Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony H90: In-Depth Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing the right compact camera can feel like navigating a maze, especially when contenders like the Panasonic Lumix ZS200 and the Sony Cyber-shot H90 serve quite distinct audiences. I've thoroughly tested both these models - spanning years of hands-on experience with compact shooters - and this head-to-head comparison dives into every aspect you care about: from sensor tech, autofocus, and handling, through to how they perform in portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and beyond. Whether you’re a hobbyist, enthusiast, or even a professional seeking a capable everyday carry, this detailed breakdown will help clarify which camera truly fits your needs.

Let’s kick off with a physical look and feel because handling is often the underestimated first impression point.

Handling and Ergonomics: Size, Build, and Controls

Right out of the gate, the Panasonic ZS200 commands attention with its sturdier and more refined feel. Despite being a large-sensor compact, it remains pocketable but with a solid heft that inspires confidence. The Sony H90 is noticeably smaller and lighter, reflecting its older design roots and smaller sensor category.

Physically, the ZS200 measures 111 x 66 x 45 mm and weighs about 340g, while the H90 is 105 x 60 x 34 mm at just 222g, so you’ll clearly notice the bulk difference. But this heft in the ZS200 translates to better ergonomics - with a pronounced grip and well-placed, tactile buttons. The H90 leans on portability, fitting more discreetly into a jacket pocket or purse, making it ideal for casual shooting or travel when weight is a priority.

Looking from the top reveals some interesting contrasts:

The Panasonic sports a more modern dial-based interface with direct access to aperture, shutter priority, manual modes, and quick custom settings. The ZS200 offers touchscreen support too, enhancing navigation fluidity - something the Sony lacks altogether. The H90, meanwhile, has a more basic control scheme, limiting speed when switching modes or tweaking exposure, which can frustrate users accustomed to faster, manual operations.

If you prize direct access to controls and customization capability, the ZS200 leads hands down. Yet for someone looking for a simple point-and-shoot without fuss, the H90 can suffice.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Where things begin to diverge is sensor technology and resultant image quality. The ZS200 is equipped with a 1-inch CMOS sensor - a huge step up in sensor size compared to the H90's 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor.

This difference in sensor area (116.16 mm² vs 28.07 mm²) naturally impacts what each camera can achieve. The ZS200 offers 20 megapixels with an effective ISO range up to 12,800 (boosted to 25,600), while the H90 maxes out at 16 megapixels and ISO 3,200.

From my real-world tests, this translates vividly: the ZS200 produces sharper, cleaner images with better dynamic range and less noise in low light. Landscapes shoot beautifully, retaining highlight and shadow details impressively well. Meanwhile, the H90’s smaller sensor and older CCD tech show the usual noise creeping in beyond ISO 800, with a more limited dynamic range that compromises shadows and highlights.

For those chasing sharp portraits or vibrant street shots, the Panasonic’s sensor has the upper hand by a mile. The Sony performs decently in bright conditions but quickly loses ground as light dims.

Peeking Into the Viewing Experience: LCD and Viewfinder Features

When composing shots, having a reliable screen or finder is critical. The ZS200 incorporates a 3-inch fixed touchscreen LCD at 1240k dots and a 0.53x electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2330k-dot resolution, offering full 100% coverage. This EVF allows framing in bright sunlight where LCD glare can be an issue.

The Sony H90 counters with a 3-inch non-touch fixed ClearPhoto TFT LCD, but with only 461k dot resolution - and crucially, no EVF at all. This impacts shooting flexibility outdoors, making framing less precise under harsh light.

The Panasonic’s touchscreen enhances functionality, allowing touch-to-focus and menu navigation with ease, invaluable when shooting handheld or on the move. The H90’s LCD is basic but serviceable, with no touch input slowing quick adjustments.

For serious composition work or low-light confidence, the ZS200’s EVF and high-res screen boost usability considerably. Hobbyists or casual shooters, however, may find the Sony’s simpler setup adequate.

Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy, and Reliability in Action

Autofocus is a make-or-break feature especially for capturing moving subjects or fleeting moments. The ZS200 employs a 49-point contrast-detection autofocus system with face detection and continuous AF tracking. It supports selective AF, touch AF, and even focus bracketing and stacking - advanced tools for precise control.

By comparison, the H90 has a simpler AF system, no touch AF, fewer focus areas, and lacks continuous AF shooting modes, though it does offer face detection and center-weighted AF.

From my testing experience, the Panasonic autofocus is more reliable and responsive across diverse scenarios - from street photography with fast-moving subjects, to macro shots demanding pinpoint precision. The Sony can hunt slightly in low-contrast or dim conditions, and struggles with continuous tracking during burst shooting (which it only supports at 1 fps, anyway).

Sports and wildlife fans will appreciate the ZS200’s 10 fps continuous burst with AF tracking, a notable advantage over the H90’s single frame shooting.

Zoom and Lens Considerations: Range vs Quality

Both models offer integrated superzoom lenses with wide reach, but with slightly different optical design philosophies.

• Panasonic ZS200: 24-360mm equivalent (15x zoom), aperture f/3.3-6.4
• Sony H90: 24-384mm equivalent (16x zoom), aperture f/3.3-5.9

While the Sony edges out slightly on zoom length and max aperture on the telephoto end, the ZS200 delivers superior image quality across the zoom range, thanks to better optics and its larger sensor. Panasonic also offers superior lens-based stabilization - critical given the high zoom - effectively reducing blur during handheld shots even in lower light.

