Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Digital Camera

The Lumix DMC-FZ200 Digital Camera from Panasonic is Panasonic's latest digital compact camera to offer an f/2.8 aperture across the full range of its zoom.  And given that the full range runs to 600mm (in 35mm format), that's saying something. The lens on the FZ200 is a 24x optical zoom lens that starts at the wide angle end as a 25mm and zooms all the way to 600mm.  This is an incredible range that encompasses all the focal lengths you could ever need and it offers an f/2.8 aperture at all of those lengths.  Normally, this is something that only high end professional lenses offer, but with this Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens, you can have the speed and light collecting ability of an f/2.8 in an easy-to- use, easy-to-hold compact camera. It's hard to understate the improvements your photos will show, especially zoom close-ups, when you are shooting at f/2.8. The f/2.8 will allow you to use faster shutter speeds at full zoom or lower light and get sharp, blur-free images. Add to that, the Light Speed Auto Focus and 12 frames per second burst shooting speed and you have no reason to ever miss a shot. Really.

Also, a newly developed 12.1 MP high sensitivity MOS sensor and high performance LSI Venus Engine image processor equal high speed response to match the lens' speed and sensitive, high resolution image quality that will make all those shots you're now able to get, worth getting. In addition to high speed continuous shooting and Auto Focus, the Venus Engine image processor also offers quick start-up time and High Speed Video up to 240 frames per second which will slow down fast-moving subjects for awesome slo-mo.

Back that great lens for a second. The 24x optical zoom can be doubled to 48x with the Intelligent Zoom function. Intelligent Resolution, POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) and Active Mode will keep images clear and shake-free even when shooting with such a high zoom. Also, these Leica lenses come with Panasonic's Nano Surface Coating which minimizes light reflection and optical aberrations throughout the zoom range meaning that images are clear and light flares are kept to a minimum.   

Rounding out the improvements in the FZ200 is its newly designed body which allows for easier control and better access to the zooming and focus lever. Also, a newly developed 0.2" EVF (Electronic View Finder) offers a high resolution image and 100% field of view.

Like all Lumix camera's the FZ200 is made complete with a full range of assistive and creative control options that will drastically improve your shooting, especially when taking on tricky high contrast or low light images. And of course, the FZ200 houses a wonderful video package available at the push of one dedicated button. From Full HD 1080 60p to ultra high speed video at VGA size, you have all the video you could ever want from a compact camera. And that lens that we spoke about - f/2.8 aperture and 24x optical zoom- is functional in video as well.  Add to that, Dolby Stereo audio recording and you have in your hands a complete Audio-Visual creation machine. 

Fast F2.8 Aperture Across Entire Zoom Range

World’s First 25-600mm Lens with Full-Range F2.8 Aperture

The DMC-FZ200 features a high-quality LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 25mm ultra wide-angle lens with a 24x optical zoom (35mm camera equivalent: 25-600mm) that achieves full range F2.8.

The stunningly bright F2.8 aperture at 600mm is a world’s first for a digital compact camera*. You’ll have the ability to capture a moving subject, even in the distance, clearly with a fast shutter speed.

*As of July 18, 2012.

                    DMC-FZ150                                                  DMC-FZ200

Designed with 14 elements in 11 groups, including 3 ED lenses and 5 aspherical lenses with 9 aspherical surfaces, this advanced lens unit allows for an incredibly compact camera body while delivering exceptional optical performance.

To achieve full range F2.8 with a shallow depth of field, high precision correction performance against distortion is required. The DMC-FZ200 integrates 5 aspherical lenses and 3 ED lenses to pass Leica's stringent standards. The accuracy required for the aspherical lens is within 0.1 um, which is managed by the unparalleled mold technology of the Panasonic Yamagata Factory.

Nano Surface Coating

Panasonic's black box technology Nano Surface Coating boasts an extremely low reflectance ratio and allows the DMC-FZ200 to deliver exceptional optical performance with stunning clarity by minimizing flaring and ghosts.

24X Power O.I.S. Leica Optics [600mm]

48x Intelligent Zoom

If the 24x optical zoom is not long enough for your photographic journey, the Intelligent Zoom uses digital zoom technology with minimum deterioration of image quality thanks to the Intelligent Resolution technology. The 24x optical zoom virtually extends to a 48x zoom equivalent.

