Bookmark

Top 5 superzoom shooters

By Leonard Goh
May 27, 2009

Superzoom cameras have always been seen as the middle child between dSLRs and compact cameras. Although they lack an interchangeable lens system like point-and-shoots, these long lens shooters have advanced functions such as RAW image capture which is typically found in dSLRs. To make these megazoom monsters more attractive to users, some manufacturers have also included high-definition video recording features onboard

If you travel frequently and don't wish to lug a heavy baggage of camera equipment around, superzoom cameras are your answer. But take note that if you are shooting with the lens fully extended, it is better to use a tripod even though most of these models have onboard image stabilization. This is because most IS systems are not capable of compensating for magnified blurriness caused by handshake at telephoto lens settings.

Click here for a feature comparison table.

Nikon Coolpix P90

First take
Megazoom cameras have always been the middle child in the digicam category, since their awkward sizes don't really warrant them as point-and-shoots nor dSLRs. While a shooter equipped with a 15x or 18x optical zoom was considered to be a superzoom last year, the benchmark has been raised. Recently, Kodak announced the 24x optical zoom EasyShare Z980, which Olympus soon trumped with the SP-590UZ, a camera with 26x optical zoom and the same 26mm wide-angle lens as Kodak. Now, Nikon has joined the fray with the Coolpix P90 that has deceivingly similar specifications as its rivals. So, how does this shooter stack up against the rest?

First take | See full specs | Rate this

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

CNET Asia rating: 8.2 out of 10

The good: Great image quality; full-HD video recording; 20x optical zoom; dSLR feature set.

The bad: No RAW image format capture; no external microphone input.

The bottom line: The SX1 IS is really the ultimate bridge between a digital still and digital video camera. If you can bear to part with the cash, you won't be disappointed with the superb HD-video and image quality.

Review | See full specs | Rate this

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

CNET Asia rating: 7.3 out of 10

The good: Fast performance; tilting LCD; Hand-held Twilight mode produces good photos in low light; able to zoom during movie capture.

The bad: Small EVF; no RAW format support; HDMI output requires dongle; no standard continuous shooting mode.

The bottom line: Though it's fast and has some really novel, useful features, the HX1 just doesn't deliver the photo quality expected for its class.

Review | See full specs | Rate this

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

First take
After a year, Panasonic has updated its megazoom shooter, the Lumix DMC-FZ18 with the new FZ28. Admittedly, this market segment may not be as lucrative as point-and-shoots or dSLRs as it borders between these two categories as a "bridge" camera. However, there is still demand for these shooters as it usually packs a lot of features within a relatively portable frame, so some travelers tend to favor it over bulky dSLRs. This is exactly what the FZ28 is about: Pro-level features with a compact footprint.

First take | See full specs | Rate this

Olympus SP-590UZ

This 12-megapixel camera is like a mini-dSLR, sans the interchangeable lens system. It comes with a 26mm ultra-wide-angle lens and has a 26x optical zoom lens to snap subjects that are far away. Besides manual exposure functions, it also offers RAW image capture for a dSLR-like experience when shooting.

See full specs | Rate this

« Back to Digicams