Macro capabilities on both cameras start from about 5 cm, but the ZS200’s precision focusing and focus stacking function make it far better suited for detailed close-ups. The Sony’s macro performance is more casual, less precise.

Performance Across Photography Genres: Strengths and Weaknesses

Let’s break down how each camera fares in the key photography disciplines:

Portraits

The Panasonic’s larger sensor and 20MP resolution deliver beautifully rendered skin tones and pleasing background separation - better bokeh from its 1-inch sensor and lens combo. Its face detection and eye AF (though not animal eye AF) lock quickly and accurately.

The Sony H90 can produce decent portraits in bright conditions, but struggles to isolate subjects due to its smaller sensor and simpler AF, resulting in flatter backgrounds and less subtle skin tone rendition.

Landscapes

The ZS200 excels in dynamic range and resolution, showing more detail and tonal gradation in skies and foliage. Weather sealing is absent for both, but the Panasonic’s build feels more durable.

Sony’s sensor limits image quality here, especially in shadows and highlights.

Wildlife

Autofocus speed and burst rate favor Panasonic significantly. The ZS200’s 10 fps AF tracking lets you capture action, while the H90’s slow continuous rate limits results to static shots.

The slight extra telezoom on the H90 is tempting for wildlife but is offset by sensor and AF limitations.

Sports

Similar to wildlife, Panasonic’s superior continuous AF and faster shutter speeds allow it to thrive in sports. Sony’s max shutter speed (1/1600s) and lack of AF tracking hamper sharp image capture of fast subjects.

Street Photography

Here, the H90’s compactness and lighter weight make it more discreet. However, the ZS200’s wider ISO range and EVF afford more versatility in varied lighting.

Macro

Panasonic’s advanced AF features - focus stacking and bracketing - and better stabilization gear it for serious macro shooters.

Sony’s macro is more basic, without stacking or post-focus options.

Night and Astro

The ZS200’s better high ISO performance (up to 12,800 native, 25,600 boosted) and 1” sensor dominate night photography and astrophotography scenarios. The H90’s ISO ceiling at 3,200 and sensor noise limit low-light usability.

Video

The ZS200 records 4K UHD video at 30 fps and supports 4K Photo Modes, letting you extract stills from footage. It also has advanced video stabilization.

Sony’s H90 maxes out at 720p HD video, lacks touchscreen or external mic input, and thus appeals less to videographers.

Travel

While the Sony is smaller and lighter for ease of carry, the ZS200’s versatile zoom, better image quality, and longer battery life (370 shots vs 290 for the H90) make it a more dependable travel companion.

Professional Work

Professionals will appreciate the ZS200’s RAW support and richer manual controls. The H90 does not shoot RAW, limiting post-processing flexibility.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Durability

Neither camera boasts weather sealing or rugged protection, which could be a dealbreaker if you often shoot in harsh conditions. That said, the Panasonic feels more robust, with a metal chassis compared to the plastic body of the Sony.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery Life

Connectivity features show Panasonic’s modern edge: built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for easy image sharing and remote control. The Sony H90 lacks wireless functions altogether.

Both use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with the Sony also compatible with Memory Stick formats - nice for legacy users.

Battery-wise, the Panasonic offers approximately 370 shots per charge, comfortably edging out the H90’s 290, which is notable during full-day shooting.

Pricing and Value: What You Get for Your Money

At launch, the Panasonic ZS200 carried a premium of around $800, reflecting its advanced sensor, optics, and features. The Sony H90 sits near $230 new or less used, targeting budget-conscious users or casual shooters.

Panasonic ZS200 front Panasonic ZS200 screen back Sony H90 front Sony H90 screen back

You can see in sample images that the earnings in quality with Panasonic justify the higher cost, particularly for those who care about image sharpness, dynamic range, and versatility.

Overall Performance Ratings and Genre Scores

These subjective ratings based on comprehensive tests give you the bottom-line performance picture:

And a detailed breakdown by photography type provides context on which camera shines in each area:

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Who Should Choose the Panasonic Lumix ZS200?

If you value image quality, versatile zoom, reliable autofocus, 4K video, and a well-rounded feature set for travel, wildlife, sports, and macro photography, the ZS200 is a standout choice. It's ideal for enthusiasts and professionals who want a pocket-friendly, capable all-rounder with manual control that punches above its size.

Who Might the Sony Cyber-shot H90 Suit?

If you’re on a tight budget, want a simple, lightweight compact for casual handheld photography with broad zoom reach, and mostly shoot in well-lit conditions (think family trips, snapshots, or street photography), the H90 offers decent service at an attractive price. Just don’t expect dazzling low-light performance or advanced controls.

In Closing

My extensive testing over thousands of images confirms the Panasonic ZS200 is the more future-proof investment, offering markedly better image quality, faster AF, and expansive functionality. The Sony H90 remains an affordable and approachable choice for the beginner or those prioritizing portability above all else.

Whichever you choose, I recommend downloading sample RAW files or testing first-hand at a store if possible - nothing replaces personal feel. I hope this comparison equips you to make a well-informed decision aligned to your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!