Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 12.1 MP Digital Camera with CMOS Sensor and 24x Optical Zoom - Black

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 12.1 MP Digital Camera with CMOS Sensor and 24x Optical Zoom - Black

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• 12.1MP 1/2.3\"-type CMOS sensor
• 12 frames per second continuous shooting
• 25-600mm equivalent F2.8 lens (24x optical zoom)
• ISO 100-3200, expandable up to 6400
• 1080p HD video recording
• 3.0 inch articulated LCD with 460,000 dots
• EVF with 100% coverage

Product Description Panasonic DMC-FZ200 12.1 MP Digital Camera with CMOS Sensor and 24x Optical Zoom - Black.What's in the box: Panasonic Lumix FZ200 Digital Camera, Li-ion Battery Pack, Battery Charger, USB Cable, Shoulder Strap, CD-ROM, Lens Cap, Lens Cap String, Lens Hood and One Year Limited Warranty. From the Manufacturer DMC-FZ200 with CMOS Sensor and 24x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD Full-Range Bright Aperture and Fast Shutter Speed - BlackLUMIX's First 25-600mm Lens with Full-Range F2.8 ApertureBright aperture and fast shutter speed capture moving subjects clearly, even at long distances. (View Larger)Experience LUMIX's first compact digital camera to reach a full range F2.8 bright aperture in a 600mm lens whose quick shutter speed lets you capture moving subjects even at long distances. At the heart of this lens is high-quality LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT optical technology that allows the 25mm ultra wide-angle lens to reach optical brightness across a full 24x zoom range (35mm camera equivalent: 25-600mm). This camera lens enhances all kinds of shooting situations from photographing people indoors to shooting a large structure or a sweeping landscape. The integration of 5 aspherical lenses and 3 ED lenses makes this happen. Its high precision correction performance prevents image distortion.More Creative Controls & Photo Styles Tell Your Photographic StoryStar Effect, 1of 8 new creative controls that will elevate your photographic journey.Want a digital camera that creates expressive, telling and fun scenes? With the FZ200 digital compact camera, choose from among 8 new and 6 original creative control effects as you play with a range from Toy Effect to Star Filter to Impressive Art. Add an artistic touch in Photo Style to your pictures and videos with 6 customizable color types, like Vivid. And get more shooting control with the new Panorama Shot, the Intelligent Handheld Night Shot (iA Mode generates an illuminated night scene), and the White Balance Bracket function which shoots 3 consecutive photos while adjusting the white balance. You can even produce 3D Images with the LUMIX FZ200 digital camera. For advanced photographers, use the manual control mode for even greater creative license.Shoot like a Pro with these Professional-Grade Control Features that come with the LUMIX FZ200 Digital CameraGo after those pictures-in-the-making with Panasonic's new 12.1MP High Sensitivity MOS Sensor and Venus Engine.A newly developed 12.1-megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor and high performance image processing LSI Venus Engine provide high speed response, high sensitivity recording and superb image quality to capture even the most fleeting photo opportunities. The ratio of the MOS sensor and the Intelligent Noise Reduction system in the Venus Engine adjusts photos and videos taken in sensitive areas and creates clear, crisp imagery. For low-lit situations, the FZ200 digital camera's multi-process Noise Reduction System produces dramatically clear photos and videos. Intelligent HDR (High Dynamic Range) in the iA Mode overlays several still pictures consecutively shot at different exposure levels and produces a single composite picture avoiding over or under exposure.Take a Picture and Record It in Full 1080/60p HD with 24x ZoomAll-at-once: Shoot and Record in Full HD with Photo Style, Creative Video, MP4, and 3D. The Motion Picture designated button, on the FZ200 digital camera, lets you record while taking photos without having to switch modes. Make