25mm Ultra Wide-Angle Lens

The 25mm ultra wide-angle lens*has about twice the shooting area as a standard 35mm lens. This enhances most shooting situations, like photographing a group of people at an indoor party or shooting a large structure or sweeping landscape while traveling.

*Converted to standard 35mm camera equivalent, at the wide-end.

POWER O.I.S.

The POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) suppresses vibration and hand-shake that happens when you press the shutter button or when shooting at night with a slow shutter speed. The POWER O.I.S. also works for powerful zoom shots, which are especially susceptible to hand-shake. The Active Mode is effective for video recording.

In-Camera Creative Effects

14 Creative Controls

Panasonic is ready to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary by fueling your creativity with the Creative Control feature (in the recording mode) and the Creative Retouch feature (in the playback mode). These features take simple or complicated scenes and make them easy to capture in a great photo. Simply set the camera to match your scene and it uses sophisticated presets to optimize the camera settings resulting in photos you’ll be proud of.

Photo Styles

You can choose from 6 color types ranging from monochrome to vivid resulting in photos and videos just the way you imagined them. In addition, the contrast, sharpness, saturation, and noise reduction for each mode can be customized in 5 steps and even stored in memory.

Panorama Shot

The Panorama Shot Mode makes it is possible to shoot a 360-degree horizontal/vertical panoramic image with consecutive shots taken by overlaying the previous picture.

White Balance Bracket

The white balance bracket function shoots 3 consecutive photos with slight changes to the white balance setting of each photo in both the horizontal (amber to blue) and vertical (green to magenta) axes.

Intelligent Night Shot

The Intelligent Handheld Night Shot in the iA Mode delivers bright, glamorous night scenery with illumination by layering multiple pictures shot consecutively for one outstanding night photo. Create beautiful night scenes without using a tripod.

The Handheld Night Shot Mode is also available in the Scene Modes.

3D Photo Mode

The 3D Photo Mode produces a 3D image in the camera. The image-processing method used by LUMIX records beautiful images with less distortion or visible image links.

Take 20 panning shots and the camera selects the two most suitable images – one for the right eye and one for the left eye – to synthesize a 3D composite.

The 3D image can be played back on MPO-compatible equipment such as VIERA HDTVs and digital photo frames, or even printed.

1.3MP Electronic Viewfinder

The newly developed 0.2-inch EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) features 1,312K-dot equivalent high resolution and a 100% field of view. Shoot fast-moving subjects under strong sunlight with an increased frame rate from 30fps to a maximum of 60 fps, and a minimized screen freeze.

3.0-inch Free-Angle LCD

A 3.0-inch 3:2 460K-dot free-angle LCD rotates 180° to the side and tilts 270° up and down. This LCD enables dynamic, artistic framing with high-angle shots and low-angle shots. It's convenient when shooting with a tripod too.

Focus Button

The Focus Button conveniently activates the variable AF area. During MF operation, it changes to a handy One-Shot AF function to provide initial focusing. During Playback, it gives you one-touch zoom playback of subjects in focus.

iA (Intelligent Auto) Plus

In the iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode, the camera does all the work, leaving you free to compose your shot and capture the moment. Simply aim, press, and shoot. The detection and correction functions go to work to give you beautiful photos and videos. In addition, the iA Plus Mode enables you to defocus an area, adjust exposure compensation, and control white balance by simply moving a slider.

Defocus Control

The range of defocus can be adjusted to match your creativity.

Brightness Control

You can adjust the exposure compensation accurately and easily to the level you want.

Color Control

You can adjust the white balance from warm red to cool blue.

Shake Detection

When gyro sensors detect hand-shake, the O.I.S. lens shifts to compensate helping prevent blurred images.

Motion Deblur

The Motion Deblur Mode determines the appropriate shutter speed and suppresses motion blur. The shutter speed rises as high as possible activating the high sensitivity recording with a pixel mixed readout method.

Face Recognition

The Face Recognition function remembers faces that have been registered in the camera and provides the faces with optimal focus and exposure.

