The Lumix DMC-FZ200 is Panasonic's latest digital compact camera to offer an f/2.8 aperture across the full range of its zoom.  And given that the full range runs to 600mm (in 35mm format), that's saying something. The lens on the FZ200 is a 24x optical zoom lens that starts at the wide angle end as a 25mm and zooms all the way to 600mm.  This is an incredible range that encompasses all the focal lengths you could ever need and it offers an f/2.8 aperture at all of those lengths.  Normally, this is something that only high end professional lenses offer, but with this Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens, you can have the speed and light collecting ability of an f/2.8 in an easy-to- use, easy-to-hold compact camera. It's hard to understate the improvements your photos will show, especially zoom close-ups, when you are shooting at f/2.8.

See recent price change history for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200.