Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200D Digital Camera (Black) Panasonic

Built with portability in mind, the black Lumix DC-ZS200D Digital Camera from Panasonic is a sleek point-and-shoot camera with notable photo and video capabilities. Despite its compact size at only 4.4″ in width, the camera manages to incorporate a large 1″ High-Sensitivity MOS sensor and a Leica 15x optical zoom lens for shooting high quality 20.1MP photos. Complementing the sensor is a Venus Engine image processor capable of UHD 4K video recording at up to 30 fps and with an extended ISO of 25600 for use in low-light situations.

The Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens incorporated in this camera has a 24-360mm equivalent focal length range that can cover a wide variety of situations. In the video department, a High-Speed mode allows the ZS200D to record Full HD 120 fps footage and play it back at 30 fps, resulting in instant slow-motion video. Also available is a 4K Photo Mode that uses the camera’s video capabilities to generate 8 MP pictures at 30 fps; regular burst shooting at higher resolutions can reach 10 fps in AF-S and 6 fps in AF-C, thanks to a fast depth-from-defocus (DFD) focusing system. Finally, a 5-axis Hybrid O.I.S image stabilization system is present in all modes except for 4K and high-speed video recording, and helps minimize the appearance of camera shake for sharper imaging.

The ZS200D is also characterized by its intuitive physical design, with both an electronic viewfinder and a rear OLED screen available. The Live View Finder is a 0.21″ 2330k-Dot EVF that allows for comfortable eye-level monitoring, while the large 3.0″ OLED touchscreen is best-suited for image review, menu navigation, and live view shooting. Additional features include in-camera raw file processing, L-monochrome mode for black and white pictures, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

20.1MP 1″ MOS Sensor and Venus Engine

A large 1″ 20.1MP High-Sensitivity MOS sensor pairs with a Venus Engine image processor to realize rich image quality with reduced noise and high sensitivity to an expanded ISO 25600. The sensor and processor combination also avails continuous shooting rates of 10 fps with single-shot AF, 6 fps with continuous AF, or 30 fps at 8MP in the 4K photo burst mode.

Leica DC Vario-Elmar 15x Zoom Lens

A long-reaching 15x Leica DC Vario-Elmar zoom offers a 24-360mm equivalent focal length range along with a maximum aperture range of f/3.3-6.4. The lens construction incorporates three ED elements, five aspherical elements, and one aspherical ED lens to minimize spherical aberrations and distortions throughout the zoom range for increased image clarity and sharpness.

Benefitting the reach of the lens is a powerful 5-axis Hybrid O.I.S. system that compensates for a variety of camera movements for sharper handheld shooting in difficult lighting conditions. This image stabilization system also enables a unique Level Shot function that automatically detects the horizontal line of the recording image and keeps it level during shooting, regardless of camera tilt, helping to achieve greater shooting stability.

4K Video and Photo Modes

The sensor and processor combination also enables 4K video recording at both 30p and 24p frame rates in the MP4 format at 100 Mb/s. Full HD 1080p and HD 720p recording is also possible, as well as high-speed Full HD recording with 120 fps slow-motion playback.

Besides video, the 4K capabilities also permit recording 8MP stills at 30 fps in a trio of ways:

4K Burst: Just as with video recording, this mode will allow you to continuously record 8MP images at 30 fps for up to 15 minutes, making it ideal for instances where you need a fast frame rate in order to capture the best moment.

4K Pre-Burst: This mode is ideal for times when you’re unsure of the critical moment to press the shutter button and will record 8MP images at 30 fps one second prior to and one second after pressing the shutter button in order to give you 60 frames to choose from.

4K Burst (S/S): This mode most closely follows the 4K video recording process, and allows you to playback your video, pause at the chosen moment, and use the shutter button to mark a chosen frame from the video and save it as a single 8MP frame.

Post Focus and Light Speed AF

Another attribute of the 4K capabilities is a unique focusing method called Post Focus. Working in conjunction with the 49-area contrast-detection focusing system, called Light Speed AF, and the intelligent Depth from Defocus (DFD) technology, Post Focus records imagery as a 4K MP4 file at 30 fps and shifts the specific point of focus throughout the burst shooting in order to offer a range of distinct focusing ranges to choose from. During playback, via the camera’s touchscreen, you can then tap the specific region of the image you wish to be in focus and an 8MP JPEG file will be created. Multiple individual files with different points of focus can be created from the original burst, and focusing assist functions can also be used to gain even more precise control over the specific in-focus region.

Live View Finder and Rear OLED Touchscreen

A Live View Finder (LVF) is integrated into the sleek body design to permit comfortable eye-level monitoring. This 0.21″ electronic viewfinder has a 2330k-dot resolution and covers 100% of the image frame while shooting.

Alternatively, a rear 3.0″ OLED monitor is also available for live-view shooting, image review, and intuitive menu navigation. Intuitive touch controls allow you to set focus on the subject simply by touching the screen, as well as release the shutter.

Other Features

Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth allow you to wirelessly send photos and movies to linked smartphones and tablets for direct sharing online.

4K Photo Auto Marking automatically detects motion on a subject’s face and sets a marker, allowing you to quickly skip to that sequence when selecting shots.

L.Monochrome mode in Photo Style simulates black and white film, creating impressive monochrome pictures with deep blacks and rich gradations.

In-camera raw file processing is possible, allowing you to adjust color space, white balance, exposure compensation, highlights/shadows, saturation, noise reduction, sharpness, and many other settings.

The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides you with 350 pictures with the electronic viewfinder when set to the eco30fps setting.