Conclusion - Pros
- Excellent results
- Good resolution
- Virtually no purple fringing
- Good dynamic range
- Superb build quality
- Very fast and responsive
- Easy to use
- Good movie mode
- Decent macro mode
- Good battery life
- AF illuminator
- Flash works really well at very close distances (throttles down well)
- Nice, bright screen
- Wide range of optional accessories
- Good value for money
Conclusion - Cons
- Limited manual controls
- Flash underpowered, occasional underexposure
- Some edge softness at wide apertures
- Accessing some advanced functions via menus is a bit long-winded
- Only two aperture settings
- Design can exacerbate camera shake at lower shutter speeds
- Limited continuous shooting capabilities
Overall conclusion
I was very impressed with the P150 when we reviewed it last year, and the P200 - though by any measure a minor upgrade - builds on and adds to its appeal. The bigger screen and the inclusion of a manual white balance option are very welcome, and the price is even more appealing now the camera has been on the market for half a year or so.
On the downside the built-in flash is nothing to write home about, being a little underpowered. Focus is not 100% reliable either, but you only really get problems with very close subjects. Ultimately, however, this is a fantastic pocket camera that would equally well suit a beginner or a DSLR user looking for a 'carry everywhere' second camera. A little gem, and one I would be happy to recommend to anyone looking for a stylish, easy to use camera with some manual controls and compatability with a wide range of add-on accessories. And it's a bit of a bargain too.
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