Panasonic ZS200 (TZ200) Hands-On Field Test

The Panasonic ZS100 was an extremely popular enthusiast compact, as it offered a large 1" type sensor and 10X zoom. Now, the update has arrived with a longer 15X zoom, slightly slower aperture and a COMFORTABLE GRIP! Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake take a look to see if this is the best compact superzoom available.

Shot and edited by Jordan Drake
Shot on the Panasonic GH5

[davidharle]

I know this is an old review, but I bought this camera a couple of years ago as a travel and street camera, It is now my every day and all the time camera! The macro is brilliant for flowers and insects and the long zoom quite acceptable for bird trips too. As I am now getting on in years I cannot carry full-sized gear and lenses and used to use micro 4/3 before I got this amazing machine and now I hardly use them as I prefer the weight and size advantage of this little miracle!

[krokodil]

I am not interested in 85% cameras they review, but I just love the way they do it...Best camera reviews on youtube by far. Great job as always

[BittyVids]

I couldn’t be less interested in this camera, but I’ll watch every video you guys put out. 👍🏼

[WolverBean]

Going to buy this camera for my birthday. I am upgrading from the Sony WX500 (which unfortunately broke a couple years ago). Can’t wait to get the camera, the size looks perfect for hiking and city shots!

[LEXPIX]

Good stuff. Super zoom compacts is where most manufacturers don't really embrace. Panasonic has always had great line ups.

[jaywagner]

I have the ZS 100 and love it. I have used it for travel and family events. I don't believe I would upgrade to the ZS 200 for the extended zoom. I also love it for selfies it takes a bit of practice and trial and error for centering but once learned I have some very nice results. I really appreciate the smaller high quality formats for travel.

[RealmsOfThePossible]

I bought the TZ100 last year because of your baby review and still love it as a travel camera, took it to italy and switzerland and got some very useable shots. I don’t think the 200 is really worth the upgrade but thanks for covering it and freezing anyway.

[IIIJFRIII]

So happy you did this video. I really love these high end point and shot cameras so much. I'm glad to see that they are catching on as mini DSLR's. Can't wait to see what the next big ones from Canon, Sony, and Nikon are. The pictures you take on this look like something I'd see in a magazine. Really good work man. Please Canon G5X Mark II and Sony RX100 6.

[dubisoft]

Im not interested in that particular camera. But Chris and Jordan is so good at making reviews that I must watch :D

[jimbolic]

Thank you for always doing these types of in-depth camera and gear analyses. I'm looking forward to getting this camera soon.

[exploresouthwest]

It's so good to have a "second" camera that you can keep on you at all times. Cellphones just don't cut it, and nobody is going to take their DSLR with them to dinner with the wife or friends.
But with a little pocket camera that is about wallet sized you always have options to get a good picture that would have been completely missed before.

[fingerhorn]

Well done for a review that is actually about the product, not the people presenting. It's a great little camera. Just a shame about the in cropping in video and the less than great video stabilisation.

[FlashbackArrest]

Hey man you're pretty fit to be talking about that technical info while walking backwards and not gassing out. Congrats, happy New Year.

[MorkusReX]

we're at a point where phones became so good that short focal lens dedicated cameras became useless. The only real advantage of dedicated cameras is zoom. This camera is so tempting.

[arfreeman]

The delayed start is pretty common, btw. Clean and tighten the battery cable ends and check for corrosion that extends into the insulation of the cables. It is also likely that there is corrosion on the cable contacts at the starter itself. If the corrosion extends into the insulation, just replace the cable. If you're not comfortable doing that yourself, I strongly recommend having a dealership do the job rather than an aftermarket shop. You do not want to have to deal with the same stupid problem half a dozen times before they finally get all the bad bits replaced.

[hendrixg]

Best looking video from this channel I must say.

[notafan]

Thanks for the video, which helped me decide to buy this camera!

The problem with calling this a point-and-shoot is that only works if one is happy with the default settings. I know just enough about photography to realize what I don't know about this camera, so for me it's a "try to read the manual, give up, try to understand the menu options without it, buy a book, send it back, play around with the camera some more, order another book...."-camera. I am sure that it's a wonderful tool that can do everything I would want (yep, largest aperture is a bit small - but I used to work with 200 ISO film... And I hardly ever used to work with smaller apertures than f 8 anyway, and normally am not all that bothered about dof) - but I don't yet know how to use it.

[kevinscully]

Most people who buy travel cameras WANT the background in the shot, so I don't see a lack of a shallow depth of field as a big issue. As you yourself showed in this video, you can get around that by using a longer focal length with a close focus point .

[maestrom.]

You have the better reviews always !!! thanks you very much. Nicolas from Argentina

[jjccllgg]

And, after shooting with the Leica C-lux, the image quality is excellent. Leica lenses always provide quality. Battery life is EXCELENT! I love the optical viewfinder. I am nearsighted and I can adjust the viewfinder perfectly to my eyesight. And as you say, it is a tool of convenience, But a VERY HIGH QUALITY convenince! I have this one and a Ricoh GRii in my belt. COvers most everything with excellent quality.