Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 12.1 MP Digital Camera with CMOS Sensor and 24x Optical Zoom - DMC-FZ200K +4GB SDHC CARD

FEATURE :

• 12.1 MP MOS Sensor,LSI Venus Engine Image Processor.
• 25-600mm f/2.8 Leica Optical Zoom Lens.
• 3.0" Free Angle 460K-dot LCD Display.
• 0.2" Electronic View Finder w/ 100% FOV 12 fps Continuous Shooting.
• INCLUDES 4GB SDHC MEMORY CARD.

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SOME OF THE SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW FROM AMAZON :

1) One fine do-it-all camera - I'm the previous owner of a Canon Rebel XSi DSLR and a Canon SX20. I loved my Rebel, which I bought to take Photography and Graphic Design classes in college. After owning it for two years (and investing $1500 into it, lenses, and other equipment), it was stolen. Not wanting or able to afford investing into another DSLR, I stuck with the Canon brand and bought an SX20 "superzoom" camera. It worked well, but I ended up using it mostly for video work for my church. Then I let a "friend" borrow it for school and never saw him or the camera again. Notice a pattern here? Now that I'm doing freelance work, photos/video for my church, and wanting to keep up with doing amateur nature photography, I went camera shopping once again.

I've always been a fan of Canon, but I'm also a fan of having the best you can afford, and brand loyalty only goes so far. One of my major gripes with the SX20 was it's crappy low-light abilites. And even though Canon's new SX50 is cheaper than the FZ200 and has a 50X lens, it has a maximum aperature of 3.4 (that goes to 6.5 zoomed all the way in) - not good for low light and for a lens that long. I'd had friends recommend cameras from Sony and Panasonic, and after some research, came across the FZ200. I liked the basic specs - 12.1MP, 24X zoom, full manual controls - plus it shoots RAW, has a hotshoe, a microphone jack and 1080p video (remember, I shoot movies too), and - this sealed the deal for me - an aperture of f2.8 through the entire zoom range.

After having it for a few months and taking trips to parks, DC, and a few zoos, here's what I love about it:

Everything.

There's nothing this camera can't do. Want usable pictures and video in stupid low light? It'll do it. Like to edit RAW? It'll do it. Fully manual controls with a second rocker switch on the side of the lens barrel that will allow you to manually focus and zoom seperately? It's got that. In-camera Sweep Panoramas and HDR images that actually work? Yup. Great battery life, always good images (you can often just leave it in Program mode and get images as good as or better than those that you tinkered with in Manual mode), gorgeous video, not too heavy, no need to lug around extra lenses and stuff.

The ONLY issues I have with this camera is that if you have a tripod shoe on it, you can't get to the battery or SD card without removing it. It's a little plasticky if you're used to an SLR. And sometimes highlights get blown out if you're not careful with your exposure. And, well, it's still not quite as good as a DSLR. The price puts it right up against entry-level DSLRs, but you won't get the zoom range (and convenience of a single do-it-all lens) and it works better as a casual video camera - most DSLRs require special lenses if you want autofocus.

If you want a really really nice camera that does everything and want to do hobby photography/video without investing in a DSLR system, you really can't go wrong with this camera.

ByDustin C Beachon July 11, 2013

2) Great camera with a few flaws. - This is a very capable gem of a camera, and if you're persistent and patient, you'll be able to get some truly terrific images with it. I photograph birds 99% of the time, quite a demanding discipline. In good light, the FZ200 is wonderful. (Though even then, the auto focus could be better.) In lower light, the AF is slow or painfully and practically non-existant for a subject that is usually moving around a lot. For non-moving subjects, you'd fare better.

I have other complaints; for example, the four-way controller is far too easily influenced by my hand when I don't want it to be, as in when I'm simply using the grip to try to take a photo. It's very easy to accidentally influence the "WB" (white balance) when gripping the camera. I've learned to grip the camera in a rather uncomfortable way so as not to turn on the WB, but it should be designed so this is not a problem.
As said, it's not a perfect instrument, but for the price and abilities of the camera, I feel it's quite a bargain. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. (One more item: If you're used to using a DSLR with a big lens, (I also own and use a Nikon D7000 and have a Sigma 150-500mm lens on it,) you'll love the convenience, weight, and size of the Panasonic FZ200. I often use it without a tripod and the image stabilization works very well. (And using it minus the tripod allows far more mobility, meaning you'll get shots you can't get with a tripod.) On the other hand, a tripod has its place.

ByEugene Beckeson February 25, 2013