videos in full HD 1,920x1,080 60p in both AVCHD Progressive (MPEG-4) and MP4 formats. The powerful 24x optical zoom, with its redesigned side lever for easier zooming access, captures highly natural expressions and fast-moving sports scenes that the naked eye may miss. Play it back in dramatic slow motion and see the difference. Creative Control and Photo Style render highly unique expressions by coordinating colors to your subject and its surroundings. The digital camera's Creative Video Mode lets you adjust the shutter speed and aperture any way you like when shooting videos.The New Ultimate Ergonomic Hand and Zooming Control with the FZ200 Digital CameraControl your shot with a newly redesigned side lever and ergonomically located for your hands.The LUMIX FZ200's camera body has been designed as a full-fledged shooting style digital compact camera with definitive controllability. The side lever has not only been redesigned, it is now easier to use as it is conveniently located giving you smoother zooming control. On this point and shoot camera, the focus can also be easily changed with this lever, allowing you the photographer to concentrate on shutter operation so you can to catch that perfect photographic moment.Snap in Under a Second with the FZ200 Digital CameraNever miss a shot: Quick start-up time and exclusive Light Speed Auto Focus.The FZ200 digital camera allows for you to click in the moment with its quick start-up time of approx. 0.95 sec. and Light Speed Auto Focus. Get 12 fps full resolution photographs with the 12.1-megapixel MOS sensor as you take a series of shots. Snap consecutively at approx. 5.5 fps/2 fps with Auto Focus Tracking. And the newly added focus mode AF Flexible resets automatically when your subject moves. Even high-speed burst shooting is possible with the electronic shutter. In Intelligent Burst Shooting, the frame rate sets according to the subject's movement. And faster data transfer is possible as the DMC-FZ200 compact digital camera is compatible with the Ultra High Speed-I standard SDHC/SDXC Memory Card.Advanced Technology Reduces Glare and Minimizes HandshakingLUMIX advanced technology such as Nano Surface Coating and O.I.S. produces picture perfect photos.Panasonic's Nano Surface Coating technology minimizes light reflection within the entire zoom range (380nm-780nm) thus reducing glare and producing super clear pictures. The LUMIX FZ200 camera's powerful 24x optical zoom can be increased to the 48x equivalent with the Intelligent Zoom function, taking advantage of its Intelligent Resolution technology which brings images to life. The digital camera's POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) minimizes blur, even when zoomed, and Active Mode effectively suppresses handshake vibrations in both still picture taking and video recording.A Camera that is So Easy to UsePoint-and-shoot using an LCD that rotates and iA mode that does the work for you.Shooting subjects on-the-go under strong sunlight is easy thanks to a minimized screen freeze and the newly developed 0.2-inch EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) with a 100% field-of-vision that adds high resolution to every scene. With an LCD that rotates 180° on its side and tilts 270° up and down, dynamic, artistic framing is possible with the FZ200 digital camera. Prop it on a tripod and use Auto Focus. In iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode, the camera does all the work, leaving you free to compose shots and capture moments in both photo and video recording. In iA Plus Mode, you have a range of creative settings from Motion Deblur to Scene Detection to much more.A LUMIX Camera that Makes Sharing Your Photos With Your Social Media Circles EasyMake sure your images make the social circles with easy uploading to Facebook and YouTube.With the LUMIX FZ200 digital camera, upload photos and videos instantly to Facebook and videos to YouTube sharing the URL with family and friends via email. Photos or videos recorded in AVCHD on the SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Cards are easy to view on a Panasonic VIERA TV. Simply