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 SLR (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.

Extended-zoom digital cameras have some drawbacks. For example, because of longer than typical shutter lag, ultra-zoom cameras aren't usually considered the best choice for fast-moving sports or action shots. However, one new introduction, the Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 (*est. $1,000) , turns that stereotype upside down.

Other neat features include a pre-record mode that continually records photos -- discarding the oldest ones -- until the shutter is fully pressed. That's great for setting up a shot when you don't know the precise moment when action will occur. There's also a motion detection mode that will wait for hours until something moves within its field of view, then shoot off 60 fast frames. As David Pogue of The New York Times notes, "that could come in handy when you’re trying to photograph a hummingbird approaching a flower, a bird arriving at its nest or an unauthorized household member raiding the cookie jar."

This hybrid camera is also an HD camcorder, capable of recording full HD (1,920 X 1,080 pixels) at 60 fps (frames per second), or slow-motion recording at reduced resolutions at up to 1,200 frames per second to create those science-fair-type videos of water drops hitting a pond, etc. The camera also has the ability to snap still photos while recording video.

Nearly everyone who's seen the EX-F1 thinks it's a breakthrough camera. The New York Times' Pogue uses terms like "astonishing" and "jaw dropping." Dana Wollman at Laptop magazine, which awards the EX-F1 an Editors' Choice award, says the ultra-zoom camera is "unlike any camera you've seen." However, Wolman also adds that it is not for everyone -- and that's a point that most critics agree on. For example, as impressed as Pogue is with the EX-F1, he says there are "nearly as many downsides as breakthroughs."

First of all, there's the $1,000 price. Secondly, many say that the camera is complicated to use, with a steep learning curve needed to master all of its potential. Photo quality is good, but not without some shortcomings. Finally, some of the camera's advanced features limit some photographic options. In light of all of this, there are certainly better choices for most photographers. However, if you are serious about sports or other action photography, there's really nothing else quite like the Casio EX-F1.  ... 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, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is a clear winner with critics. It is feature-packed, takes very good pictures, is easy to use for experts and beginners and has a powerful 18X lens. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 lacks some of the advanced capabilities of the DMC-FZ18, but is easy to use and fits comfortably into a coat or ample shirt pocket. If the absolutely longest zoom lens available is important, the Olympus SP-570UZ boasts a 20X lens. It's feature-rich and produces good, but perhaps not great, pictures. With its hyper-fast shutter, the Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 is a singular camera for sports and action photographers, but others might be happier with another ultra-zoom digital camera. 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.