinity / Tele 100 cm - infinity/AF Macro / MF / Intelligent Auto / Motion Picture: Wide 3 cm - infinity / Tele 100 cm - infinity
AF Assist Lamp Yes (On / Off)
Post Focus Yes
Focus Stacking Yes
AF Metering Face/Eye Detection / Tracking / 49-area / Custom Multi / 1-area / Pinpoint/(Full area touch is available)
Shutter Shutter Speed [Still Image] Approx. 60 - 1/2,000 sec (Mechanical Shutter)/Approx. 1 - 1/16,000 sec (Electronic Shutter)/Time (Approx. 120 sec)
Shutter Speed [Motion Picture] Approx. 1/25 - 1/16,000 sec/Approx. 1/2 - 1/16,000 sec (Creative Video M Mode / MF Mode)
Recording Modes Mode Dial Intelligent Auto, P, A, S, M, Creative Video, C (Custom), Panorama Shot, Scene Guide, Creative Control
4K Photo Mode (*2) 4K Burst: 30 frames/sec, max. 15 min/4K Burst (S/S): 30 frames/sec, max. 15 min/4K Pre-Burst: 30 frames/sec, approx. 2 sec
Continuous Recordable Time (Motion Pictures) (*2) AVCHD 4K/30p, 4K/25p: Approx. 90 min/FHD/60p, FHD/50p: Approx. 100 min
MP4 FHD/50p: Approx. 100 min/FHD/50i: Approx. 100 min
Actual recordable Time (Motion Pictures) (*2) AVCHD 4K/30p, 4K/25p: Approx. 45 min/FHD/60p, FHD/50p: Approx. 50 min
MP4 FHD/50p: Approx. 50 min/FHD/50i: Approx. 50 min
Exposure Parameters Exposure Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual
Light Metering Intelligent Multiple / Center Weighted / Spot
ISO Sensitivity (Changeable to 1/3 EV step)
Picture Quality Still Picture Recording [4:3] 4864x3648 (17.5M) (L) / 3456x2592 (9M) (M) / 2432x1824 (4.5M) (S)/[3:2] 5472x3648 (20M) (L) / 3888x2592 (10M) (M) / 2736x1824 (5M) (S)/[16:9] 5472x3080 (17M) (L) / 3840x2160 (8M) (M) / 1920x1080 (2M) (S)/[1:1] 3648x3648 (13.5M) (L) / 2592x2592 (6.5M) (M) / 1824x1824 (3.5M) (S)
Image Quality RAW / RAW+Fine / RAW+Standard / Fine / Standard
White Balance (2-axis adjustable)
Picture Adjustment Contrast, Sharpness, Noise Reduction, Saturation*, Color Tone**, Filter Effect**/*Except for Monochrome mode. **For Monochrome mode only.
Bracket AE Bracket 3, 5, 7 images in 1/3, 2/3 or 1 EV step, Max. +/-3 EV
Other Digital Red Eye Correction (Red-Eye Removal) Yes (On / Off)
Wi-FI IEEE 802.11b/g/n/2412 MHz - 2462 MHz (1-11 ch)/WPA / WPA2/Infrastructure Mode / WPS
Self Timer 2 sec / 10 sec / 10 sec (3 images)
Display Rating / Rotate Image / Protect Yes / Yes / Yes
Playback Mode All, Picture Only, Video Only, Slideshow (All / Picture Only / Video Only, duration & effect is selectable), Calendar
Thumbnails / Zoomed Playback 12,30-thumbnails / Yes
Show Histogram/ Show Highlights Yes / Yes
Edit Retouch Clear Retouch
RAW Processing Yes
Direct Print PictBridge compatible
Title Edit / Text Stamp Yes / Yes
Video Divide Yes
Setup OSD language Japanese, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish
Monitor LCD Monitor Static Touch Control
Media Recording Media SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card/(Compatible with UHS-I UHS Speed Class 3 standard SDHC / SDXC Memory Cards)
Built- in- Memory -
Audio Microphone / Speaker Stereo / Mono
Interface Interface microHDMI typeD (*3), USB2.0 Micro-B
Power Power Li-ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 1025mAh, 7.4 Wh) (Included)/USB power charging
Standard Package Included Software ・ The software to process RAW file on computer is not bundled with this camera. To do this, SILKYPIX Developer Studio is available for download at Ichikawa Soft Laboratory's website using computer connected to the Internet./http://www.isl.co.jp/SILKYPIX/english/p/ (For Windows / Mac)
Standard Accessories Battery Pack, AC Adaptor, USB Cable, Hand Strap
NOTE - Temperature: 23 oC (73.4 oF) / Humidity: 50%RH when monitor is on.
NOTE - Using a Panasonic SDHC Memory Card
NOTE - Using the supplied battery.
NOTE - Starting recording 30 seconds after the camera is turned on. (When the optical image stabilizer function is set to [ON].)
NOTE - Recording once every 30 seconds with full flash every second recording.
NOTE - Rotating the zoom lever from Tele to Wide or vice versa in every recording.
NOTE - The number of recordable pictures varies depending on the recording interval time.
NOTE - If the recording interval time becomes longer, the number of recordable pictures decreases.
NOTE - CIPA is an abbreviation of [Camera & Imaging Products Association].
NOTE (SD speed class is the speed standard regarding continuous writing.)
NOTE - Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 29 minutes and 59 seconds with [AVCHD].
NOTE - Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 15 minutes with [MP4] in [4K].
NOTE - When using an SDXC memory card: You can record a motion picture in a single file.
NOTE - These are standard times taken at a temperature of 23 oC (73.4 oF) and a humidity of 50%RH.
NOTE - The time available for recording varies depending on the environment, the interval between recordings, and the manner of use.

