ZS100 or ZS200 that is the question

[Michael J Posner]

Looking for something I can keep handy, glove box, pocket etc. and I have come to the conclusion that the Panasonic ZS1/2xx is the answer when I do not want to drag out my heavy cameras (D800e or Sony R10IV.

So should I spend $400 for ZS100 or $600 for ZS200? Discuss

 

[RGSAM]

Looking for something I can keep handy, glove box, pocket etc. and I have come to the conclusion that the Panasonic ZS1/2xx is the answer when I do not want to drag out my heavy cameras (D800e or Sony R10IV.

So should I spend $400 for ZS100 or $600 for ZS200? Discuss

I have both the ZS100 and ZS200 and rarely use them. For me when I'm out walking the best pocket cameras are my ZS70 and ZS60. The one that fits my pockets the best is the ZS60, but I do like the flip screen on the ZS70. But then I just take plain old snapshots which is good enough for me. I've been through all the big heavy equipment over the past 50 years.

 

[Michael J Posner]

I prefer a larger sensor so I am willing to trade size for that, so ZS100 or ZS200 is the minimum.

 

[kh1234567890]

Looking for something I can keep handy, glove box, pocket etc. and I have come to the conclusion that the Panasonic ZS1/2xx is the answer when I do not want to drag out my heavy cameras (D800e or Sony R10IV.

So should I spend $400 for ZS100 or $600 for ZS200? Discuss

Whichever one you'll get, after a while you'll find yourself reluctant to drag along anything bigger, never mind having to decide which lens(es) to bring ;-)

Most Interesting Panasonic TZ100 Shots

Most interesting photos taken with the Panasonic TZ100 camera. Set automatically created by dopiaza's set generator on 4th November 2025 at 11:46am UTC

www.flickr.com

 

[vbloomfield]

I have them both, but use the ZS200 nearly all the time. It's seems somewhat quicker and more responsive, and the greater focal length range at both ends seems more useful than the somewhat brighter lens of the ZS100.

Regards, Victor Bloomfield

Victor Bloomfield Photo

victorbloomfieldphoto.blogspot.com

 

[Jack Tingle]

Looking for something I can keep handy, glove box, pocket etc. and I have come to the conclusion that the Panasonic ZS1/2xx is the answer when I do not want to drag out my heavy cameras (D800e or Sony R10IV.

So should I spend $400 for ZS100 or $600 for ZS200? Discuss

I have both the ZS100 and ZS200 and rarely use them. For me when I'm out walking the best pocket cameras are my ZS70 and ZS60. The one that fits my pockets the best is the ZS60, but I do like the flip screen on the ZS70. But then I just take plain old snapshots which is good enough for me. I've been through all the big heavy equipment over the past 50 years.

I really like my ZS70.

But my "heavy camera" is an Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mk. II. It was cheaper than the ZS200, and came with 14-42mm & 40-150mm lenses. Before I ran across that deal, I was looking at the ZS100 since I prefer brighter lenses. (I have a couple of adapted f/2.8 primes.)

So given your Q&As, ZS100 for the brighter lenses, FTW.

 

[Michael J Posner]

So it looks like I can't lose with either.

Also, I see several ZS200s used for less than $400....so leaning that way.

 

[Michael J Posner]

Also, great shots!

 

[Michael J Posner]

If I need bright lenses I have Nikon glass, 50mm 1.8; 14-24 2.8,105mm 2.8.

 

[Michael J Posner]

Bought from ZS200 from Adorama for $417 in excellent condition.

 

[Erik Ohlson]

Bought from ZS200 from Adorama for $417 in excellent condition.

This basic idea has been beaten to death for years.

Personally - and I have LOTS of experience, I don't find that larger sensors do very much at all for you. And the cameras are bigger.

A couple of years ago, the big deal was the ZS-60: it was the "Latest & Greatest" of the ZS line - lots of Zoom &tc.

