The FZ200 – Panasonic’s New Flagship Superzoom Camera

     

          
Competition in the digital camera industry lead to a lot of races. First, there was the megapixel race, with manufacturers scrambling to increase camera resolution to higher and higher levels. That calmed down (to some extent), only for a new race to spring up around lens power. Now manufacturers are offering cameras with 30x, 42x, even 50x lenses. Panasonic, though, has taken a different path with its Lumix DMC-FZ200. Rather than increasing focal range, Panasonic has stuck to same 24x optical zoom that was on its previous flagship superzoom, the FZ150, but has kept its maximum aperture constant at f/2.8 over the entire zoom range - a first for any superzoom camera.

Combined with its 12.1 MOS sensor, the FZ200 becomes just about unmatched in the superzoom segment for low light shooting. The large aperture allows photographers to use lower ISO settings or faster shutter speeds to reduce noise or blur, respectively, something with great appeal to sports and wildlife shooters among others. To help put this in perspective, an equivalent DSLR lens can easily cost over $3000 dollars – and that does not even include the DSLR body. Panasonic’s suggested retail price for this camera listed as $600.

The lens obviously gets a lot of attention, with its enviable aperture across its 24x 25-600mm zoom range, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing remarkable about the rest of the camera. The new electronic viewfinder is 0.2 inches across with 1,312,000 dot equivalent resolution – more than 6 times higher than its predecessor. Since it is a field-sequential design, the viewfinder runs at 60Hz. The main, rear LCD has variable angles, allowing for shots from otherwise difficult angles. Self-portraits become a breeze to make.

The camera offers both High Definition and High Speed Video. HD video can be recorded at up to 120 fps, and normal VGA can go even faster at 240 fps.

The FZ200 has a built in Panorama shot mode, and offers the choice of saving in RAW format. That doesn’t mention significantly improved battery life, and a larger working flash range. Also, the maximum shutter speed increased to 1/4000, while the minimum has decreased to a full 60 seconds, to allow for long-exposure shots. It can take 12 photos per second in burst mode.

Since manual and automatic modes are easily accessible through a physical dial, the camera is suitable for casual or beginning photographers along with more advanced ones. The different manual modes allow users to set what shutter speed, aperture or ISO setting should be used. One of those can be set manually with the other two being adjusted automatically, or all three can be set manually. Obviously, automatic modes each sets all three of those based on the light conditions and other factors.

The camera has the same autofocus system as Panasonic’s more advanced G-series, which is known for its speed. Combined with the camera’s fast aperture, the camera makes possible quick snaps at the telephot end of its zoom range – where many other cameras slow down.