News

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200 is a new travel zoom camera with a 1-inch image sensor and a 15x, 24-360mm Leica optical zoom lens. The TZ200 also has 5-axis image stabilisation, a Live View Finder, a 3-inch touchscreen, 3cm macro mode, internal RAW development, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and can shoot 4K and 120fps video.

The Panasonic TZ200 goes on sale in the UK in early March, priced at £729.

Panasonic UK Press Release

Panasonic Launches New Flagship Travel Zoom Camera with Powerful 15x Optical Zoom and 4K Capabilities

Panasonic has today announced the LUMIX DMC-TZ200 – its latest flagship model of the popular "Travel Zoom" TZ series. With incredible 15x optical zoom from the new 24mm ultra-wide angle LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens and a 1-inch large High Sensitivity MOS Sensor, the TZ200 offers users the ability to capture incredibly detailed, high-quality pictures. You can also shoot ultra-high resolution 4K video, all within a compact, pocket-sized camera that’s perfect for travelling.

Sophisticated lens design

The LUMIX TZ200 boasts exceptional optical performance with stunning clarity and minimum distortion and flare, thanks to its sophisticated lens design. Its 24mm ultra-wide angle LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens with 5-Axis HYBRID O.I.S.+ (Optical Image Stabilizer Plus) offers a versatile angle of view while suppressing  image shake in both photo and video recording. It also enables stunning macro shots as close as 3cm, meaning users can capture extreme close up images with incredible detail.

The TZ200’s 1-inch MOS sensor is incredibly large for such a compact camera, giving photographers the ability to capture high quality images in stunning detail.

Advanced Live View Finder – capture incredible images in all light conditions

The Live View Finder (LVF) has been upgraded in this new model, boasting an incredibly high resolution of 2,330K dots, as well as a generous magnification ratio of approximately 1.45x / 0.53x (35mm camera equivalent). The inclusion of a LVF is extremely beneficial to users if they are looking to capture photographs in bright, sunny environments.