A fairly frequent poster - Bruce WD - used one to get simply amazing bird images in the rainforests of Costa Rica and other exotic places, on trip after trip, in terrible conditions of low light, heat & humidity. No "Big Camera" although if he could afford to do all that traveling, I daresay he could afford one. Just a man who knows how to use his camera.

That is, after all, the "Secret".

This almost tempted me - when the first 30x zoom "ZS-Series" camera came out, I went ahead and bought one: a ZS 40; a big disappointment. I stuck with my ZS19 but hated the "Touch Screen", iconoclast that I am, so I got a ZS25, MUCH smaller than the ZS40 - "Only" 20x zoom. And no annoying touch screen. Less expensive, too.

When a discussion like this started about the then-new ZS60, I made a study and determined that with just a tiny bit of PSE 9 work, my ZS25 gave just as good results as the longer-zoom ZS60. I'v since learned more about PSE & can do better..

I happen to carry a camera at ALL times: 24/7, in my trouser pocket. No camera since the ZS25 is small enough for comfort & so far I have seen NO convincing proof that a larger sensor, up to & including Micro 4/3 & APS-C delivers a better image. None.

I come from the era when what is now called "Full Frame" was derided (for good reason) as "Miniature" - and useless for images larger than 8x10 inches - my ZS25 produces very good 20x30 inch prints, at Costco prices. And I actually DO print large sizes.

The only camera that I have tried (including LX7 & LX100, and Sony APS-C) that can - marginally - beat the ZS25 is a Casio ZR 700 or 800, which derive their sharper images from combining bursts with a dual processor in real time. The Casio ZS5100 MAY do even better - I haven't got my hands on one, so I'm taking that on advisement.

Just sayin'









Unfortunately, Casio has dropped out of the camera business, except some specialty "Selfie" type cameras, in Japan.





--
"Measure wealth not by things you have but by things for which you would not take money"
www.flickr.com/ohlsonmh/ [email protected]

 

[saudidave]

Bought from ZS200 from Adorama for $417 in excellent condition.

Michael

I've had the ZS100, ZS200 and virtually all of the small sensor ZS's starting with the ZS3. I've also tried the Sony RX100M6, but dismissed it due to a lousy menu and handling

The small sensor ZS's are brilliant in good light and if you only shoot in that they are more than adequate.

The ZS100 has a small evf, no real grip front or rear, 25-250 zoom but is still a great camera. The ZS200 corrects both of the grip issues, has a longer zoom and is by far the better choice. The only downfall with the ZS200 are the build/IQ quality issues that have already been beaten to death on this forum

If you have a good copy of the ZS200 it is the ultimate combination of size, versatility & IQ. There is nothing out there with the same combination, so you made the right choice

Dave

 

[Michael J Posner]

You are right and you are wrong. Right in the sense that a good photographer can take great images with pretty much any camera, sensor or lens be damned. However, where you are wrong is when compared side by side on the same shot, the larger sensor or better glass almost always produces a better photo.

Now that may not matter if you do not crop, if you only view online, you do not post edit (alot) or many other factors.

If what you have works for you that is great. I agree chasing tech can be a waste of money and time. I buy old and used for the most part and I am happy with my equipment (D800e; D300s modded for infrared and RSM10IV for long travel (can't beat that lens, 24-600mm!).

My pocket camera is my cell phone, but I want a glovebox camera I can have with me at all times. That is where I hope the ZS200 comes in.

 

[Michael J Posner]

So I have purchased a used ZS200 for about $425 and a used Sony RX10VI for $650, will do a comparison and report.

 

[saudidave]

So I have purchased a used ZS200 for about $425 and a used Sony RX10VI for $650, will do a comparison and report.

I suspect you will find that the Sony has better IQ but unless you are an insane pixel peeper the difference isn’t that great and it’s handling and that awful pop up evf let it down. The greater zoom range of the Panasonic, combined with its better handling make it a better choice in my opinion.

 

[Michael J Posner]

I will give them a fair shake and report my findings.

 

[Henry Richardson]

Here is my user review of the ZS100/TX1:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/62337549

When I bought it I considered it and also the ZS200/TX2. I decided to go with the ZS100/TX1 for the reasons I wrote in the review.

