Panasonic Lumix ZS200D Review (2024): I might never use another camera again
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
Camera Gods, forgive me! I got caught up in the Nikon versus Canon nonsense and ignored Panasonic for far too long. I spent a day with the Panasonic Lumix ZS200 (also known as the TZ200 outside of North America) and I might never go back again.
How did I get here? (Sorry, Nikon)
Here’s the thing, I’ve been a Nikon or Canon user for about two decades. The first camera I ever bought with my own money was the Canon A530. It was 5 megapixel digital point-and-shoot camera that allowed me to take photos of my friends. Then I got the Nikon D90 DSLR and invested enough in Nikon glass to stick with the F-mount, upgrading to a Nikon D610 when I got the opportunity. And then I got my hands on the Nikon Z6II.
For me, there was no other option. Even when the Sony Alpha series emerged, I said “no, Nikon is the best; Canon is a close second.” I was a damn fool.
I didn’t know that Panasonic and Leica had a whole thing cooking since 2001. Like Sony with Zeiss. They had been putting out digital cameras on the sly that, dare I say, rivaled the Nikon’s? Of course, I didn’t know that then. But I sure do now. Ahead of a two-week long trip to Morocco, I wanted something that was easy to carry, easy to shoot, and easy to acquire. So, I went ahead and did a bunch of internet research.
The Canon G9X Mark II was sold out. Fujifilm’s X100V was sold out. Both of them used were exorbitantly expensive. That’s when I ordered a used Fujifilm XF10 on eBay and didn’t enjoy shooting it one bit (you can read my short review of the Fujifilm XF10 here - 3/5 stars).
The Panasonic ZS200D is the same camera as the Leica C-Lux
Disappointed, I decided to look at cameras with that signature red dot - the holy grain - a Leica. Any Leica. Well, not any Leica - a Leica I could pay for. The Q2 and Q3 were out of reach ($$$), but the Leica C-Lux was doable at just over $1050 MSRP. But boy am I glad I searched for reviews on Reddit, because I found out that it’s just the Panasonic ZS200 with a Leica label and a $400 premium.
Other people have compared these cameras before (you can read the full spec comparison here), but it’s the same damn camera. There are minor features that are different, but the lens, the body – damn near everything is identical. I found it on Amazon for $650 (I also bought spare batteries) and snatched it up immediately. I’m so glad I did because this camera is exactly what I wanted. The Fuji X100V may be the most hyped point-and-shoot digital camera out there now, but the Panasonic ZS200D is slept on!
And really quickly, before I get into why I like it so much, the Panasonic ZS200 and the Panasonic ZS200D are the same save for the screen. The -D has an OLED screen. That’s it.
Specifications
Sensor: 1-inch High Sensitivity MOS Sensor, 20.1 Megapixels
Lens: Leica DC Vario-Elmar 15x Optical Zoom, 24-360mm Equivalent (35mm Film)
Aperture: f/3.3 - 6.4
ISO Range: 125 - 12800
Shutter Speed: 60 - 1/2000 seconds (Mechanical), 1 - 1/16000 seconds (Electronic)
Image Stabilization: 5-axis Hybrid O.I.S.+
Autofocus System: Contrast Detect AF with DFD Technology, 49 Focus Points
Viewfinder: 0.21" LVF (Live View Finder), 2,330k-dot, Electronic
LCD Screen: 3.0-inch Touchscreen LCD, 1,240k-dot
Video Recording: 4K (3840x2160) at 24/30p, Full HD up to 60p
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Battery Life: Approx. 370 shots per charge
Dimensions: 111.2 x 66.4 x 45.2 mm
Weight: 340 g (with battery and SD card)
Pop-Up Flash: Integrated, with manual activation for flexible lighting options.
What I (really) like about the ZS200D
I took my new camera for a walk in New York’s Chinatown and loved shooting it so much that I kept walking through Little Italy to SoHo, the Village, and Chelsea. 3 hours of shooting and 15,000 steps later, I’m forever hooked.
The ZS200D has an excellent autofocus system
This little guy is equipped with a fast and reliable autofocus mechanism that excels at nailing autofocus. It’s super fast, allowing me to capture fleeting moments on the street. I never once worried about shooting from the hip, though I did add bracketed shots in case the exposure was off. I almost never needed them (see gallery below). This responsiveness, combined with the camera's compact size, really makes it an ideal tool for photographers who value speed and discretion in their work. Turn on silent mode and off you go.
