Until such a time as someone with both cameras shoots a head to head set of images at maximum 600 mm telephoto with aperture settings ranging from F5.2 to F8, using identical shutter speeds and ISO settings, I feel that the FZ150 and 200 cannot be accurately judged as to which produces the better images. The fact remains that the lens of the 200 is entirely different with a broader scope for gathering light than that of the FZ150 at the longer end. Everyone knows that the limit of the FZ150 is F5.2, so opinions in relation to the FZ200 shot anywhere between F5 and F2.8 at full zoom are pretty much irrelevant.
The only thing FZ200 photos shot between F2.8 and F5 indicate is how sharp the newer lens actually is at maximum telephoto, plus of course how DOF is also affected by wider apertures. I know my 8 year old FZ20 will shoot at F2.8 all the way through the lens range if desired, but there’s absolutely no point in my attempting to compare what is possibly the best lens ever to appear on a FZ camera with that of my FZ150 simply because my FZ150 bottoms out at F5.2. It would be a pretty futile exercise to say the least!
As for the guy who claims FZ200 images display better colours than those he’s seen from the FZ150, how can he accurately judge? Unless, of course, he can be sure that the many in-camera settings governing the output of images in respect of tone, colour, saturation, etc., were set exactly the same on both models! Then of course, one has to consider whether the photos were originally raw or Jpeg files and how much PP was done to them before uploading.
All in all, I do not have the FZ200. I do, however, have the FZ150. Ergonomically the FZ200 looks like an improvement, most of all because that stupidly positioned picture review button on the 150 has clearly been moved to a better place on the update. Based on that improvement alone, if I didn’t own either model, I’d buy a FZ200, the added bonuses being the better EVF and the versatility that those extra F-stops will afford the user.
Don’t however, assume that the FZ200 takes better photos than the FZ150. Of all the samples shown here and elsewhere, I’ve seen nothing whatsoever to suggest that is the case. Furthermore, do not underestimate the FZ150’s ability to produce pretty darned good results up to IS0 1600 – even in my preferred Jpeg setting. In my experience, the FZ150 is far removed from the base ISO superzooms Panasonic offered us during previous years. Naturally I’m not suggesting that the FZ200 is any less of a capable camera, it’s just that until I see those tests performed as I mentioned above, I cannot form anything like an accurate conclusion on those photographs, which to me are the most important thing regarding any camera.
So, all the best making your final decision. ;-)
Regards
Stevie Boy
