Panasonic Lumix FZ200 vs FZ28 - Which Bridge Zoom is Your Next Best Pick?

When it comes to versatile superzoom cameras, Panasonic's Lumix series has long held a sweet spot for enthusiasts seeking one tool to rule many photographic scenarios. Among these, the Lumix DMC-FZ200 and the Lumix DMC-FZ28 stand out as tempting contenders from distinct eras - the FZ28 arriving in 2009 as a highly capable compact bridge, and the FZ200 emerging in 2012 with a hefty set of upgrades targeting serious hobbyists needing extra control and reach.

Having spent hours in the field with both, shooting everything from portraits to wildlife and low-light scenes, I’m excited to share a detailed, no-nonsense comparison - drawing from real-world tests, technical breakdowns, and practical experience. Whether you’re a traveler after a one-camera do-it-all or an enthusiast exploring the edges of bridge cameras, this deep dive will help clarify which Panasonic Lumix will better serve your photographic ambitions.

Let’s zoom in - literally and figuratively.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Control

Right off the bat, you feel the generational leap in design philosophy between the FZ28 and FZ200. The FZ28 is a compact, modestly sized bridge camera, quite pocketable for what it offers, whereas the FZ200 noticeably bulkier, with more pronounced ergonomic contours shaped to accommodate manual lens and exposure control.

With dimensions of roughly 125x87x110 mm and weighing 588 grams (battery included), the FZ200 feels solid in hand, neck-strapping for longer sessions but still manageable for travel. In contrast, the FZ28’s smaller footprint (118x75x89 mm, 417 grams) makes it more discreet - a plus for street photographers or casual outings.

One of my early favorite touches on the FZ200 is the fully articulating 3-inch Free-Angle TFT LCD, comfortably larger and more articulate than the fixed 2.7-inch, 230k-dot screen on the FZ28. This articulation isn’t mere gadgetry; it translates to greater compositional creativity, whether shooting tight macro angles or awkward high/low perspectives.

The top control layouts reinforce the story of control vs. simplicity. The FZ200’s SLR-like dual dial layout for aperture and shutter priority, complete with dedicated exposure compensation and AF mode buttons, firmly guides users toward advanced handling. The FZ28’s controls, less extensive and grouped more compactly, suit casual shooters more than DSLR converts.

In short: if you’re after tactile control with a strong grip and versatile screen positioning, the FZ200 takes the cake. If you prefer a lighter, more compact form for grab-and-go shooting, the FZ28 remains a contender.

Sensor Size, Resolution, and Image Quality Metrics

Both cameras utilize a small 1/2.3-inch sensor class typical of bridge cameras, but under the hood, the technologies differ markedly - and so does the resulting image quality.

The FZ28 employs a 10-megapixel CCD sensor with dimensions around 6.08 x 4.56 mm, delivering images up to 3648 x 2736 pixels. CCDs are known for their excellent color rendition but come with trade-offs in noise performance, especially at higher ISO settings.

The FZ200 steps up with a 12-megapixel CMOS sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, slightly larger in pixel count and benefitting from newer sensor technology. The CMOS sensor, paired with Panasonic’s Venus Engine VII FHD processor, offers enhanced dynamic range, better noise handling, and faster readout speeds.

This advantage becomes clear during real-world testing. The FZ200 scored a DxOMark overall rating of 37 (vs. the FZ28’s 27), reflecting gains in color depth (19.1 vs. 17.9), dynamic range (10.8 vs. 10.1), and low-light ISO capability (114 vs. 79).

Practically, this means the FZ200 produces cleaner images in dimly lit environments, handles highlights and shadows with more nuance, and sustains richer color gradations, especially valuable in landscape and portrait work.

Exploring the Viewfinder and Rear LCD Interface

Few shooters glaze over these components - they’re the real-time windows onto your scene - and in this comparison, the FZ200 again leaps ahead.

The FZ200 sports a 1,312k-dot OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) with full 100% coverage, ensuring an accurate, bright, and detailed framing experience even in strong sunlight - a boon for outdoor shooting.

Conversely, the FZ28's EVF is unspecified in resolution and generally suffers from lower brightness and coverage, often forcing you back to the LCD.

The FZ28 offers a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with just 230k dots, noticeably dim and lacking articulation, restricting flexible shooting angles.

The FZ200’s 3-inch articulated screen at 460k dots doubles the pixel count, inviting you to live view frame in tricky spots or review images with crisp clarity.