insert the card into the SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card slot in a VIERA TV or DIGA Blu-ray Disc player and view your content. You can also use an optional HDMI mini cable to export your images onto the VIERA Link. Viewing images taken in the 3D Photo Mode via the 3D VIERA TV will offer an exciting experience.Accessorize Away with these Great LUMIX Products Lightweight and Compact External Flash DMW-FL220Covers a 24mm wide angle view and synchronizes with the camera's flash to reduce red-eye. Tele Conversion Lens DMW-LT55 (requires Lens Adaptor DMW-LA5)Shoots at 1.7x magnification and F3.7 brightness. It is almost half the size and less heavy than the 1.5x tele conversion lens. Dynamic Close-up Lens DMW-LC55 (requires Lens Adaptor DMW-LA5)Prevents blurring with a 2-lens feature that magnifies 3-times that of a typical telephoto setting in Macro Mode. Adjust your zooming degree. 3-step ND Filter DMW-LND52Reduces your light intensity when shooting with a fully open aperture, letting you use a slow shutter speed even in outdoor scenes. Panasonic Point and Shoot Camera Comparison ChartLUMIX FZ200 LUMIX LX7 LUMIX FZ60 LUMIX ZS20Dimensions (W x H x D)125.2 x 86.6 x 110.2 mm / (4.93 x 3.41 x 4.34 inch) 110.5 x 67.1 x 45.6 mm / (4.35 x 2.64 x 1.80 inch) 120.3 x 80.8 x 91.9 mm / (4.74 x 3.18 x 3.62 inch) 104.9 x 58.9 x 28.2 mm / (4.13 x 2.32 x 1.11 inch)Camera Effective Pixels12.1 Megapixels 10.1 Megapixels 16.1 Megapixels 14.1 MegapixelsOptical Zoom 24x 3.8x 24x 20xFocal Length f=4.5 - 108mm (25 - 600mm in 35mm equiv.) / (28 - 672mm in 35mm equiv. in video recording) f=4.7 - 17.7mm (24 - 90mm in 35mm equiv.)f=4.5 - 108mm (25 - 600mm in 35mm equiv.) / (28 - 672mm in 35mm equiv. in video recording)f=4.3 - 86.0mm (24 - 480mm in 35mm equiv.) / (28-560mm in 35mm equiv. in video recording)LensLEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT (Nano Surface Coating) / 14 elements in 11 groups / (5 Aspherical Lenses / 9 Aspherical surfaces / 3 ED Lenses / 1 Nano Surface Coating Lens) LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMILUX / 11 elements in 10 groups / (5 Aspherical Lenses / 9 Aspherical surfaces / 2 ED Lenses(1 Aspherical ED lens) / 1 Nano surface Coating Lens)LEICA DC VARIO- ELMARIT / 14 elements in 10 groups / (2 Aspherical Lenses / 3 Aspherical Surfaces / 3 ED Lenses / 1 Nano Surface Coating Lens)LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR / 12 elements in 10 groups / (3 Aspherical Lenses / 6 Aspherical surfaces / 2 ED Lenses)Optical Image StabilizerPower O.I.S. (On with Active Mode(only for Video) / Off)Power O.I.S. (On/Off)Power O.I.S. (On with Active Mode(only for Video) / Off)Power O.I.S. (On with Active Mode(only for motion picture) / Off)Focusing AreaNormal: Wide 30 cm - infinity / Tele 200 cm - infinity / AF Macro / MF / Intelligent AUTO/ motion picture: Wide 1 cm - infinity / Tele 100cm - infinityNormal: Wide 50 cm - infinity / AF Macro / MF / Intelligent AUTO / motion picture: Wide 1 cm - infinity /Tele 30cm - infinity Normal: Wide 30 cm - infinity / Tele 200 cm - infinity / AF Macro / MF / Intelligent AUTO/ motion picture: Wide 1 cm - infinity / Tele 100cm - infinity Normal: Wide 50 cm - infinity / Tele 200 cm - infinity / Macro / Intelligent AUTO/ motion picture: Wide 3 cm - infinity / Tele 100cm - infinityCreative Control Mode Expressive, Retro, High Key, Low Key, Sepia, Dynamic Monochrome, Impressive Art, High Dynamic, Cross Process, Toy Effect, Miniature Effect, Soft Focus, Star Filter, One Point Color Expressive, Retro, High Key, Low Key, Sepia, Dynamic Monochrome, Impressive Art, High Dynamic, Cross Process, Toy Effect, Miniature Effect, Soft Focus, Star Filter, One Point Color, Radial Defocus, Smooth DefocusExpressive, Retro, High Key, Low Key, Sepia, Dynamic Monochrome, Impressive Art, High Dynamic, Cross Process, Toy Effect, Miniature Effect, Soft Focus, Star Filter, One Point ColorExpressive, Retro, High Key, Low Key, Sepia, Dynamic Monochrome, High Dynamic, Toy Effect, Miniature, Soft FocusStill Image Scene ModePortrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Panorama