Face Detection

The Face Detection function detects faces anywhere in the frame and automatically chooses the optimal focus and exposure. The Face Detection also features Digital Red-Eye Correction (Red-Eye Removal) in photo recording.

Subject Detection

Once you focus on your subject, the AF Tracking system automatically and continuously tracks it and keeps it in focus with proper exposure.

Scene Detection

The Intelligent Scene Selector senses the ambient conditions and automatically selects one of these Scene Modes: Photo (Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait, Night Scenery or Sunset Mode), Video (Scenery, Portrait, Macro or Low Light Mode).

Light Detection

The Intelligent D-range Control offers natural looking images by optimizing the exposure for each part of an image, preventing blocked shadows and blown highlights, and helping ensure that gradation and details are reproduced beautifully including the blue color in the sky.

Intelligent HDR (High Dynamic Range)

You will be delighted by the creative possibilities that Intelligent HDR (High Dynamic Range) delivers. Shoot several still pictures consecutively at different exposure levels that are then overlaid to produce a single composite picture without whiteout (over-exposure) or blackout (under-exposure). The results are stunning.

1-cm Macro

Ideal for taking dynamic, intricate close-ups of flowers and insects, the 1-cm Macro feature is also great for photographing artwork and crafts with spectacular detail and rich colors.

Built-in Flash

Select the flash synchronization you want from 1st Curtain Sync. or 2nd Curtain Sync. Helping you capture nightscapes with a natural flow of light. You can also adjust the intensity of light with a range of ±EV 2 in 1/3 EV steps.

Custom Mode

Custom Mode 1 gives you the power to program a series of settings you use often, while Custom Mode 2 lets you register patterns for up to 3 additional settings.

Quick Menu

Using the Q.MENU button, frequently used functions can be quickly retrieved.

12 fps Burst Rate

Approximately 0.95 sec Quick Start-Up Time

The DMC-FZ200 boasts a quick start-up time of approximately 0.95 sec. Together with Light Speed AF, the DMC-FZ200 helps you to never miss a moment.

Light Speed AF

Light Speed AF helps catch even the most fleeting photo opportunities. You can quickly focus on moving subjects such as sports, animals or kids.

12 fps with 12.1-megapixel Full Resolution

The 12.1-megapixel MOS sensor lets the DMC-FZ200 shoot 12 fps in full resolution with a mechanical shutter. You can even take a series of shots, choose the ones you like the best, and delete the rest.

Intelligent Burst Mode

When photographing a fast moving subject, but you’re not sure how to set the camera, Intelligent Burst Shooting will automatically set the frame rate of burst shooting according to the subject's movement making it easy for you to achieve gorgeous photos.

*1 The focus is fixed to the first picture. 
*2 The focus, exposure and white balance are fixed to the first picture. 
*3 The number of burst recording pictures is limited by the picture-taking conditions and the type and/or status of the card used.

AF Tracking

Once you focus on your subject, the AF Tracking automatically follows it until you press the shutter. When you're taking images of an active subject, like children or pets, this function eliminates the need to press the shutter button halfway down repeatedly to readjust the focus.

12.1-megapixel MOS Sensor

The new 12.1-megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor boasts an excellent S/N ratio resulting in super clear images with less noise even in high sensitivity recording. Together with the high performance image processing LSI Venus Engine, it elevates the response, sensitivity and image quality to an even higher level.

Intelligent Noise Reduction System

The excellent S/N (Signal to Noise) ratio of the MOS sensor combined with the Intelligent Noise Reduction system in the Venus Engine delivers photos and videos from low to high sensitivity with outstanding clearness.

Intelligent HDR

You will be delighted by the creative possibilities that Intelligent HDR (High Dynamic Range) in the iA Mode delivers. Shoot several still pictures consecutively at different exposure levels that are then overlaid to produce a single composite picture without whiteout (over-exposure) or blackout (under-exposure). The results are stunning. The HDR Mode is also available in the Scene Modes.

Full 1080/60p HD Video

60p Full HD Video Recording

The DMC-FZ200 records high-resolution full-HD 1,920 x 1,080 videos in AVCHD Progressive (MPEG-4 / H.264) format. Featuring 60p (NTSC) full HD recording capability, subjects with fast motion or fine details are reproduced clearly.