From a user interface standpoint, the FZ200’s menus feel decidedly faster and more intuitive, reflecting the newer processor and firmware updates, while the FZ28’s UI feels dated after extended use.

If snapping on the go or composing through eye level is your style, the FZ200’s improved electronic viewfinder and screened advantages can’t be overstated.

Lens Reach and Aperture: Does 24x F2.8 Trump 18x Variable?

Superzoom enthusiasts often zero in on lens versatility, balancing focal length reach against brightness and image quality.

The FZ28 has an 18x zoom spanning 27-486mm (35mm-equiv), with a variable aperture of f/2.8-4.4. It’s respectable but typical for earlier superzooms. The variable aperture means the lens darkens as you zoom in, limiting low-light performance and bokeh control at long focal lengths.

The FZ200 breaks tradition with a fixed F2.8 aperture throughout its impressive 25-600mm (24x) zoom range - ambitious, to say the least. This “constant bright aperture” is rare and very appealing for shooting portraits with smooth bokeh, wildlife in low light, or even some action.

What does this mean practically?

At 600mm equivalent on the FZ200, you still have a fairly bright f/2.8 aperture, which allows faster shutter speeds and improved subject isolation - an advantage over the FZ28’s comparatively darker telephoto end.

Lens sharpness on the FZ200 is generally better across the zoom range, thanks to newer optical design and coatings. Some early tests noted minor edge softness but nothing that spoils print-quality.

Macro capability is comparable: both focus as close as 1 cm, great for creative close-ups, but the FZ200’s stabilizer helps make handheld macro shots a bit easier.

In the endgame, if you want one lens to cover landscapes, street, portraits, macro, and wildlife with uniform brightness, the FZ200’s 24x constant f/2.8 zoom is a truly unique feature in this category.

Autofocus Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Face Detection

Let me get this out of the way - no bridge camera truly nails the autofocus fluidity of modern mirrorless or DSLRs. However, the FZ200’s AF system makes impressive strides.

The FZ200 employs 23 contrast-detection AF points with face detection and continuous AF tracking, enabling sharper focus on moving subjects and faces - essential for portraits and quick action shots.

The FZ28’s contrast-detection AF uses a more basic system with single-area AF and no face detection or tracking. This results in slower focus lock and occasional hunting, especially in low light.

The continuous shooting speeds reflect this difference: 12 fps burst on the FZ200 (at reduced resolution likely) versus just 3 fps on the FZ28, highlighting how the newer processing pipeline facilitates capturing decisive moments.

For wildlife and sports enthusiasts, the FZ200 offers a clear edge in autofocus responsiveness and reliability, while casual shooting or static subjects can be adequately served by the FZ28.

Image Stabilization and Low-Light Usability

Both cameras employ optical image stabilization (OIS), a must-have for handheld long-zoom shooting.

The FZ200’s system feels more refined, pairing stabilization with a faster lens and better sensor sensitivity (ISO100 to ISO3200 native, with expansions).

In low light, the FZ200’s maximum boosted ISO of 6400 proves useful, delivering cleaner results than the FZ28, which struggles beyond ISO 400 due to its older CCD sensor and narrower ISO range.

The FZ28’s maximum ISO 6400 is largely impractical, marred by noise unacceptable in serious use.

From night street photography to indoor events, the FZ200's superior stabilization coupled with higher usable ISO opens more creative doors.

Video Capabilities: HD Ready, Not 4K

If video is even a small part of your consideration, the FZ200 offers Full HD 1080p video recording at up to 60 fps (AVCHD and MPEG-4), with a microphone input port for better audio fidelity.

The FZ28 trails with 720p HD video at 30 fps and no external mic input, a significant limitation for serious videographers.

Neither camera supports 4K, which is no shock given their release dates, but the FZ200's video quality and framerate options provide more flexibility and smoother motion capture.

If you are serious about video, both may feel dated compared to modern mirrorless hybrids - but for casual HD clips, the FZ200 is the more competent performer, hands down.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

The FZ200 shines with an officially rated 540 shots per charge - impressive for a bridge zoom this powerful. The FZ28’s battery life isn’t well documented but generally falls short, partly due to less efficient processing and older battery chemistry.

Both cameras rely on SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards as storage media, with single card slot designs.

On connectivity, both disappoint modern users: no Wi-Fi, NFC, or Bluetooth on either. Ports are limited to USB 2.0 (both) and mini HDMI (FZ200 only). If wireless sharing or remote control are priorities, neither will satisfy.

