Panasonic Lumix ZS200 (TZ200) - The Most Versatile Camera in the World (2025) - Review
How I Came to Own the Panasonic ZS200 / TZ200
Once upon a time, I was walking through a market in Tbilisi, Georgia and saw a Panasonic ZS200 sitting in a camera shop window. The price was around $600, which I wasn’t willing to pay, so I kept walking.
A month later, I walked by again and saw the camera still sitting in the shop. A few years ago, I wouldn’t have paid more than $400 for this camera, but with the rising popularity (and price) of compact cameras in recent years, I was willing to pay a little extra. I offered the shop owner $500, which he accepted, and I walked out with an almost new Panasonic Lumix ZS200.
The Name Game
This camera is known by many names depending on the part of the world you’re in. The names I’ve come across are the ZS200, TZ200, TX2, TZ202, and ZS200D.
There are probably other names but these are the most common. Apart from very subtle differences, these are all essentially the same camera.
Build Quality - Very Nice Indeed
Like the Sony Rx100 series, the Lumix ZS200 has an all metal body which gives it a premium feeling. The dials are also metal and have tight tolerances.
The camera isn’t light for its size. It has a weight of quality to it. The weight makes it a bit uncomfortable to put in a pants pocket.
I love that this camera has an on/off switch rather than a button (like most compact cameras). The switch is very satisfying and more tactile.
Ergonomics and Grip
See that little black and red rubber grip running from the top to the bottom? Every compact camera in existence you have that.
One of the biggest gripes about this cameras predecessor, the Panasonic ZS100, was that it had a smooth metal front plate and was as frictionless to the fingers as a wet bar of soap. Sony’s Rx100 series suffers from the same problem.
The rubber grip on the ZS200 makes it easily the most ergonomic compact camera in the history of the universe and whatever multi-verses may be out there. This camera never feels like it is going to fall out of your hand and one-handed operation is no problem.
Why Isn’t the Panasonic ZS200 More Popular?
I can think of 2 reasons that the Panasonic Lumix ZS200 isn’t widely used or reviewed, (1) Stiff competition and, (2) “Slow” lens aperture.
(1) Stiff Competition
With premium compact cameras like the Sony Rx100 vii, the Canon G7x mark iii, and the Ricoh GR III (my review here), I can see why the ZS200 never became super popular. If you want more compact camera or a tilting screen, buy the Canon G7x. If you want a faster lens and better autofocus, buy the Rx100 v or the Rx100 vii. If you want a larger sensor, a sharper lens, or a more compact body, buy the Ricoh GR III.
(2) “Slow” Lens Aperture
Let’s face it, when photographers read the ZS200 spec sheet and see f/3.3-6.3, its not exactly a spec that inspires lust. Most people associate a range like f/3.3-6.3 with kit lenses, you know, the lens you replace as soon as possible. I suspect many potential buyers dismissed the camera immediately upon reading the aperture values, especially considering other compact cameras like the Sony Rx100 v offer f/1.8-2.8.
Lens at 24mm
Lens at 360mm
Lens Sharpness
24mm
Super zoom lenses don’t have a reputation of being ultra sharp, but I’ve been very happy with the lens sharpness on the Panasonic ZS200 from the short end to the long end of the focal range.
The two photos below show the sharpness at 24mm. The first image is uncropped and the second is significantly cropped.
Uncropped at 24mm f/5.0
Heavy Crop at 24mm f/5.0
360mm
Next up is the opposite end of the spectrum, 360mm. I expected the extreme telephoto to lack contrast and color, but I’ve been very surprised. The long end of the range remains contrasty and sharp. Check out these shots at 360mm equivalent.
Uncropped at 360mm f/6.3
Taken at 360mm and cropped
Heavy Crop at 360mm f/6.3
Taken at 360mm and cropped
Taken at 360mm and cropped
Lens Range - 24mm to 360mm
The two photos below show the extremes of the focal range on the ZS200 lens. The first is a 24mm full-frame equivalent. The second is the same scene at a 360mm full-frame equivalent
24mm
Same scene at 360mm
Video Capabilities
The Panasonic Lumix ZS200 is very capable in the video department, shooting up to 4k 30fps. The sample video below was shot at 1080p 60fps. The clips are straight out of camera with no editing.
In the sample video, you’ll see a clip of me walking through the arches of an old church. The clip shows how well the IBIS works, even when filming in motion.
The metal focus ring on the front of the camera makes it easy to manually focus. The slightly larger size of the ZS200 makes the process more enjoyable than other compacts.
Image Stabilization (IBIS)
Its fair to say I was shocked at how good the image stabilization. The camera has 5-axis IBIS which is more effective than the lens-based stabilization in most compact camera.
I was successfully able to get crisp photos at 360mm equivalent, which is something many professional cameras struggle with.
The IBIS is great for video, as it keeps micro jitters out of your footage and gives you usable clips right out of the camera. I personally hate stabilizing footage in post processing. IBIS is a must for me in a video camera, and the ZS200 does a great job. It’s the best stabilization system I’ve ever used in a camera this size.
