Camera advice: In July my wife and grand-daughter are going to Paris. My wife doesn't want to carry her DSLR mainly because of size. I had looked at what sometimes I think you refer to...

SpikeW Loc: Butler PA

In July my wife and grand-daughter are going to Paris. My wife doesn't want to carry her DSLR mainly because of size. I had looked at what sometimes I think you refer to as a bridge camera. I had almost selected a Sony luminx DMC ZS 100 and then suddenly there was before me a Sony luminx DMC ZS 200. Now there is about $220 difference on price. As I looked at the specs on both I found that the 200 had a longer zoom. and the lens had two more letters in the 100. Both from the same manufacturer. Now my problem is The Very Elmar lens much better than the Verio Elmarit. I know there is a difference in zoom but that really doesn't bother me much. So how much would I gain by getting the newer camera and is it worth the extra money. By the way I would receive a free memory card with the 100. Every thing else seems about the same at least to me.
I just need an opinion.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

SpikeW wrote:

In July my wife and grand-daughter are going to Pa... (show quote)

The above cameras you mentioned are Panasonic, not Sony Brand.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

The DMC ZS100 and DMC XS200 are Panasonic cameras, they are large sensor compact cameras not bridge cameras. Both cameras perform virtually the same, the XS200 has a longer reach. Both cameras have the same sensor and the excellent Leica lens. In my opinion, go for the cheaper camera.

repleo Loc: Boston

The XS200 has a longer lens but it is s bit slower than the XS100. The resolution of the viewfinder is twice that of the XS100. However, the XS has a much higher frame rate and shutter speed.
Side by side comparison here. http://cameradecision.com/compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DC-ZS200-vs-Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS100

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Ched49 wrote:

The DMC ZS100 and DMC XS200 are Panasonic cameras, they are large sensor compact cameras not bridge cameras. Both cameras perform virtually the same, the XS200 has a longer reach. Both cameras have the same sensor and the excellent Leica lens. In my opinion, go for the cheaper camera.

Large sensor?
They have a 1" sensor is all. Smaller than any of the Lumix M4/3's sensors. Granted they are larger than the tiny 1/2.3" sensor found in most bridge cameras.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Both the ZS100 and ZS200 (no XS here) are excellent cameras. The main difference between the two is that the ZS200 zooms to a 35mm equivalent of 360mm. The ZS100 zooms to 250. And the 200 costs a lot more. I'm not sure if the added cost is justified unless one absolutely needs the extra zoom. Another consideration is that those cameras have what Panasonic calls Intelligent Zoom, which effectively doubles the zoom range with little degrading of image quality. Both have 1" type sensors, which is smaller than M4/3 but much larger than 1/2.3" sensors. Both are good choices.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

MT Shooter wrote:

Large sensor?
They have a 1" sensor is all. Smaller than any of the Lumix M4/3's sensors. Granted they are larger than the tiny 1/2.3" sensor found in most bridge cameras.

When they were announced about two years ago they were considered large sensor compact cameras...maybe your going by today's standards.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Ched49 wrote:

When they were announced about two years ago they were considered large sensor compact cameras...maybe your going by today's standards.

Two years ago? Nikon started using them in the Nikon 1 J1 in 2011. That was way after APS-C was on the market and considered "small" sensor cameras. The standard has always been the 35mm sized "full frame" sensor and that is precisely why all smaller sensors are graded by their "crop factor" representing their size in relationship to those full frame sensors whose crop factor is "ONE".

Edia Loc: Central New Jersey

Paris is beautiful with lots of photo ops. However, if you want to shoot inside the Louvre or Notre Dam you need a low light camera. In most cases that means a DSLR with a larger sensor. Almost any of the cameras will give satisfactory results for out door shots.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

For travel shots I find that the longer zoom is rarely needed. I use primarily a 18-135mm lens and seem to get mostly at least adequate shots. Thus unless you want to get close up shots of the gargoyles on Notre Dame the cheaper one is quite adequate.

Idaho

For your needs, the cheaper one is the right one.

hookedupin2005 Loc: Northwestern New Mexico

You might look at the Nikon P900

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

MT Shooter wrote:

Two years ago? Nikon started using them in the Nikon 1 J1 in 2011. That was way after APS-C was on the market and considered "small" sensor cameras. The standard has always been the 35mm sized "full frame" sensor and that is precisely why all smaller sensors are graded by their "crop factor" representing their size in relationship to those full frame sensors whose crop factor is "ONE".

Well, what can I say?...I guess the world is passing me by, thanks for the update. I was going to buy one of those cameras a few years ago and started reading review's about them, more that one reviewer called them large sensor compact's and that wasn't very long ago, I guess you live and you learn.