We love when a high-performing camera is given a tough outer shell. It extends the lifespan of the camera, especially when it’s fitted with 20.1 megapixels to handle and 4K video capturing capabilities. In fact, the Panasonic Lumix TZ200 is exactly that! Is it the best travel camera? It certainly makes a persuasive argument. It might even be among one of the best digital cameras today.
Why We Like It – Panasonic Lumix TZ200
Sporting a metal chassis, good zoom range, 4K video capture, and 20.1 megapixels to work with, the Panasonic Lumix TZ200 is all about capturing moments in the highest detail.
- Superb image quality; 4K video quality
- Tough and sturdy
- Pocket-sized and compact
- Not ideal for beginners
- Expensive
Performance
Packing 20.1 megapixels, the Panasonic Lumix TZ200 has a wide net to cast, with a fast shutter speed to compliment. And that high speed comes in handy when it comes to shooting in 4K UHD, putting 1080p full HD to shame. Equipped with LECIA DC optical zoom lens, you’re getting a long zoom range of 15x. Typical of travel zoom cameras is softness when zoom has reached its limit. To compensate, the processor inside will add a bit of sharpness to prevent it.
Even if you don’t have good lighting, its 1-inch image sensor is large enough to capture much better shots than a smaller one. Part of its low-light performance can also be attributed to its f/3.3 maximum aperture. However, the Panasonic Image app can be fidgety.
Related: If you’re new to medium format digital photography, you need the Pentax 645D camera.
Design
Right off the bat, the Panasonic TZ200 is sporting a better compact design than most compact cameras. The Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 and Sony RX100 are compact, yes, but too smooth. The TZ200 can fit in your pocket, too, in addition to having a textured grip.
Instead of being made of hard plastic, it has a metal chassis, making it ideal as a travel camera. Near the 3-inch display, and at the top, you’ll find the dials needed to switch between modes such as focus mode, live view, and photo mode, to name a few. It isn’t waterproof, however; for that, look to the Olympus TG-5.
Value
We can’t knock the performance of the Panasonic Lumix TZ200. It’s one powerful camera, there’s no arguing there. With that said, it is rather expensive. In fact, its cousin, the Panasonic Lumix FZ80 is very close in specifications—only being 2 megapixels shorter than the TZ200. The FZ80 is half the price, but bulky, though still compact in size. It still has that well-known Panasonic image quality.
We certainly recommend the Panasonic Lumix TZ200; it’s performance speaks for itself. However, only experienced photographers will get their value out of it, specifically individuals that travel often.
Panasonic Lumix TZ200 Wrap Up
The Panasonic Lumix TZ200’s performance is second to none. We weren’t surprised, considering this is Panasonic. It can take a beating thanks to a metal chassis, while still maintaining superb image and video quality. At the same time, it’s compact and can fit in your pocket. Only experience photographers should handle the TZ200, however.