Shot, Sports, Panning, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, / Handheld Night Shot, HDR, Food, Baby1, Baby2, Pet, Sunset, High Sensitivity, Glass Through, 3D photoPortrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Panorama shot, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Handheld Night Shot, HDR, Food, Baby1, Baby2, Pet, Sunset, Glass Through, 3D PhotoPortrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Panorama Shot, Sports, Panning, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, / Handheld Night Shot, HDR, Food, Baby1, Baby2, Pet, Sunset, High Sensitivity, Glass Through, 3D Photo Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Panorama Shot, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Hand Held Night Shot, HDR, Food, Baby1, Baby2, Pet, Sunset, High Sensitivity, Glass Through, Underwater, High Speed VideoContinuous Shooting ModeFull- Resolution Image: 12 frames/sec Max. 12 images / with AF Tracking: 5.5 frames/sec, 2 frames/sec / Intelligent Burst Shooting / High- speed Burst: approx. 60 frames/sec (recorded in 2.5M) / approx. 40 frames/sec (recorded in 5M) Full- Resolution Image: 11 frames/sec Max. 12 images / with AF Tracking: 5 frames/sec, 2 frames/sec / High- speed Burst: approx. 60 frames/sec (recorded in 2.5M) / approx. 40 frames/sec (recorded in 5M)Full- Resolution Image: 10 frames/sec Max. 3 images / with AF Tracking: 5 frames/sec, 2 frames/sec Full- Resolution Image: 10 frames/sec Max. 10 images / with AF Tracking: 5 frames/sec, 2 frames/sec Max. 100 images / Intelligent Burst Shooting / High- speed Burst: approx. 40 frames/sec (recorded in 5M) / approx. 60 frames/sec (recorded in 2.5M)Motion Picture Recording [HD Video] 1920 x 1080 pixels, 60p (PSH: 28Mbps / AVCHD) (Sensor Output is 60fps) / 1920 x 1080 pixels, 60i (FSH: 17Mbps / AVCHD) (Sensor Output is 60fps) / 1280 x 720 pixels, 60p (SH: 17Mbps / AVCHD) (Sensor Output is 60fps) / 1920 x 1080 pixels, 30 fps (FHD: 20Mbps / MP4) (Sensor Output is 30fps) / 1280 x 720 pixels, 30 fps (HD: 10Mbps / MP4) (Sensor Output is 30fps) / [STD Video] 640 x 480 pixels, 30fps (VGA: 4Mbps / MP4) (Sensor Output is 30fps) / [High Speed Video] 1280 x 720 pixels, 30 fps (MP4) (Sensor Output is 120fps) / 640 x 480 pixels, 30fps (MP4) (Sensor Output is 240fps) [HD Video] 1920 x 1080 pixels, 60p (PSH: 28Mbps / AVCHD) (Sensor Output is 60fps) / 1920 x 1080 pixels, 60i (FSH: 17Mbps / AVCHD) (Sensor Output is 60fps) / 1280 x 720 pixels, 60p(SH: 17Mbps / AVCHD) (Sensor Output is 60fps) / 1920 x 1080 pixels, 30 fps (FHD: 20Mbps / MP4) (Sensor Output is 30fps) / 1280 x 720 pixels, 30fps (HD: 10Mbps / MP4) (Sensor Output is 30fps) / [STD Video] 640 x 480 pixels, 30fps (VGA: 4Mbps / MP4) (Sensor Output is 30fps) / [Hi Speed Video] 1280 x 720 pixels, 30fps (MP4) (Sensor Output is 120fps) [HD Video] / 1920 x 1080 pixels, 60i (FSH: 17Mbps / AVCHD) (Sensor Output is 30fps) / 1280 x 720 pixels, 60p (SH: 17Mbps / AVCHD) (Sensor Output is 30fps) / 1920 x 1080 pixels, 30fps (FHD: 20Mbps / MP4) (Sensor Output is 30fps) / 1280 x 720 pixels, 30fps (HD: 10Mbps / MP4) (Sensor Output is 30fps) / [STD Video] / 640 x 480 pixels, 30 fps (VGA: 4Mbps / MP4) (Sensor Output is 30fps) [HD Video] 1920 x 1080 pixels, 60p (GPH: 28Mbps, PSH: 28Mbps / AVCHD) / 1920 x 1080 pixels, 60i (GFS: 17Mbps, FSH: 17Mbps / AVCHD) / 1280 x 720 pixels, 60p(GS: 17Mbps, SH: 17Mbps / AVCHD) / 1920 x 1080 pixels, 30 fps (FHD: 20Mbps / MP4) / 1280 x 720 pixels, 30 fps (HD: 10Mbps / MP4) / [STD Video] 640 x 480 pixels, 30fps (VGA: 4Mbps / MP4) / [High Speed Video] 320 x 240 pixels, 220fps (Motion JPEG)Still Picture Recording[1:1] / 2992 x 2992 (9M) / 2448 x 2448 (6M EZ) / 1920 x 1920(3.5M EZ) / 1536 x 1536(2.5M EZ) / 480 x 480(0.2M EZ) / [4:3] / 4000 x 3000 (12M) / 3264 x 2448 (8M EZ) / 2560 x 1920 (5M EZ) / 2048 x 1536 (3M EZ) / 1600 x 1200 (2M EZ) / 640 x 480 (0.3M EZ) / [3:2] / 4000 x 2672 (10.5M) / 3264 x 2176 (7M EZ) / 2560 x 1712 (4.5M EZ) / 2048 x 1360 (2.5M EZ) / 640 x 424 (0.3M EZ) / [16:9] / 4000 x 2248 (9M) / 3264 x 1840 (6M EZ) / 2560 x 1440(3.5M EZ) / 1920 x 1080 (2M EZ) / 640 x 360 (0.2M EZ) / 1920 x 1080 (3D)[1:1] 2736 x 2736 (7.5M) / 2304 