In addition to the LVF, the LUMIX TZ200 has a 3-inch rear monitor with touch control system. It boasts 1,240K dots resolution, allowing users to easily set focus on the screen.  It’s very simple to enlarge images on the monitor, giving the photographer precise control. The LUMIX TZ200 also boasts a Focus Peaking function that shows the peak of focus in manual focus mode.

High-speed, high-precision auto focus and fast response

The LUMIX TZ200 newly integrates a dedicated linear motor into the focus system to achieve ultra-high speed Auto Focus (AF). In addition, the Light Speed AF is further enhanced with an adoption of Depth From Defocus (DFD) technology which further shortens the time to set focus.

High resolution video to capture unmissable moments

The LUMIX TZ200 records stunningly smooth, ultra-high resolution QFHD 4K video in 3840x2160 pixels at 30p / 25p (50Hz Area) or 24p in MP4. Choosing the best shot out of hundreds of frames recorded with 4K PHOTO is now easier than ever before with newly added Auto Marking function. It detects motion or a face, sets a marker and allows you to jump directly to the frame as soon as a situation changes; therefore minimising time spent choosing the best shot.

High Speed Video enables the recording of fast-moving subjects in Full HD at 120 fps  (50Hz Area - PAL), while Time Lapse / Stop Motion Animation are also available.

New shooting modes and Monochrome filter – creativity in your pocket

As the perfect companion to travel, the TZ200 not only boasts its flexible LEICA zoom lens, but enables you to capture diverse images with a myriad of creative filter options. Popular Lumix Classics such as the High Dynamic, Color Key, Miniature filter and many more have been joined by a new and classy filter: L.Monochrome, with a specially adjusted gamma setting, it boasts rich gradation resulting in monochrome pictures with deep blacks reminiscent of the classic black and white film.

To complete the creative package, TZ200 is capable of internal RAW development, giving travellers total independence from a PC to edit while they’re away.

Connectivity options to share your photos on the go

The LUMIX TZ200 offers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi® connectivity to provide a more flexible shooting experience and instant image sharing, providing constant connection with a smartphone/tablet with minimum power consumption.

The LUMIX TZ200 is armoured with pressed aluminium plates to form a sleek, solid profile, meaning you can be assured of a compact but robust camera to capture all of your unforgettable memories from your travels.

For the latest news and information, follow @LumixUK on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.

The Lumix DC-TZ200 goes on sale in early March and will RRP at £729.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B businesses. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2018, the company has expanded globally and now operates 495 subsidiaries and 91 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.343 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2017. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn more about Panasonic: http://www.panasonic.com/global.

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First Impressions

Panasonic updates its premium travel-zoom compact camera, the Lumix TZ100, with the launch of the Panasonic Lumix TZ200. However, the TZ100 will not be phased out and the two cameras will be available simultaneously.

We’ve had our hands on a pre-production version ahead of its launch. At this stage we cannot comment on image quality or handling from our brief time with the camera. We will be sure to share our full review soon, once we’ve had enough time with a final version.

This article details the new features of the TZ200. So how does the TZ200 compare to the TZ100? Let’s take a look at what’s new.

Panasonic Lumix TZ200: Pricing and Availability

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200 retails at £729 and shipping is scheduled for 12th march 2018. Those that preorder the camera will get a free leather case with it.

Panasonic will continue to sell the TZ100 alongside the new TZ200, with the newer camera the more expensive of the two.

Panasonic Lumix TZ200

Panasonic Lumix TZ200: At a Glance

•     24-360mm 15x optical zoom lens with control ring
•     5-axis hybrid OIS
•     20.1MP 1in sensor
•     2.33-million-dot LVF with 0.53x magnification
•     1.24-million-dot 3in LCD touchscreen
•     4K video up to 30fps
•     120fps FHD high speed video
•     4K Photo mode at 30fps with new Auto Marking feature
•     USB battery charging
•     Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
•     L Monochrome mode
•     3cm macro
•     Low Light/ Starlight AF 
•     370-shot-life

Panasonic Lumix TZ200

Panasonic Lumix TZ200: A New Lens

The redesigned lens is one of the most noteworthy improvements in the TZ200. It’s a 15x optical zoom lens made up of 13 elements in 11 groups, with a 24-360mm equivalent focal length range. That’s up from the 10x zoom range of the TZ100, which features a 25-250mm lens. 

