Ultra-Zoom Digital Camera Brands and Links

Digital camera buyer's guides

See our report on regular digital cameras for entry-level and high-end 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 DSLRs have movie modes, though, and because their sensors are much larger, you'll need a big, expensive lens to get as close with an SLR as you can with an ultra-zoom camera. Generally, DSLRs are sold without a lens, but some entry-level digital SLRs come with kit lenses.

If you're not quite ready for a digital SLR, an interchangeable lens compact camera can offer the best of both worlds. See our digital camera report for more about these cameras. We also have a blog post that provides an overview of this relatively new category.

Image quality is not only dependent on megapixels. Sensor size plays a large part as well. See our blog post for more information on how sensor size affects image quality.

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:

The PC World article "How to Buy a Digital Camera" discusses 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.

CNET has a digital camera buyer's guide that allows readers to match their needs to six different camera-user profiles.

Popular Photography magazine offers digital camera reviews as well as helpful shooting tips for novices and professionals.

Websites of digital camera brands

Canon

Fujifilm

Nikon

Olympus

Panasonic

Sony