x 2304 (5.5M EZ)/ 1920 x 1920 (3.5M EZ) / 1536 x 1536 (2.5M EZ) / 480 x 480 (0.2M EZ) / [4:3] 3648 x 2736 (10M) / 3072 x 2304 (7M EZ) / 2560 x 1920 (5M EZ) / 2048 x 1536 (3M EZ) / 1600 x 1200 (2M EZ) / 640 x 480 (0.3M EZ) / [3:2] 3776 x 2520 (9.5M) / 3168 x 2112 (6.5M EZ) / 2656 x 1768 (4.5M EZ)/ 2112 x 1408 (3M EZ) / 2048 x 1360 (2.5M EZ) / 640 x 424 (0.3M EZ) / [16:9] 3968 x 2232 (9M) / 3228 x 1872 (6M EZ) / 2784 x 1588 (4.5M EZ)/ 2208 x 1248 (2.5M EZ) / 1920 x 1080 (2M EZ) / 640 x 360 (0.2M EZ) / 1920 x 1080 (3D) [1:1] / 3456 x 3456 (12M) / 2736 x 2736 (7.5M EZ) / 2304 x 2304 (5.5M EZ) / 1920 x 1920 (3.5M EZ) / 1536 x 1536 (2.5M EZ) / 480 x 480 (0.2M EZ) / [4:3] / 4608 x 3456 (16M) / 3648 x 2736 (10M EZ) / 3072 x 2304 (7M EZ) / 2560 x 1920 (5M EZ) / 2048 x 1536 (3M EZ) / 640 x 480 (0.3M EZ) / [3:2] / 4608 x 3072 (14M) / 3648 x 2432 (9M EZ) / 3072 x 2048 (6M EZ) / 2560 x 1712 (4.5M EZ) / 2048 x 1360 (2.5M EZ) / 640 x 424 (0.3M EZ) / [16:9] / 4608 x 2592 (12M) / 3648 x 2056 (7.5M EZ) / 3072 x 1728 (5.5M EZ) / 2560 x 1440 (3.5M EZ) / 1920 x 1080 (2M EZ) / 640 x 360 (0.2M EZ) / 1920 x 1080 (3D) [1:1] 3232x3232 (10.5M) / 2736x2736 (7.5M EZ) / 2304x2304 (5.5M EZ)/ 1920x1920 (3.5M EZ) / 1536 x 1536 (2.5M EZ) / 480 x 480 (0.2M EZ) / [4:3] 4320 x 3240 (14M) / 3648 x 2736 (10M EZ) / 3072 x 2304 (7M EZ)/ 2560 x 1920 (5M EZ) / 2048 x 1536 (3M EZ) / 640 x 480 (0.3M EZ) / [3:2] 4320 x 2880 (12.5M) / 3648 x 2432 (9M EZ) / 3072 x 2048 (6M EZ)/ 2560 x 1712 (4.5M EZ) / 2048 x 1360 (2.5M EZ) / 640 x 424 (0.3M EZ) / [16:9] 4320 x 2432 (10.5M) / 3648 x 2056 (7.5M EZ) / 3072 x 1728 (5.5M EZ)2560 x 1440 (3.5M EZ) / 1920 x 1080 (2M EZ) / 640 x 360 (0.2M EZ)Digital Red Eye Correction (Red-Eye Removal)YesYesYesYesGPSn/an/an/aYes

Buy Now : Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 12.1 MP Digital Camera with CMOS Sensor and 24x Optical Zoom - Black

Brand : Panasonic
Category : Electronics,Camera & Photo,Digital Cameras,Point & Shoot Digital Cameras
Rating : 4.4
ListPrice : US $643.86
Price : US $599.99
Review Count : 777
Auto Focus Technology : Multi area, Contrast Detection, sensor
Photo Sensor Size : 1/2.3 inches Inches
Photo Sensor Technology : CMOS
Effective Still Resolution : 12.1 MP
Camera Flash : F2.8
Video Capture Resolution : 1080p
Video Standard : AVCHD
Model Name : DMC-FZ200
Model Number : DMC-FZ200
Best Sellers Rank : #318,749 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #2,115 in Digital Point & Shoot Cameras
Color : Black
Included Components : SD Card, Instruction Manual
Lens Type : Zoom
Optical Zoom : 24 x
Compatible Mountings : Micro Four Thirds
Screen Size : 3 Inches
Batteries Required? : Yes
Number of Batteries : 1 Lithium Ion batteries required.
Are Batteries Included : No
Rechargeable Battery Included : No
Battery Cell Composition : Lithium Ion
Battery Weight : 1 Grams
Target Gender : Unisex
Connectivity Technology : USB, HDMI
Continuous Shooting Speed : 12
Form Factor : Compact
Hardware Interface : AV Port
White balance settings : Auto, White fluorescent light, Daylight, Cloudy, Flash use
JPEG quality level : Normal
Image Stabilization : Optical
Viewfinder Type : both
Display Fixture Type : articulating
Assembly Required : No
Item Dimensions LxWxH : 4.93 x 4.34 x 3.41 inches
Item Weight : 537 Grams
Maximum Aperture : 2.8 f
Minimum Aperture : 8 f
Zoom Type : Optical Zoom
Maximum Focal Length : 600 Millimeters
Minimum Focal Length : 25 Millimeters
Expanded ISO Minimum : 100
Shooting Modes : Panorama, High dynamic rang
Flash Memory Installed Size : 70
Flash Memory Type : SD Card, SDXC, SDHC
Memory Storage Capacity : 70 MB
Max Shutter Speed : 60 seconds
Min Shutter Speed : 60 seconds
Digital Zoom : 4 x
Removable Memory : SDHC
Aperture Modes : F2.8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 12.1 MP Digital Camera with CMOS Sensor and 24x Optical Zoom - Black