A wider zoom range comes at a slight cost - the maximum aperture is a little slower in the TZ200, being f/3.3-6.4 compared to f/2.8-5.9. 

Still, it’s quite the feat to cram in such a wide ranging zoom lens into such a small camera - virtually the same size as the TZ100. More impressive is that its couple with a larger 1in imaging sensor. Those interested in the Sony Cyber-Shot RX100 series - which also feature a 20.1MP 1in sensor - but are put off by the more limited focal range, will do well to consider the TZ200. 

We haven’t had the chance to check image quality yet, but will be particularly interested to see how sharp images are when using the telephoto settings up to 360mm. 

The minimum focus distance of the lens is impressive, focusing down to 3cm when at the widest focal length. You also get the control ring on the lens, through which changes to camera settings like aperture can be made. 

Image stabilisation comes in the lens, being the unchanged 5-axis hybrid OIS. The effectiveness of the image stabilisation will be all the more necessary with such a far reaching zoom lens. 

Panasonic Lumix TZ200

Panasonic Lumix TZ200: Key Features

You’ve still got the 20.1MP 1in sensor, so image quality will largely be the same as in the TZ100. Burst shooting remains the same too, with up to 10fps in single AF and 6fps with continuous AF.

As we would expect from Panasonic, the TZ200 video specification impresses. Like in the TZ100, you get 4K videos up to 30fps in MP4 format, plus a 4K Photo mode where still images can be taken from that 30fps video footage.

What’s new in 4K photo mode is an auto marking feature, where the camera marks key frames within these large 30fps photo sequences, to save you the time of trawling through them all to find the key frame. We look forward to testing that out properly. 

In FHD 1080p video resolution, users can shoot slow motion videos up to 120fps. 

Panasonic Lumix TZ200

Images can be viewed on the 2.33-million-dot LVF which has a 0.53x magnification, which is respectable for such a small camera. It’s quite the step up from the TZ100 too, whose viewfinder felt a little small.

There is also the 3in 1.24-million-dot touchscreen, through which focusing and shutter can be activated by touch. The resolution in this screen is slightly higher than before.

Panasonic informed us that the TZ200 is the only compact camera in its range that features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connection. You can now remotely control and share images using a smart device via the Panasonic Image App through an always-on Bluetooth connection.

Other new features include the low light/ starlight mode, where the display brightness is boosted in order to view the scene when all around is dark. L Monochrome Photo Style features here, though not the new Grain Effects as found in the new GX9. 

Panasonic Lumix TZ200

That’s a lot of features all crammed into a redesigned body that the Panasonic spokesperson seemed particularly psyched about during his presentation to us about the camera. A new textured strip on the front of the body provides a little extra grip. 

Battery life has been improved too, up from 300-shots to 370-shots when using the LCD screen.

All in all, the key differences in the two cameras are mainly in the handling of the camera - you can largely expect a similar image quality for photos and videos.

We’re looking forward to really putting this tiny powerhouse of a camera through its paces, so keep an eye out for our full review.

Hands On

Want to see exactly what the new Panasonic Lumix TZ200 premium compact camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Panasonic TZ200 camera.

A gallery of hands-on photos of the new Panasonic Lumix TZ200 camera.

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Preview Images

Ahead of our full review, here are some sample images taken with a pre-production version of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ200 compact camera. The Panasonic TZ200 is a new premium compact camera with a 1-inch image sensor and 15x zoom lens.

A gallery of sample images taken with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ200 compact camera.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ200 Sample Images

Sample RAW Images

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ200 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Panasonic RAW (RW2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

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