PANASONIC LUMIX ZS200 15X Leica DC Lens with Stabilization, 20.1 Megapixel, Large 1 inch Low Light Sensor (DC-ZS200S USA Silver)

The two uploaded photos are of the same section of landscape, one zoomed out (24mm) and the other fully zoomed in (360mm).Review:Got this to avoid carrying my dlsr and lenses on hikes, and to do time lapse of sunrises and sunsets.Step 1: Throw away the (junk/out of date) user guide in the box right after you open it once to scan the qr code to download the excellent user manual.Step2: Install (under the same cover as the battery) a 128gb or less SD cardStep 3: Charge the battery (charging port under the same small cover as the hdmi port)Step 4: Set the wheel to iA+ (fully automatic shutter speed/exposure f stop) and if desired set the drive mode to burst with burst speed set to slow (2 shots per second if/while you hold down the shuttter release).Step 5: Turn it on, point and shoot.What actually prompted me to make this purchase is that I went on a great hike with views where I took a good number of pictures with my (decent) Samsung A71 5G UW smartphone Camera, but afterward found that the pictures didn't have anywhere close to sufficient resolution to want to print - or even share, *especially the zoomed in ones* - which was painfully dissapointing.In comparison, the ZS200 displays markedly superior picture quality - staggeringly better when zoomed.(Among other things, a good lesson/reminder on the merits of optical vs. digital zoom).So far (10 days/1050 pictures later) I am overall quite pleased with this camera. The size, weight, picture quality and particularly the zoomed picture quality make the purchase price more than worth it for me. I remove the top portion of the camera case (not included, see below) when I go hiking, throw the cover strap over my shoulder and I'm finding it fairly quick to grab, turn on and shoot without having to remove the shoulder strap. After some practice, I find I am also able to do that one handed which is a plus, as I often have both my trekking poles in my other hand.All that is to say I think I'll have a fair chance to get some opportunistic/fleeting shots of wildlife using this setup if and when they present themselves.The camera does have a multitude of features and settings that I really haven't played with in the week or so since I got it, but it is quite a sophisticated piece of compact engineering.It's fairly deep into "real camera" territory for those who want to manage their own depth of field/shutter speed etc, so don't mistake it for the severely limited point and shoots of yesteryear.One note about time lapse that I couldn't find in the user manual:If you use a shot interval > 30 seconds for time lapse photography, the camera will retract the lens barrel every shot, darken the display, then extend the lens barrel and turn on the display for the next shot.I had to try different shot intervals to determine where the barrel stays put for the duration (<= 30 seconds) but when I originally set it to 150 shots at 1 minute intervals I observed the barrel extending and retracting each shot (150 times per time lapse series).I for one don't want to put that much wear and tear on the lens barrel stepper motor and parts, so I'll only use 30 seconds or less for a time lapse interval, but it seemed like something Panasonic should have spelled out in their manual (searched and couldn't find anything about that operation).Of note is I did have the lens set partially zoomed (~110mm) when I observed this, but I really don't believe that was a factor.Also bought and reccommendMini Tripod for Camera,Zomei Travel Table Tripod with 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head 1/4 inches Quick Release Plate and Bag for DSLR Camera(THIS TRIPOD IS ONLY 20.5" FULLY EXTENDED)SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card - C10, U3, V30, 4K UHD, SD CardMegaGear Ever Ready Genuine Leather Camera Case Compatible with Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100, DC-ZS200(IF YOU LIKE LEATHER, RETRO STYLE COVERS)For me, the only downside (more aptly the cheap side) I will mention that the battery cover latch and the charging/hdmi port cover feel a bit flimsy to me, but I couldn't possibly justify dropping my review score by a star due to to those two largely aesthetic details.

Great compact size. Easy focus, great photos even on my 50" TV screen. Fine video too. So why not a "5 star"? The camera has so many functions that it is quite easy to get stuck in an unexpected format and not know how you got there or how to change it back to simple single photo. I did this several times and was unable to figure out why multiple shots were being taken--was it HDR, or one of the 3 options for 4K? I had to go to the internet to figure out how to get back to a regular photo format. Not so easy if you're traveling. The location of the 4K button makes it easy to activate this simply by getting the camera out of a case. The camera is quite sensitive to dampness too--as at a misty waterfall, where the camera stopped working till it dried out. Others have warned of this. All this said, the 15 X tele is stunning, esp in a camera so small. Overall, I'm happy, but I'd have been happier if I had spent even more time learning all the special features--there are a bazillion, and the HOURS I spent beforehand were not enough! Is it possible a camera does too much?

I was searching for a travel camera with a big zoom and sensor larger than a 1/2.3 or 1/1.7 inch —one I would actually take on trips and not leave at home because it was just to big or heavy for packing light. (Phones work well for selfies and panoramas, but the photo quality is pretty limited.) The ZS200 is the small, light camera with a 15x zoom, 1” sensor, and WiFi for remote control and transfer of images to phones or tablets for posting or emails. Through blue tooth/WiFi, remote control of the camera w a phone works really well and allows you to get photos that your physical presence would preclude (see birds below). The burst shot and 4K options help in getting great single frames of action shots and in-camera editing options allow production of fabulous final products. I did buy an extra battery and separate charger, as otherwise the battery is charged by plugging in the camera. Rather than take the chance that a second market battery might not charge appropriately or safely in the camera, I bought the Panasonic brand ($$).Drawbacks—the ZS200 is not weatherproofed and the aperture does get small at the high zoom positions, limiting light capture. No camera met all my criteria! This was the best compromise.Note: It seems that when you pair your phone or ipad w the camera, you should put the camera in playback mode. Otherwise for me the pairing failed.

In the last years, I was hesitating to choose a pocketable zoom camera between Sony RX100 VII and Panasonic ZS200, for occasions when I meet beautiful natural sceneries or animals during my daily life without the DSLR or mirrorless camera in my hand. After trying ZS200 for a month, I can say clearly now that this is absolutely what I'm dreaming of, and it's certainly the best portable camera with such a powerful zoom (24-360 mm, 15X!!!) one can find on the market. My main points are:Pros: * 1" large sensor;* 24-360 mm (15x) the most powerful zoom lens;* numerous professional features similar to your DSLR or mirrorless;* fixed built-in viewfinder (less chance to fail like the pop-up one);* very sharp images from wide angle to the longest zoom (see attached images cropped from 100%originals);* half price of the same class pocketable camera.* very strong material and make.Cons: * relatively slow lens;* slightly bigger;* a little complicated menu and setting.Conclusion: Don't be scared by the negative reviews online, if you are an experienced DSLR user and a landscape lover. This is not an ordinary point-and-shoot, it's really a pocketable professional tool which will expand enormously your creation's chances(convenience) and ranges (15x long zoom). I would give it a perfect score of 10 stars if I could!!!