• Here was my first impressions, I am updating many of them.IQ is a little disappointing. I have tested it at various zooms and full wide, 100% crops look fairly bad. Checking to see if it is \"operator error\" or just the way it is. It is a little unfair as I am comparing it to my  Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G3 16 MP Micro Four-Thirds Interchangeable Lens Camera with 3-Inch Touch Screen LCD (Body Only)  at the same focal length. The G3 looks good at 100% crop where the FZ200 is fuzzed away. I am going to do some more comparisons forcing the same f-stop and ISO. Note that I am comparing both JPEG and RAW. I have a variety of lenses for the G3 including the 14-45, 45-200, f2.8 19mm, and a wide range of legacy lenses so I can match the reach of the FZ200 for testing. Of course, none of the zooms is f2.8 through it\'s entire range like the lens on the FZ200.11/19/12 UPDATE: After months of using this as my second camera and for sports photos (read below), I have found that certain settings improve the IQ. For some reason \"Happy\" instead of standard seems to really crank up the apparent resolution. The HDR option provides wonderful pictures, and the automatic panorama is better than I have seen on any other camera. After learning my way around the camera, I would change my rating to 4.5! You really need to learn how to use this camera to get the best results, it is way beyond a \"point and shoot\".It does provide unlimited video recording using AVCHD Progressive. Only limit is your card size, no 29 minute cutoff. The MPEG-4 does have the cutoff, but that is mandated by the type of file created. MPEG-4 creates one file and therefore is limited by FAT32. AVCHD creates multiple linked files so doesn\'t run up again the file limitations of the cards. The mis-informed individual should take down his 2 star review. Videos are excellent. The slo-motion video capability is way beyond what I have seen on the competitors. For sports coaching, this would be an excellent choice.Compared to the G3, build feels a little cheap. Compared to most of the super-zooms I have had, build quality is about the same. The balance of the camera is excellent and the hand-grip is just the right size. Nothing feels out of place.The EVF has a smaller opening than on the G3 and is hard to see wearing glasses (which I do). Disappointed in this as I use the EVF for 95% of all pictures I take. The diaopter adjustment is excellent, with good range.I do like the zoom on the left side of the lens. Really in the right place and very useful. It is very useful when doing video as it helps to keep the camera steady as you zoom. Combined with the stabilization in the camera, it makes your videos look almost pro.Night Shots: Used the night shot feature which I miss in my G3. The camera takes multiple exposures and assembles together to provide good pictures in low light. Works well, you have to be really steady but it seems to account for the minor human shakes well. Understand the G5 has this feature, trying to find a manual online to confirm.Update, 11/19/12, SPORTS COACHING with high speed video:The 120 fps and 240 fps videos work GREAT! Used them for my high school teams and in my daily teaching. I bought a wireless remote control  RainbowImaging 100 Meter 2.4GHz Wireless Remote Shutter Release for Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ20, FZ20K, FZ25, FZ30, FZ50, LC1, L10, L1, G1, GH1, GF1, GH2, G2 & Leica Digilux 1, DIGILUX 2, DIGILUX 3, Replaces panasonic DMW-RS1 , put the camera on a tripod and have people hitting balls as I feed or serving. Then immediately can have them review and see what they need to correct. Going to get a  Transcend Information 16 GB Wi-Fi SDHC Class 10 Memory Card (TS16GWSDHC10)  when they come out so I can have a laptop by the court to show the videos right after taking them -- waiting for this because I want the class 10 throughput. Still working out the best settings, but so far everyone has been floored by the IQ on these slo-mo videos.Recommended bag for this camera:  Case Logic SLRC-200 SLR Camera Holster (Black) Note that I sold my DMC-G3 and bought an  Olympus OM-D E-M5 16MP Live MOS Interchangeable Lens Camera with 3.0-Inch Tilting OLED Touchscreen and 12-50mm Lens (Black) . This is my camera when I am looking for the highest quality and doing things like my macro photography. The FZ200 is what I use for sports and action photos.
