Are these FZ200 shots more or less noisy than you would expect?

You might also want to try another setting.  Ronomy and I have both found it to be nearly universal.  NR -1, sharpening -2, iResolution ON.  This will only work in one of the creative modes (PASM on the mode dial).

I tested it at ISO 800, and found the noise to be well controlled and very smooth looking, even at that high ISO.

Just a note.  If you want more magnification in the shot, I find that the EZ settings work better than iZoom or digital zoom.  EZ 5 MP gives 1.54x or 37x; and an equivalent focal length of 924 mm with pretty decent quality.  EZ is implemented differently than the other digital zooms on the camera.

--
Jerry