Daveg0720 Loc: Philadelphia,Pennsylvania

I am interested in the panasonic fz200. In going tp panasonics web site I noticed they have several categories of cameras, among them being P&S and compact camera systems. The fz200 is listed as P&S. Can someone explain the difference between point and shoot and compact camera systems .This newbie will appreciate the help.Thanks

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

The Fz200 I would class as a bridge camera using my definitions below:

P&S - Fully automatic - just press the button and the camera will do everything except choose the subject. Usually fitted with a short zoom lens. Not normally supplied with a viewfinder and comes with a small sensor.

Bridge - Between P&S and DSLR - The user can control how the camera takes the photo, usually capable of being controlled manually and sometimes has raw image output.
Also has a non-interchangeable lens, nowadays a long zoom is the normal. The best ones have a viewfinder, usually electronic viewfinder. Medium size sensor.

DSLR - As bridge but with interchangeable lenses and an optical viewfinder. Large sensor.

Mirrorless - as bridge but with interchangeable lenses.
Mirrorless - as DSLR but with interchangeable lenses.

Compact - any of the above but smaller.

Neubee Loc: Wisconsin

Searcher---
Good job for a Limey...LOL

JPL

The main difference between camera categories is the sensor size. The Panasonic has the smallest sensor available in a camera today. Most of the compact camera systems have about 4 times larger sensor (Nikon 1 series, the new Samsung NX mini and some other cameras) and even bigger sensors, like in the Micro 4/3 cameras, APS-C cameras and full frame cameras. Then there are some cameras with interchangable lenses and others are glued with one lens only, the one that comes as part of the camera when you purchase it.

The camera systems with larger sensors have the advantage that the larger the sensor is, the larger print you can make with good quality. Also with larger sensor you get better pictures in low light. Still you can get decent pictures from almost any camera as long as you are only printing small sizes or using downsized images on webpages. The advantage of interchangable lens systems is that you can adjust your reach and play more with background effects (bokeh), use lenses that are better in low light etc. Still the bridge cameras have pretty good lenses today that do a fair job for the general user.

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

That Pana is a beut. rememer- Photographers have literally drooled for decades over a Leica lens! My old camera is now my wife's- the Pana DMC FZ-28. I still love using it when the DSLR is too much to tote.