 

[Tom Schum]

I bought my ZS100 a couple months ago, to supplement my Fuji APS-C gear.

I like the zoom range and do not feel I need more, except possibly at the long end, but for this I am thinking about this Canon:

https://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/compacts/canon_powershot_zoom

I haven't owned the ZS200, but if I did I might like it as much as my ZS100. I like the small size, finding the matte finish on my "silver" version more grippable than my friend's black one. Even so, I use the wrist lanyard at all times, to prevent drops if I ever lose my grip on it. The "silver" version is mostly matte charcoal, hardly silver at all.

I find the image quality quite good, especially when developing raws. Usually I downsize to 1/4 original pixels by the "bilinear" algorithm, or downsize to HD, then post-sharpen. It's nearly equivalent to my Fujis under these conditions (Fuji images also downsized the same way). I set noise suppression to minimum at all times, and if there is a choice in the raw developer I set it to minimum there also. Noise signature (grain) at high ISO is a bit better in the Fujis, probably because of Fuji's xtrans color filter array.

ZS100 high ISO monochrome works quite well, with good grain. ZS200 ought to be as good though.

By necessity, the ZS100 has an electric zoom lens, which is far slower to use than my Fuji lenses, even the manual focus ones. At one time several years ago Fuji offered a X30 compact with a manual zoom lens. Great to use, quick and simple, but not enough zoom range and only 12mp. ZS is slower but small and light.

I'd recommend the ZS100 only because its lens is a little brighter than the zoom on the ZS200. I find I use ISO 400 and higher quite a bit, day to day, even in daylight, and this situation would be worse on the ZS200.




ISO 400, 1/40th second during daylight hours



--
Tom Schum
Copper: Mankind's favorite electrical conductor

 

[saudidave]

I bought my ZS100 a couple months ago, to supplement my Fuji APS-C gear.

I like the zoom range and do not feel I need more, except possibly at the long end, but for this I am thinking about this Canon:

https://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/compacts/canon_powershot_zoom

I haven't owned the ZS200, but if I did I might like it as much as my ZS100. I like the small size, finding the matte finish on my "silver" version more grippable than my friend's black one. Even so, I use the wrist lanyard at all times, to prevent drops if I ever lose my grip on it. The "silver" version is mostly matte charcoal, hardly silver at all.

I find the image quality quite good, especially when developing raws. Usually I downsize to 1/4 original pixels by the "bilinear" algorithm, or downsize to HD, then post-sharpen. It's nearly equivalent to my Fujis under these conditions (Fuji images also downsized the same way). I set noise suppression to minimum at all times, and if there is a choice in the raw developer I set it to minimum there also. Noise signature (grain) at high ISO is a bit better in the Fujis, probably because of Fuji's xtrans color filter array.

ZS100 high ISO monochrome works quite well, with good grain. ZS200 ought to be as good though.

By necessity, the ZS100 has an electric zoom lens, which is far slower to use than my Fuji lenses, even the manual focus ones. At one time several years ago Fuji offered a X30 compact with a manual zoom lens. Great to use, quick and simple, but not enough zoom range and only 12mp. ZS is slower but small and light.

I'd recommend the ZS100 only because its lens is a little brighter than the zoom on the ZS200. I find I use ISO 400 and higher quite a bit, day to day, even in daylight, and this situation would be worse on the ZS200.


ISO 400, 1/40th second during daylight hours

The additional brightness of the TZ100 lens over the TZ200 was done to death on this forum when the TZ200 was first announced. It’s so little that it is virtually insignificant and the TZ200 in my opinion has better IS so it more than negates it. The extra 100mm of the TZ200 is a considerable advantage too.

 

[saudidave]

Here is my user review of the ZS100/TX1:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/62337549

When I bought it I considered it and also the ZS200/TX2. I decided to go with the ZS100/TX1 for the reasons I wrote in the review.

Henry, If you read the thread you will note that the OP has already made the 100/200 decision and he bought a TZ200....