Digital Cameras (Ultra-Zoom) Reviews

Most compact digital cameras have 3X to 5X zoom lenses. Some cameras -- called ultra-zoom digital cameras (or extended-zoom digital cameras) -- offer up to 18X zoom lenses that enable you to get very close to a far away subject. Due to the inclusion of the super-zoom lens, the whole camera is larger and heavier than others, however.

This report covers cameras with long zooms of 10X or greater. If you prefer something more lightweight and compact, our report on digital cameras includes models with 3X to 8X zoom lenses. Other ConsumerSearch digital camera reports focus on the smallest cameras on the market, ultra-compact digital cameras (no more than an inch thick) and on digital SLRs (single-lens reflex), which accept interchangeable lenses.

For digital cameras, the sources with the most exhaustive and credible testing are camera enthusiast sites: Imaging-Resource.com, Digital Camera Resource Page, Steve's Digicams, Digital Photography Review, DigitalCameraInfo.com and Megapixel.net. These sites all have extensive performance-based reviews, but they differ in presentation and attitude. Reviews at Steve's Digicams, Digital Camera Resource page and Imaging-Resource are easiest to read. Digital Photography Review, DigitalCameraInfo.com and Megapixel.net are more skewed to high-end cameras and the language in reviews is more technical. All of these experts give special attention to an extended-zoom camera's shooting performance and its speed (long zooms tend to be slower than both regular digital cameras and digital SLRs). They also consider features designed to get the best long-zoom shots, such as image-stabilization technology.

Another big issue with extended-zoom digital cameras is camera shake. When zooming out as much as 18X, the camera easily picks up vibration, which can result in a fuzzy image. If you use a tripod, it's not an issue (unless the tripod itself is moving). Many digital cameras use a built-in image-stabilization system, which senses and corrects camera shake. Experts generally prefer cameras with some kind of anti-shake feature. Note that optical image stabilization is almost always more effective than digital image stabilization. A few less-expensive extended zoom cameras don't offer image stabilization at all.

Some cameras simply miss the mark. Sony's now-discontinued Cyber-shot DSC-H5 was a well-received ultra-zoom digital camera and a former Fast Answer pick in this report. While its successor, the 8.1-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 (*est. $390) , has earned some support in reviews, few critics say that this 15X ultra-zoom digital camera is the best choice overall and several express open disappointment. Image quality and an unusual user interface are both issues in reviewers' eyes.

Starting first with image quality, critics at Megapixel.net, Digital Photography Review, Digital Camera Resource Page and elsewhere are disappointed by Sony's decision to offer only one level of JPEG compression (and one that everyone also agrees is too high). There's also no RAW support (RAW is an uncompressed image format). Noise reduction -- which prevents graininess -- is also judged as being too aggressive. According to Digital Photography Review's Simon Joinson, this robs images of some fine details even at low ISO settings. According to editors at Megapixel.net, things get progressively worse as sensitivity increases.

With animations that some find annoying, the user interface is also controversial. Critics also note that many functions are buried deep within layers of menus. Experts at Megapixel.net and Digital Photography Review don't find the Sony ultra-zoom digital camera very intuitive. Jeff Keller at the Digital Camera Resource Page calls it, "sluggish, confusing, and inefficient." However, the reviewer at CameraLabs.com doesn't mind the interface; instead, reviewer Gordon Laing says the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 is enjoyable to use, even as he notes that the photo output isn't as impressive as with some other ultra-zoom cameras.  ... Continued

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

In terms of positive notices, Panasonic Lumix cameras (led by the flagship DMC-LZ50) fare best of all. If you can live with a lower-resolution camera and a few less features, the 7.2-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 delivers much the same performance, but at a much lower price. The Lumix DMC-TZ3 lacks some of the advanced capabilities of other Panasonic cameras, but is easy to use and fits comfortably into a coat or ample shirt pocket. The newest Panasonic ultra-zoom camera, the Lumix DMC-FZ18, is feature-packed and includes an 18X lens, the longest zoom length currently available on an ultra-zoom digital camera. The Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS is a solid budget camera with great features and good performance. The 12X Canon PowerShot S5 IS also warrants consideration from critics, but a noisy image sensor and lack of RAW format support keeps it out of the ranks of ConsumerSearch Fast Answers in this update.