• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Family Life
  • Family Travel
  • Family Home and Hygge
  • Technology for Families
  • Home-made birthday cake
  • Work with us

Mum on the brink

Motherhood - the ups, downs and lifehacks

  • Tiny Family Home
  • Family Christmas hacks
  • Microblogging on IG
You are here: Home / Technology for Families / Panasonic DMC-FZ200 Camera Time-tested Review

Panasonic DMC-FZ200 Camera Time-tested Review

by Mumonthebrink 1 Comment

What makes an ideal camera for a blogger and travel writer?

We bought the Panasonic DMC-FZ200 in March 2015 and it’s gone on a lot of adventures with us.  Over this period, I had a chance to test the camera under different circumstances and, with it’s help, improved my own photography skills.

This is a relatively old model by now, so why write a review?

Well, I think this bridge camera is a brilliant option for bloggers, travellers and photography enthusiasts, who want DSLR type of quality without the pricetag.  This camera still packs a punch.

My first impression of the camera weren’t good- I had ghosting of images.  Then as I’ve used the camera, I learnt that this happens in HDR mode in lower light, or if my hands aren’t very stable (like after a sprint) or my subjects are very fast.

However over the last 2 years this camera has proved itself:

  • The zoom is amazing, 24x : this gives me the option to capture the kids acting naturally, because I’m not in their faces with the cameraBloggers camera DMC FZ200 Mumonthebrink

Shot on auto

Bloggers camera DMC FZ200 Mumonthebrink 2016 4

Shot on auto, standing in the same position, zooming in.  (no edits, yet look at the detail!)

  • Does a decent job in low-light, as long as you have a steady hand

  • The battery life is perfect- it lasts a day, most days, even with a lot of filming … and I’m still on my first battery
  • The tilt-screen is very useful for little filming projects, or if you are into selfies

Bloggers camera DMC FZ200 Mumonthebrink

  • The functions and customisability of the camera are immense: for the beginner it guides your through with great auto functions

I love the depth that this image gives… not quite focussing where I wanted to, but still a fave image

  • The manual settings mean you can learn as you go along and you can even shoot Northern Lights

DMC FZ200The edited image of very faint Northern Lights, it was colder than -20C when taking this picture.
Used the max 8 second exposure the camera does.

Bloggers camera DMC FZ200 Norhtern Lights Mumonthebrink

Image of the Northern Lights, not edited at all, just as it came off the camera. Shot on an 8 second exposure.

  • The camera is robust: it’s travelled far and wide and has had a fair few knocks and been covered in road dust, survived well in -20C and +40C (and the battery didn’t seem to mind either)

The unedited picture of a wild pig…just look at the detail captured! (This was a 40C day and we were jealous of the pig!)

  • The DMC-FZ200 may be bulky, but with that it brings street cred- it looks like a DSLR on first glimpse, so if your are with a bunch of pro photographers at an event you don’t stick out like a sore thumb. 😀
  • Allows to shoot in RAW format, like a pro which then gives me more options to edit the images.  It really helps the user develop their photography skills… if and when they want.

 

The bits that I don’t like?  You know, they are often the same as the features I love.

  • You can customise the camera to a high degree.  If I’ve done this and then need to revert to more general settings and forget, I get cheesed off: Like leaving it on Autofocus Macro and wondering why it won’t focus on what I want.  Or if Dadonthebrink picks up the camera after I’ve used it, assuming he’s shooting auto and ends up with rubbish images 😀
  • The bulkiness when we’re trekking all day and I have to strap it underneath the hip harness to stop it from swaying. Yet, any DSLR would be be as bulky and likely heavier too.  I have to remind myself that the bulkiness allows it to have the amazing battery life.
  • Low-level light images of fast moving objects, like kids.  This is something you have to work at to get the right settings! Though auto generally does a good job, but it can be a hit and miss.
  • I’d love to have geotagging and Wifi on it…this is where you realise it’s an older model…not that the new bridge cameras have both these features!

Overall for the price and the functionality this is still an excellent option for someone wanting to up their photography skills.

Are you a blogger/ travel writer?  What camera do you have?

Related

Filed Under: Technology for Families Tagged With: camera, my blog camera, panasonic, Panasonic camera- DMC- FZ200, Rants and Faves, Review, Technology, Time Tested Review

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kara says

    at

    It looks like a fabulous camera. I have a DSLR but I find it too big to take out on some of our trips so bought myself a little sony – you cannot tell the difference in picture quality at all

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Don't miss another article again! Sign up today!

Join 7,298 other subscribers.

Motherhood is the ride of your life! Our chosen path is to live small to allow us to spend time and money on travel and experiences as a family.
We love new technology and gadgets that make parenting easier.
Mum on the brink is a lifestyle magazine built on the experiences of our writers.
Read More…

Just 700 square feet / 65 square meters for a family of 5? That's a very small apartment for all of you! ...we hear this quite often! How do you fit? How do you make it work? There … ... more about Renovating & Decorating a Small Family Home for a Family of 5

Tags

Baby Blogging campervan camping Camping and Caravanning Campy Van children Christmas cooking and baking days out diy Europe family family fun family life garden health Home improvement Homemade & homebaked house House and Garden Learning Life Hacks Lifestyle moments Multilingual and multicultural Mum on the brink's tips Natural Childhood Out and about outdoors Oxford Oxford and around Parenting Pregnancy Rants and Faves Review sailing small family apartment Sweden Technology Time Tested Review tips toddler Travel UK

© Mumonthebrink 2010- –2021