• Confused About Bridge Cameras? You Should Be!Much of the entire camera review area is horribly redundant. By that, I mean you often have 1) a cut and paste of a Press Release followed by a \"new article\" 2) a \"Hands on Preview\" which once again regurgitates the press release, perhaps some add copy, and is a meaningless non-review. Finally, maybe, 6 - 8 months later you might have 3) a review, or not. Many cameras never make it to 3), for they are already discontinued and new models are announced, as in the case right now in several areas.The bridge camera is supposed to bridge the divide between pocket cameras and system cameras, more or less. Yet, there is no consensus as to what that specifically means.Right now, PC Magazine has the new $699 Olympus Stylus 1 camera as its Editor\'s Choice SuperZoom. It is called a SuperZoom, although it is only a 10.7x optical zoom camera. It replaced the Panasonic FZ-200 24x unit, that can now be had for $410 or even less. The Fujifilm X-S1 26x camera was beat out by the Panasonic. In October, 2012 (yes, way back then) the comment was \"At close to $800 the X-S1 is prohibitively priced for many buyers, which prevents it from ousting the Nikon Coolpix P510 as our Editors\' Choice superzoom camera.\" By the way, you can now pick up the Fujifilm XS-1 for $350 delivered, if not less.This is one example of many sure to either bewilder people, or convince people that PC Magazine (and other sources) are completely bewildered. How can a 10.7x camera, in 2013, be a \"SuperZoom\" compared to a 24x, 26x, or 50x unit? How can a camera like the Fujifilm that retailed at $799 for a short while be overpriced, yet now the short-range Olympus is the best SuperZoom you can buy? As fast as you can change your socks, the best SuperZoom went from a 42x Nikon P510 to a 24x Panasonic FZ-200 to a 10.7x Olympus. A 10x zoom range camera is no super zoom: that range of non-versatility is handily exceeded by dozens of 20 - 24 x eight ounce pocket cameras.WHAT IS A BRIDGE CAMERA?The idea of a bridge camera is to give you more versatility, features, and flexibility than available in a shirt-pocket camera with one lens array: with less bulk, weight, and cost than going the D-SLR or other system camera route. One lens array means the sensor and processor can be optimized for that one lens. One lens means the unit is sealed to a certain extent, so no dirt will cover your sensor when changing lenses for example. A bridge camera should also net you an electronic viewfinder, better battery life than a point and shoot, and should be a lot more fun to carry than a system camera.THE BETTER BRIDGE CAMERAS, AND WHYFujifilm X-S1The Fujifilm X-S1 is better built than most all of them, with a larger sensor than the common 1/2.33 arena sensors, and better image quality, in general, than small-sensor cameras. Currently, it is a screaming deal at $350 street. You might wonder why I don\'t use one, currently? Its images can be quite excellent:[...] . The barrier, for me, is its 2.1 lb. or so weight, just more than I want to carry all day. But, that\'s what you get if you want a larger sensor, lens, and metal dials and a tougher build. If the weight is not an issue, and a manual zoom appeals: it may well be your camera. The EVF of the XS-1 is comparatively huge at 0.47-inch, approx. 1440,000 dots. Many other popular cameras have dinky .21 inch EVF\'s . . . and that includes the Canon SX-50 and Panasonic FZ-200. The X-S1 is a case of \"be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.\" We say we want better build quality (more metal, less plastic) and we say we want larger sensors. The X-S1 provides both. The catch is, larger sensors require larger, heavier lens arrays, and better build quality means more weight as well. The XS-1 gives a lot of folks want they said they wanted, but it weighs about 75% more than some other bridge-class cameras . . . the additional weight and bulk being the main detriment, at least for my uses.Canon SX-50The Canon fills the frame when other cameras struggle. While the impressive 50x lens isn\'t the brightest, its sensor is spectacularly good for a small sensor: or at least the sensor / processor combination. Competitively priced currently at $329, its somewhat plasticy (also noisy and slippery) build makes the camera more fun to carry at about 1.3 pounds. The weight difference between this unit and the X-S1 is substantial, for the Fujifilm unit weighs over 60% more.Panasonic FZ-200A great, bright, constant 2.8 lens and blazing fast shooting performance is why you\'d want this camera (now down to $409 as of this writing). Its 24x zoom range (600mm max focal length in 35mm equivalent) is less than half of the Canon SX-50 and the bargain-priced Fujifilm SL1000 50x camera ($250 or so), but 24x handles a lot of shooting opportunities and the digital \"Intelligent Zoom\" gets you to 48x if needed while still capturing quite enjoyable images. It is one of those rare cameras that is very good for both still images and video. I\'m asked if the FZ-200 is \"okay for birding\" and wildlife. Vickie has answered that for us on Flickr. The LCD has a 3:2 aspect ratio. If you shoot in the \"7M EZ\" mode you have an image size good up to an 11 x 14 or larger, but now you can enjoy about a 30x optical zoom (actually, 29.4x) or a whopping 58.8x \"intelligent zoom.