Durability and Environmental Resistance

Neither camera offers weather sealing, dust resistance, or rugged build features. These are standard sacrifices for lightweight bridge designs but worth noting if you’re shooting outdoors in inclement weather.

Real-World Use Cases: What Each Camera Excels At

To contextualize the specs, I put these cameras through their paces across varied photographic genres:

Portrait Photography

The FZ200’s constant f/2.8 aperture and face detection autofocus markedly improve portrait shoots, delivering smooth skin tones, pleasing background blur, and accurate eye focus. The articulating screen aids framing creative angles, invaluable for environmental portraits or low-angle shots.

The FZ28 can fill in as a casual portrait camera but struggles with background separation and focus precision, especially in dynamic lighting.

Landscape Photography

High-resolution sensors are great, but dynamic range and optical quality matter more. The FZ200’s CMOS sensor affords a wider tonal range, retaining highlight and shadow detail better than the FZ28’s CCD.

Its 24x zoom covers wide-angle through moderate telephoto landscapes without needing lens changes, and the optical stabilization helps shooting handheld at smaller apertures or in low light.

Wildlife Photography

The FZ200’s extended zoom range (600mm equivalent) and 12 fps burst rate enable capturing distant wildlife and action moments better than the FZ28’s 486mm max reach and sluggish 3 fps.

Autofocus tracking also helps keep erratic subjects sharp, which the FZ28 struggles with.

Sports Photography

Burst speed, autofocus tracking, and lens brightness are critical here. The FZ200’s performance - while not pro-grade - makes it a viable choice for amateur sports shooters needing flexibility and speed.

The FZ28’s limited burst and lacking AF tracking make it frustrating for fast-moving subjects.

Street Photography

The FZ28’s compactness and quieter operation make it less obtrusive for candid shots, helping maintain discretion.

The FZ200’s size is more conspicuous but compensated somewhat by superior low-light ability and screen articulation, useful in urban exploring.

Macro Photography

Both cameras allow focus as close as 1cm - a notable strength for bridge cams - but the FZ200’s image stabilization and articulating screen make handheld macro shots easier to nail.

Night and Astro Photography

The FZ200’s cleaner high-ISO images and longer exposure support permit more creative night shooting. The FZ28 struggles considerably with noise and slower shutter cap of 1/2000 sec max limits long exposures.

Video

For casual videographers, the FZ200 offers full HD with higher frame rates and audio input, making it a more useful video tool.

Sample Shots: Visual Evidence

To truly grasp real-world differences, I captured a curated gallery under matching conditions - daylight portraits, shadowed landscapes, fast wildlife, and night scenes.

Panasonic FZ200 front Panasonic FZ200 screen back Panasonic FZ28 front Panasonic FZ28 screen back

Zoom in and compare noise, detail retention, color nuance, and depth of field effect. The FZ200 consistently edges out the FZ28, especially in mixed lighting and telephoto crops.

Final Performance Ratings and Genre Scores

For an objective wrap-up, consider this synthesized scoring visualization, integrating DxOmark data, autofocus, handling, and practical usability across disciplines.

Bottom Line: Who Should Buy Which?

• Choose the Panasonic Lumix FZ200 if:

  • You crave a versatile all-in-one superzoom with fast constant aperture.
  • You need responsive autofocus and fast burst shooting.
  • You value better video features and articulate controls.
  • You shoot portraits, wildlife, sports, or in variable light often.
  • You’re willing to carry extra weight for more capability.

• Choose the Panasonic Lumix FZ28 if:

  • You want a lighter, pocket-friendlier bridge zoom for casual photography.
  • Your budget is tight, or you’re shopping secondhand.
  • You mainly shoot static subjects or travel light.
  • Discreet and compact design predominates your priorities.

Final Thought: Vintage Bridge Charm vs Modernized Power

These cameras, released three years apart, highlight how rapidly bridge cameras evolved when facing mirrorless and entry-level DSLR competition. The FZ28’s simplicity and compactness evoke nostalgia of the late 2000s compact era, while the FZ200 demonstrates Panasonic’s push to blend speed, aperture brightness, and manual control into a niche powerhouse.

Neither will replace your full-frame mirrorless, but the FZ200, in particular, earnestly delivers higher-quality images and more creative flexibility for bridge camera fans - and remains surprisingly relevant.

If you’re picking based on specs and future-proofing, the FZ200 holds the clear advantage. But if lightweight travel and casual shooting charm your style, the FZ28 can still make photographic memories worth keeping.

Happy shooting - may your next camera feel just right in your hands and your shots come out exactly as you envisioned!