It has accurate color capture
Set whatever white balance your heart desires or select from your favorite presets. I shot almost exclusively on Aperture Priority mode in standard color mode. The camera delivers images with true-to-life colors, making it a joy to shoot because I don’t have to fiddle with the settings after reviewing shots. I hate weird color casts (this was a problem with the XF10), but I never had that issue here. Whether shooting landscapes, portraits, or urban scenes, you can expect consistent and accurate color reproduction.
The camera has user-friendly controls
The ZS200 is clearly designed with ease of use in mind. They didn’t try to get fancy and minimal with it (not an oxymoron, minimalist controls are hell). The camera buttons are intuitively laid out, allowing you to adjust settings quickly without having to navigate through cumbersome menus. This user-friendly design is complemented by a touchscreen interface, enhancing the overall shooting experience and making the camera accessible to users of all skill levels. It has a dedicated video recording button so you don’t need to switch between different shooting modes; just press the red button on the far right. Nudge the zoom lever left or right to zoom in or out, or flick the on/off switch. It seems strange to say, but Panasonic correctly identified what should be a button, what should be a lever, and what should be a wheel thingy.
It has great 4K video capabilities
For videographers, vloggers, or just regular Joe’s who shoot the occasional video and never watch it again, the ZS200 offers robust 4K video recording options with several frame rates to choose from (24 fps, 25fps, 30fps). This flexibility allows for high-quality video capture suitable for a variety of projects, from travel vlogs to professional productions, if that’s your jam. The addition of a dedicated video recording button (I mentioned it a few sentences ago) further streamlines the video shooting process, enabling quick and easy capture without fumbling through settings.
It has a premium Leica lens with optical zoom
The zoom is actually good? Unsurprisingly, at the heart of the ZS200 lies a high-quality Leica lens, renowned for its sharpness and clarity. Surprisingly, the camera boasts a significant optical zoom capability, allowing you to capture distant subjects without compromising on image quality. Have a look at the two photos below that are straight out of camera and shot hand-held. It’s the same subject, but shot at the closest (360mm) and the widest angle possible (24mm).
I was so impressed by the zoom. It’s not blurry, or hazy, or disappointing.
It has some minor drawbacks
The Grip and wrist strap are awful
God I hate the grip on this thing. It has a grip that I can only assume was developed by rock climbers working on the toughest hold possible. There’s barely enough of a ledge to get your fingertips onto, and the rubber doesn’t provide enough friction to counteract the lack of lip. I would have liked a larger finger hold. The thumb hold on the back is placed too high for my liking, making the camera slightly uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time.
And what makes it worse is the flimsy wrist strap which isn’t a strap so much as a nylon string without an adjuster, requiring me to tighten it by wrapping the slack around my pinkie finger. Twice.
This is a premium camera and I expected much more from Panasonic on both fronts.
What’s with the electronic viewfinder
Why can’t it just be a normal viewfinder with marks to account for parallax blah blah blah. Instead, the viewfinder is electronic, meaning the screen is just reproduced in a much tinier screen that is hard to look at. When you’re looking through something transparent, at your subject, it feels natural. Looking at a tiny itty-bitty screen is very difficult and, while trying to use it, I found myself moving my eye away from the viewfinder to adjust my eyesight which defeats the purpose of the viewfinder to begin with.
If you’re trying to be stealthy, you can use the Fn4/LVF button to switch off the screen and use the viewfinder only (it turns on only when you put your eye on it). But I personally don’t like it and think it’s a waste.
Conclusion
The Panasonic Lumix ZS200D/TZ200D is remarkable. It’s got an array of features packed into a compact form factor. With its excellent autofocus, superior color accuracy, user-friendly controls, versatile 4K video capabilities, and the premium Leica lens with significant optical zoom, it represents a pinnacle of compact camera design. I love this damn camera.
Despite minor grip issues and the digital viewfinder's learning curve, the ZS200D I recommend this camera for anyone seeking a powerful, versatile camera that fits in your pocket and doesn’t hurt your wallet. Whether for street photography, travel, or everyday moments, the ZS200D delivers performance and quality that are hard to match, earning it a well-deserved 5-star rating from me.
You can buy the Panasonic ZS200D on Amazon for $650 or get a used one on eBay for around $300 (these are affiliate links so I get a financial incentive if you buy something). You can also get spare batteries on Amazon, which I recommend because you only get a few hundred shots before the battery is fully drained. The ones I got are two in a pack and they come with a charger, all for $20.
