X

Panasonic Lumix FZ200, FZ60, and LZ20 cameras (pictures)

Panasonic offers up a 24x zoom camera that has an f2.8 aperture for the whole range as well as a couple other megazooms that aren't too bad, either.

Joshua Goldman
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Joshua Goldman
IMG_1434FZ200_f2.8.jpg
1 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Bright f2.8 from 25-600mm

While Panasonic's past FZ-series models have had an f2.8 maximum aperture at the wide end, the apertures get increasingly smaller as the lens is zoomed in, which lets in less and less light. Not a good thing when you're trying to use the telephoto end in less than bright lighting.

That's not the case with the FZ200, which can stay at f2.8 right out to 600mm, so there's less of a need to use high ISO settings to keep shutter speeds fast.

IMG_1434FZ200_shooting_options.jpg
2 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Features

Aside from the lens, many of the camera's physical and shooting features carry over from its predecessor, the excellent FZ150. This includes the hot shoe on top that can be used with an add-on flash or an external mic that gets plugged into the camera's audio input jack on the left side, and shooting options go from full automatic to full manual for both photos and video.
IMG_1434FZ200_burst_shooting_options.jpg
3 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Fast performance

Backed by a new 12-megapixel high-sensitivity MOS sensor and image processor as well as Panasonic's Light Speed AF autofocus system, the camera is capable of shooting at up to 5.5 frames per second with AF or 12fps with focus and exposure set with the first shot at full resolution. Panasonic is also promising a startup time of less than a second. The FZ200 can also capture high-speed movies at 120fps and 240fps for slow-motion clips.

Also worth noting is the option to program up to three buttons for direct control over settings as well as immediate access to ISO and white balance.

IMG_1434FZ200_LCD.jpg
4 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

LCD and EVF

The FZ200 has the same screen as the FZ150, a vari-angle 3-inch LCD with a 460K-dot resolution. However, the electronic viewfinder's resolution jumps from 201,600 dot to 1,312,000 dot.
IMG_1434FZ200_OVR.jpg
5 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Pricing and availability

Pricing and availability will be announced 30 days before it ships, which going by past models should be some time in August or September. The FZ150 started at $499.99, so expect the FZ200 to be more.
IMG_1434FZ60_lens.jpg
6 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Lumix FZ60

The FZ60 replaces last year's FZ47. It's essentially the same camera, but with a new 16-megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor instead of a 12-megapixel high-speed CCD. It gets a new processor, too. Combined, the two should give the camera better image quality and shooting performance than its predecessor.
IMG_1434FZ60_top.jpg
7 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

No hot shoe

Two of the features cut from the FZ200 to the FZ60 are the hot shoe and the mic input. You also lose a couple of the programmable buttons and burst shooting isn't as robust. Shooting modes between the two are fairly similar, with options for HDR photos and panoramas.
IMG_1440_FZ60_controls.jpg
8 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

LCD

Also, Panasonic switches to a fixed LCD instead of the flip-out one, though it's resolution is 460K dots. The EVF is, however, the low-res one from the FZ47.
IMG_1434FZ60_OVR.jpg
9 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Pricing and availability

As with the FZ200, no pricing or availability was announced. Based on Panasonic's price for its predecessor, the FZ47, the FZ60 will likely be around $400 and hit stores in late August or September.
LZ20k_slant_PopUp.jpg
10 of 11 Panasonic

Panasonic Lumix LZ20

The LZ20 looks like it's designed to compete with the likes of Nikon's Coolpix L810 and Fujifilm's FinePix S4200. It's a basic full-size megazoom featuring a 21x f3.1-5.8 25-525mm lens.
LZ20k_top.jpg
11 of 11 Panasonic

Panasonic Lumix LZ20

Compared with the features of the FZ60, the LZ20 is extremely pared down with no EVF and a 16-megapixel CCD sensor. It does have a 3-inch 460K-dot LCD, though, and despite being loaded with mostly auto shooting options, it has a full manual mode for control over shutter speed and aperture. It will also capture 720/30p HD video in Motion JPEG format. And like the competing models I mentioned, it takes AA batteries making it more travel friendly.

No pricing or availability was announced, but I would expect it to be around the range of $250 to $300.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos