Yashica City 200 review: Best Compact camera with 10x zoom
The Yashica City 200 is a compact camera that combines the convenience of a point-and-shoot with the range of a powerful zoom lens. With 10x optical zoom and 4K video, this lightweight Yashica camera is an alternative to smartphone photography. It is easy to use and the photos are impressively sharp. Let's see what this digital camera can do and how far the City 200 can zoom in.
Design and specifications: How compact is the City 200?
The Yashica City 200 looks sleek and feels surprisingly light. The camera fits easily into a coat pocket or small bag, making it ideal for walks, holidays, festivals and days out. Unlike your smartphone, this is a camera that lets you focus on one thing: taking photos. Without the distraction of notifications or filters.
The camera is available in black and white, uses a microSD card with up to 256 GB of memory, and charges via USB-C. The bright 3-inch touchscreen works smoothly and responds quickly, just like a smartphone.
Yashica City 200: key specifications
- Sensor: 13 MP (scalable to 72 MP)
- Zoom: 10x optical zoom (34 mm – 338 mm)
- Video: 4K resolution
- File type: JPEG
- Weight: 220 grams
- Li-ion battery 3.7V / 1250mAh (NP-40)
- Connectivity: USB-C charging, Micro SD, Wi-Fi via App
Better zoom than a smartphone
The City 200's strongest feature is its 10x optical zoom. This allows you to capture both wide cityscapes and distant details without having to walk around. For example, you can photograph the entire harbour with several boats and zoom in on a flag on a boat across the water from the same spot.
Zooming in makes it easier to keep distracting elements out of the frame. That way, you don't have to crop the photo if you want to post it on Instagram. If you did this with your phone, you would probably end up with grainy photos. With the City 200, the photos remain nice and sharp.
Image quality: better than you think
The Yashica City 200 has a 13-megapixel sensor. Photos can also be upscaled to 72 megapixels in the camera. This means that the photos are sharp enough to be printed on canvas, for example.
The camera only takes photos in JPEG format. This allows you to share or print your photos immediately, but it is obviously less suitable if you want to seriously tweak the colours later.
The quality of the photos is surprisingly good for this class and type of camera. The photos are sharp, rich in contrast and with sufficient detail, especially in good light. It also has image stabilisation, which helps you take sharp photos even when zooming in 10x.
Autofocus and exposure
The autofocus responds quickly and reliably, although photographing moving subjects requires a little more attention. A useful tip is to focus in advance on the point where the action is expected, such as a cyclist passing by. In bright sunlight or strong contrast due to shadows, it helps to adjust the exposure slightly. The camera immediately shows the result on the screen, allowing you to quickly see if any bright areas are overexposed.
A popular setting is the “Vivid” mode for a little extra colour. This makes the colours slightly stronger and more vibrant. This allows you to share the photo immediately on social media without any additional adjustments.
Macro photography: close-ups are beautiful too
The City 200 also takes good macro photos. These are close-ups of flowers, insects or small objects with a blurred background (also known as “bokeh”). In addition, there are various scene modes such as portrait, landscape or evening. These presets automatically adjust exposure and colour, so you can shoot quickly without having to adjust everything yourself.
Recording videos with the Yashica City 200
In addition to photos, the Yashica City 200 digital camera also records videos up to 4K resolution. Image stabilisation ensures that videos remain reasonably stable, even when fully zoomed in. For vloggers or travellers who want to make short clips, this offers a nice balance between quality and ease of use.
Wireless convenience with the Yashica app
The Yashica app makes the camera even more versatile. Via Wi-Fi, you can send recordings wirelessly to your smartphone to view, edit or post them directly on social media.
The app offers three useful features:
- Wireless photo transfer – share your photos without cables.
- Live preview – see what the camera sees on your phone, useful for photos taken from a tripod.
- Remote control – take photos from a distance, ideal for group photos or creative compositions.
This combination of physical camera and smart app makes the City 200 attractive for anyone who loves photography and wants to share quickly.
In practice: taking photos quickly and easily
During a walk in Leiden (the Netherlands), we noticed how versatile this camera is. You can take all kinds of photos with it: the entire street, close-ups of anchors, shy seagulls and people sitting at a terrace on the other side of the canal. If you zoom in 10x, you can even capture details such as street signs and windmill blades from a distance. The camera also performed well in macro mode, with beautiful depth of field effects on flowers and small objects.
The 10x zoom is large enough to really see the difference, the stabilisation does its job and the photos look good. For those who want a little more than just taking photos with their smartphone, this is a good compact camera.
Tips for the best results with the compact camera
For the best photo quality, the tester gives three specific tips:
- Use the Vivid mode for beautiful, vibrant colours.
- For immediate posting on social media, set the image sharpness to +1.
- Adjust the exposure in bright sunlight to prevent overexposure.
- Hold the camera as steady as possible in low light, for example by keeping your elbows close to your body.
With these settings, you can get the most out of the Yashica City 200, regardless of the light or subject.
Conclusion: reliable compact camera with 10x zoom
The Yashica City 200 is a compact, user-friendly camera with a remarkably large zoom. Ideal for festivals, holidays and days out. The photos look great if you want to post them directly on TikTok, Instagram or anywhere else. And they are sharp enough to print on canvas if you upscale them to 72 megapixels. With its large 10x zoom, 4K video and wireless app support, this is a great camera that can do a lot.
So if you're looking for a light, reliable compact camera that can zoom seriously, the Yashica City 200 is a camera you'll enjoy for a long time.
Frequently asked questions about the Yashica City 200
What's in the box of the City 200?
The box contains: the YASHICA City 200 digital camera, a storage bag, user manual, Type-C charging cable, lens cap, hand strap, key ring, cleaning cloth and warranty card.
Where can I find the manual for the Yashica City 200?
You can view the manual for the Yashica City 200 here.
What is a good microSD card for the Yashica City 200?
The Yashica City 200 supports microSD cards up to 256 GB. For example, the Lexar microSD Silver plus UHS-I V30 memory card with 128 GB or 256 GB is a good microSD card for a digital camera. Tip: format the memory card in the camera before you start taking photos.
Is the City 200 suitable for beginners?
Yes, thanks to its simple point-and-shoot operation, you can get started right away, without any knowledge of photography.
In which formats can you record videos?
You can record videos in the following formats:
- 5K: 5120 x 2880 / 30fps
- 4K: 3840 x 2160 / 60fps 30fps
- 2.7K: 2688 x 1512 / 60fps, 30fps
- Full HD 1080P: 1920 x 1080 / 120fps, 60fps, 30fps
- HD 720P: 1280 x 720 /120fps, 60fps, 30fps
