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The 24x Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 doesn't have the most ambitious zoom ratio, but a sharp f/2.8 aperture lens and speedy performance make up for it.

For those after a long-zoom camera that falls in between a point-and-shoot and digital SLR experience, look no further than the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200.

Pansonic’s FZ200 has an amazing new lens, but this leads to a few cost-cuts elsewhere.

The FZ200 has its f/2.8 aperture trump card to play, which will beat any other superzoom competitor out there, even the larger-sensor versions. Now that’s quite a statement, but this is quite a camera.

If you're looking to trade up from a compact, don't discount this entirely in favour of a dSLR. Performance is on a par with a consumer dSLR, and you needn't invest in a bag full of expensive lenses to go with it.

Indeed, the overall optical capabilities of the FZ200 left us impressed, with the camera able to produce some excellent images with very few flaws. Performance is also pretty solid across the board, with quick start-up and shot-to-shot processing times.

Builds on the superb FZ150 with a groundbreaking lens design – expensive but worth it.