Twice the Information of Interlace Recording

1080/60p / 1080/50p (progressive) conveys about twice the information of 1080i (interlace) recording. It creates intricate detail and silky smooth motion even when subjects move quickly. Afterimages are minimized creating more natural looking images.

Progressive Scanning

This feature reproduces all image data in a single picture.

Imaging
Pixels	Actual: 12.8 Megapixel Effective: 12.1 Megapixel
Sensor	1/2.3" MOS
File Formats	Still Images: JPEG, MPO, RAW Movies: MPEG-4, MPEG-4 AVCHD Audio: AAC
Max Resolution	12 MP: 4000 x 3000
Aspect Ratio	1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9
Image Stabilization	Optical

Optics
Lens	Leica DC Vario-Elmarit, 14 elements in 11 groups 5 Aspherical, 3 ED EFL: 4.5-108mm (35 mm equivalent: 25-600mm) Aperture: f/2.8 (W) - 2.8 (T) to f/8.0
Filter Thread	52mm
Zoom	Optical: 24x Intelligent Zoom: 48x
Focus Range	Wide: 11.81" (30 cm) - Infinity Telephoto: 78.74" (200 cm) - Infinity Wide: 0.39" (1 cm) - Infinity Telephoto: 39.37" (100 cm) - Infinity

Exposure Control
ISO Sensitivity	Auto, 100-3200 (High Sensitivity Mode: 1600-6400)
Shutter	60 - 1/4000
Exposure Metering	Center-weighted, Multi, Spot
Exposure Modes	Modes: Aperture Priority, Manual, Programmed Auto, Shutter Priority Compensation: -3 EV to +3 EV (in 1/3 EV steps)
Shooting Modes	Easy Auto Mode Landscape Miniature Effect Monochrome Night Portrait Night Scene Panorama Portrait Smooth Skin Soft Focus Toy Camera Effect Vivid Color
White Balance Modes	Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent (Natural White), Fluorescent (White), Incandescent, Shade
Burst Rate	Up to 12 fps at 12.1 MP for up to 12 frames Up to 5.5 fps at 12.1 MP for up to 12 frames Up to 2 fps at 12.1 MP for up to 12 frames Up to 60 fps at 2.5 MP Up to 40 fps at 5 MP
Self Timer	10 Sec, 2 Sec
Remote Control	None

Flash
Flash Modes	Auto Auto/Red-eye Reduction Forced On Off Second-curtain Sync Slow Sync Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction
Built-in Flash	Yes
Maximum Effective Flash Range	Wide: 0.98 - 44.29' (0.3 - 13.5 m) Telephoto: 3.28 - 44.29' (1.0 - 13.5 m)
External Flash Connection	Hot Shoe

Memory
Built-in Memory	70 MB
Memory Card Type	SD SDHC SDXC
Still Images per GB	Not Specified By Manufacturer

Recording
Video Recording	Yes, NTSC
Resolution	1920 x 1080: 60 fps, 30 fps 1280 x 720: 60 fps, 30 fps, 120 fps 640 x 480: 60 fps, 30 fps, 240 fps

Video
Video Clip Length	Up to 100 Min
Audio Recording	With Video, Stereo

Viewfinder/Display
Viewfinder Type	Electronic
Viewfinder Coverage	100%
Screen	3.0" LCD Rear Screen (460,000 pixels)

Connectivity/System Requirements
Connectivity	2.5mm Sub-mini (3-Ring) AV Output HDMI C (Mini) USB 2.0

Environmental
Operating/Storage Temperature	Not Specified By Manufacturer
Waterproofing	Not Specified By Manufacturer

Power
Battery	Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, 7.2 VDC, 1200 mAh
AC Power Adapter	110-240V AC (Optional)

Physical
Dimensions (WxHxD)	4.9 x 3.4 x 4.3" / 125.2 x 86.6 x 110.2 mm
Weight	1.18 lb / 537 g without battery and card

Packaging Info
Package Weight	2.12 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)	7.8 x 6.5 x 4.5"