ZS100 or ZS200 that is the question

The ZS200 comes tomorrow, and I already received the Sony.  For me the biggest issue will be The Sony's brighter lens versus the Panasonics extra zoom.  Also, how they feel, size, etc.  I see both as winners, but only one can stay.

Sony came with carrying case and 3 extra batteries in like new condition with all original equipment for $659.

Michael J Posner wrote:

The ZS200 comes tomorrow, and I already received the Sony. For me the biggest issue will be The Sony's brighter lens versus the Panasonics extra zoom. Also, how they feel, size, etc. I see both as winners, but only one can stay.

Sony came with carrying case and 3 extra batteries in like new condition with all original equipment for $659.

My greatest concern, given the QC variations with Panasonic TZ200's is that you don't get a good copy and that would result in an incorrect comparison and conclusion.

The first TZ200 I bought new had great IQ prior to its lens issue but the second, bought as an official Panasonic UK refurb, from their ebay shop was terrible. It was actually worse than the first one was when I gave it to my daughter after it had had the warranty repair. The third one I bought new from John Lewis department store in the UK and the IQ of that is very similar to the RX100M6 that I had but couldn't live with despite persevering with it for a year.

The RX100M6 & my GM5 + 14-140 lens had very similar IQ and my latest TZ200 has IQ almost identical to my G80 +14-140. The sharpness is similar but the dynamic range of the G80 produces nicer colours so I've increased the saturation on the TZ to address that. The upshot is that the G80 is now seeing very little use again. I've been down this road before..........

Dave

Wow, sounds like a terrible experience.  I have a ZS100 and it's a little tiny bit soft on the left, but I'm going to keep it instead of trying to get a perfect version.  I have no desire to suffer by following what seems to me to be your lengthy path of repair, return, repurchase...

Tom Schum wrote:

Wow, sounds like a terrible experience. I have a ZS100 and it's a little tiny bit soft on the left, but I'm going to keep it instead of trying to get a perfect version. I have no desire to suffer by following what seems to me to be your lengthy path of repair, return, repurchase...

Tom, it’s not an unusual path by any means, lots of people on this forum try several copies of a compact before they have a keeper. My first TZ200 replaced a TZ100 that I’d had for 18 months and prior to that I’ve had at least 10 smaller sensor TZ’s. I’ve tended to change them at annual intervals. I replaced the first TZ200 with a Sony Rx100M6 in a fit of pique and sold that after persevering with the awful handling and evf for a year. The second TZ200 arrived via courier and a return was requested about 4 hours later after I tested it after which I went out and bought a brand new one.

We are talking about process that took two years in total and it was hardly tortuous as I got to try out two models of camera at my leisure. I shall keep the latest TZ200 until they launch a TZ300, if they ever do. I suspect that in a year or two smartphones will have progressed to optical 10x zoom at which point it is doubtful if I’ll bother having a dedicated camera at all.

Dave