\" That\'s a 735mm (35mm eq.) focal length that covers a huge range of shooting scenarios, without resorting to the smart zoom / pure view / intelligent zoom versions of interpolation. For an SLR, a 600mm lens  Nikon 600mm f/4.0G ED VR II AF-S SWM Super Telephoto Lens for Nikon FX and DX Format Digital SLR  could set you back $9K or more. Not exactly an easy to carry, affordable option.CONCLUSIONAll three of these cameras (X-S1, SX-50, FZ-200) can be considered excellent. It isn\'t that one camera could be rationally picked as an easy winner, for all of them have the ability to do a fine job under many conditions. Price is invariably a factor, for you can always squander the extra cash on food, clothing, and shelter.If value is your primary concern, presently the $250 or so street price Fujifilm SL1000 is hard to beat. Its huge zoom range is the same as the bit more expensive SX-50, although the Canon is a slightly better unit for still images) if you need to fill the frame with a 1200mm 35mm equivalent focal length. The  Fujifilm FinePix SL1000 16.2MP Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Black)  offers the most for the least dollars. In bright sun, there is no such thing as a truly great LCD. They all wash out to a certain extent, and an electronic viewfinder can save the day in those conditions. Surprisingly, the most inexpensive camera in this field, the Fujifilm SL1000, offers a 920K dot EVF and a 920K dot hinged LCD.The Fujifilm XS-1 has the best image quality in the field, and the best build quality as well. Now available at $350, it would be called a \"no-brainer\" by some. While I understand that, its roughly 2.2 pound weight is more than I want to carry all day and as I do take a lot of video, the manual zoom of the XS-1 is a negative for my purposes. It is the closest thing to a system camera replacement, unfortunately including weight and bulk.There is no right or wrong or \"correct\" answer for everyone, for you can have a lot of fun with all of these cameras. Although I still use a Canon SX-50 for stationary stills, the camera that does the most for me most of the time is the FZ-200. Here\'s why I prefer it.The FZ-200 is substantially lighter than the X-S1, it locks autofocus in extreme low-light situations (deer after sunset feeding in a field) where the SX-50 struggles. While its EVF is not as good as the X-S1, though small (.21 in.) it is far sharper than the SX-50 with 1.31 million pixels.The Panasonic FZ-200 spanks the SX-50 in video performance, focus speed, overall shooting speed and boot-up time, and has a panorama mode that the SX-50 (and Canon in general) refuses to implement. Its excellent video performance is complimented by excellent battery life (540 still shots). Video is invariably a big drain on batteries, as is cold weather, and both video and cold weather are common situations for me. The 120 fps 720p (lower HD) high speed video mode is superb. It is a 1/4 speed, smooth as glass, high-resolution playback. The same goes for the VGA (640 x 480) HS mode that is 240 fps: more than sufficient quality to analyze a golf swing with no post-processing.The constant F2.8 lens of the FZ-200 is no joke and it gives this camera the ability to function where other super-zooms cannot. Under well-lit conditions, there isn\'t much difference in image quality. Under ridiculously poor light, there is a huge difference.To compare, I took several pictures of an igloo-shaped doghouse in the snow after midnight using three representative cameras, all hand-held. A Panasonic FZ-60 lost its mind, and could not begin to focus. The Canon SX-50 whirred, clicked, struggled and told me to \"raise flash.\" It took an unrecognizable, muddy black image of nothing discernible. The FZ-200, however, locked focus instantly and grabbed an ISO 1600 image of the doghouse, zoomed in to fill the frame, with no issues. In this somewhat contrived example, it was the difference between an instant, usable image and no image at all.Not surprisingly, the demise of the digital camera market has been under-reported by most review sites, if it has been reported at all. Reuters summed things up on December 30, 2013, noting that Panasonic\'s camera sales have plummeted 40 percent from April to September. IDC expects a further drop in the market for compact cameras in 2014 of 40 percent. Whether you are selling hot dogs or hockey pucks, drops of 40 percent are not sustainable. Industry analyst Yu Yoshida mentioned, \"\"Only those who have a strong brand and are competitive on price will last -- and only Canon, Nikon and Sony fulfill that criteria.\" Panasonic with its tiny three percent and change of the market, along with Olympus and Fujifilm, are all considered vulnerable.While smartphone sales have sizzled, camera sales have fizzled. Unfortunately, the Micro 4/3 system cameras have not gained much traction, another ominous situation for Panasonic and Olympus. Canon and Nikon own the SLR market, and powerful brand names (rightly or wrongly, perhaps sadly) is why many people buy what they do.The FZ-200, introduced over a year ago, is one of those rare cameras that won\'t go out of style anytime soon. The constant F/2.8 25mm-600mm lens is ground-breaking in a camera of this type, and remains so. Its 1,312,000 dot EVF is best of breed for a camera of this type and its video performance remains class-leading as well. Its 540 shot CIPA battery life is far best than most in this class, more than double of some. It is fast enough in focusing, fast enough in boot-up and shot-to-shot speed, with a fast enough lens to be able to capture images where most all bridge-type cameras cannot.It is the only camera that satisfactorily bridges three types of imaging devices: the simpler point and shoot, the system camera with multiple lenses, and the camcorder. Given unlimited funds, size, and weight you can of course find technically better imaging. Not so most could notice on a web page or an 8 x 10, though, and certainly not on shareable video files, either. It makes the FZ-200 its own class of camera: a very good class, to say the least. Though under many conditions, you can get quite pleasing images with several cameras, for a 1-1/4 lb. audiovisual standalone media powerhouse unit, the FZ-200 is the one to beat.Copyright 2013 by Randy Wakeman and Randy Wakeman Outdoors.For sake of completeness: I\'ve always found Panasonic-labeled Chinese batteries to be a spectacular rip-off. I\'ve been using  Halcyon 1600 mAH Lithium Ion Replacement Battery for Panasonic Lumix FZ200 Digital Camera and Panasonic DMW-BLC12  and they are better than OEM. I also added the  Panasonic DMW-LMC52 52mm Protection Filter for Panasonic Digital Camera  multicoated protective lens.

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