Dynamic Range
I did my typical dynamic range test with the Lumix ZS200. Below, I test the highlight and shadow recovery at base ISO.
Highlights
First, let’s test the camera’s highlight recovery potential.
This first photo is +1 stop over-exposed. I had no problem pulling back the highlights and saving the photo in Adobe Lightroom.
+1 stop over-exposed
Recovered in Lightroom
This second photo is +2 stops over-exposed. Almost all of the highlights were recoverable. Information was only lost in the most extreme bright spots.
+2 stop over-exposed
Recovered in Lightroom
This third photo is +3 stops over-exposed. This is the breaking point for highlight recovery. No matter how much you work with the photo, the information in the bright areas cannot be recovered.
Shadows
Now let’s test the camera’s shadow recovery potential.
This first photo is -1 stop under-exposed. I had no problem bringing up the shadows.
This second photo is -2 stops under-exposed. I had no problem lifting the dark areas to make a pleasing photo.
This fourth photo is a bit of a torture test at -4 stops under-exposed. I was impressed with the shadow recovery. You will notice a bit of color difference in this last recovered photo, but it is still very usable.
Dynamic Range Conclusions
As with most other cameras, its wise to protect your highlights when shooting. It is much easier to recover shadow than highlights.
Overall, I’m impressed with the dynamic range for a camera with a 1-inch sensor.
What About that Slow Lens, Can it Bokeh?
With f/3.3 on the short end and f/6.3 on the long end AND a small 1” sensor, you might assume bokeh is nearly impossible. But thanks to the telephoto capabilities, you can actually achieve some bokeh. I’ve got a few sample photos below.
50mm f/4.5
360mm f/6.4
360mm f/6.4
24mm f/3.3
Macro? - The ZS200 Does That Too!
One of my favorite features of the Panasonic ZS200 is its ability to focus on close subjects (macro photography). Especially at 24mm, you can get the lens very close to your subject and capture incredible detail shots.
This feature is, in part, a benefit of the ZS200 having a smaller sensor. Small sensor cameras can generally focus closer. While smaller sensors lack the low-light ability of full-frame sensors, they make up for it by providing other benefits, like giving the user telephoto and macro capabilities in one compact camera.
Battery Life is Good for a Compact Camera
One of the advantages of this camera being a bit larger than its competition is more room for a battery. The Lumix ZS200’s battery is about twice the size of that of the Rx100, and it lasts noticeably longer. Of course, you can chew through the battery rather quickly if you’re shooting a bunch of 4k video, but overall I have no complaints about the battery life.
The battery for the Panasonic Lumix ZS200 is the Panasonic DMW-BLG10.
Things I Don’t Like About the Panasonic Lumix ZS200
Old USB Port - The camera uses the old micro-USB port instead of the newer USB-C. This means I need to carry a separate cable just for this camera.
It Isn’t Really Pocketable - The ZS200 is not as small as the Rx100 or the Ricoh GR III. I consider those cameras to be genuinely pocketable (front pocket of my pants). The Lumix ZS200 is too large to carry comfortably in a pocket. It will fit, but only if you’re ok with a significant bulge.
Screen Scratches Easily - I’m relatively careful with my cameras and rarely scratch them, but in a span of 2 weeks I managed to scratch the back screen twice. I suspect the screen is not as scratch resistant as other camera displays.
Things I Love About the Panasonic Lumix ZS200
Compact - While larger than some of the competition, the ZS200 is still very compact and portable.
EVF - Most compact cameras aren’t going to give you an electronic viewfinder. An EVF is very much appreciated, especially on sunny days.
Versatility - What other camera gives you a 24mm-360mm equivalent range in this form factor?
Video Quality - Video has always been a priority for Panasonic and the video quality of the ZS200 is better than much of the competition.
Conclusion and Recommendations
While the Panasonic Lumix ZS200 (TZ200) was never as popular as its competition, it holds its own in the compact camera space. It has features no other compact camera can match, like 360mm full-frame equivalent zoom and superb IBIS. If its unique features appeal to you, I whole-heartedly recommend it. If you’re looking for something a bit more conventional in the compact space, I would steer you towards the Canon g7x and Sony Rx100 series. Those cameras have advantages of their own, like tilting screens and more compact bodies.
If you’re looking for ultimate versatility, The Panasonic ZS200 is going to be hard to beat!
Here are some links to the Panasonic ZS200 and a few worthy competitors:
Additional Reading
Sony Rx100 mark i Review (the Original)
The Olympus E-m1 mark ii Review in 2024 and 2025
Fujifilm X-H2 - Best Hybrid Camera? - Long Term Review in 2025
Review: Sony A7s (the original) - A Great Deal in 2024?
Olympus E-M10 Mark ii Review in 2024 - The Value King
Olympus Pen-F - One and Done Legend? - A Review in 2025
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