Digital Camera (Ultra-Zoom) Information

See our report on regular digital cameras for entry-level and more sophisticated digital cameras, which are more compact than the ultra-zoom models featured here.

ConsumerSearch also offers a separate report on digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs), which offer full manual shooting modes and accept interchangeable lenses. Very few digital SLRs have movie modes, though, and because their sensors are much larger, you'll need an enormous, expensive lens to get as close with an SLR as you can with an ultra-zoom camera. Generally, digital SLRs are sold without a lens, but some entry-level DSLRs come with kit lenses.

The websites and publications listed in the Our Sources page are the best places for more information on digital cameras. Here are a few standout articles:

PC World features a useful guide to digital cameras and technology. "How to Buy a Digital Camera" looks at important digital camera specifications and what they mean. The editors rank factors such as battery life, resolution, focal length and exposure controls according to relative importance. They also provide some useful pointers on purchasing a digital camera.

PCMag.com also has a helpful, if brief, buying guide for ultra-zoom cameras, and CNET has a digital camera buying guide that asks readers to match their needs to six different camera-user profiles.

You'll find more detailed features and specification information on the following manufacturers' websites:

Canon

Casio

Fujifilm

Kodak

Nikon

Olympus

Panasonic

Sony