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Nikon's Coolpix P950 has an improved EVF, 4K and 83x zoom power
Nikon has unveiled the Coolpix P950, a refresh of its popular P900 superzoom. While it doesn't quite have the incredible 3,000mm equivalent reach of the P1000, it nevertheless delivers 83x zoom power equal to 2,000mm on 35mm cameras. That's enough to capture a jet plane crossing the moon or the gleam in a bird's eye for a long distance away.
Leica's V-Lux 5 is a high-end, travel-friendly camera
Leica isn't exactly known for offering cameras that both offer long-zoom lenses and a relatively affordable price, but it's ready to bend those rules a bit. The company has introduced the V-Lux 5, an upscale rebadge of Panasonic's FZ-1000 II long-zoom camera. The differences mostly boil down to a spruced-up design with the signature red dot on the front, but that's not necessarily a bad thing when the core camera is solid -- this is a fairly powerful option for travelers.
Panasonic's FZ1000 II 16x superzoom targets Sony's RX10
If you're looking at Sony's RX10 IV but don't want to pay 1,700 freaking dollars, Panasonic might have the camera for you. It just unveiled the FZ-1000 II, an upgrade to the 2014 FZ-1000, that costs nearly half that. It's got a 1-inch, 20.1-megapixel "high-sensitivity" CMOS sensor and 16x 25-400mm f/2.8-4.0 (35mm equivalent) Leica zoom, only a bit less than the 24-600mm reach of its rival. It also has a fully articulating 3-inch touchscreen ideal for selfies and vlogging, bettering the tilt-only display on the RX10 IV.
Sony's $450 HX99 camera packs 30X zoom into an ultra-compact
How do you make a point-and-shoot camera appealing when the smartphone in your pocket can already take great photos? By stuffing a ton of features into a design that's almost as easy to carry as that phone, apparently. That's the principal behind Sony's Cyber-shot HX99 going on sale in November 2018 in the US. It crams a 24-720mm equivalent (30X) f/3.5-6.4 zoom lens, a retractable OLED viewfinder and a flip-up touchscreen into a small 4-by-2.5-inch body you'd associate with standard-zoom cameras.
Sony's new HX99 compact camera does things your smartphone can't
At a time when everyone is carrying around a generally capable camera inside their smartphone, compact cameras have struggled to stay relevant. Barring Sony's own wonderful RX100 series and Fujifilm's X100F family, the world of point-and-shoots is usually an unremarkable one. Sony's only camera announcements at IFA 2018 were intriguing, at least. It revealed two cameras, the Cybershot HX99 and HX95, which cram a technically impressive 30x, 24-720mm f/3.5-6 equivalent zoom lens into a 1.5-inch wide camera frame that feels very similar to the premium RX100 series. Both compacts join the Cybershot camera family, meaning they are cheaper than Sony's aforementioned premium compact camera series. The HX99 -- the one I tested -- is priced at €520 (around $610), making it pretty much half the price of the latest RX100 models.
Nikon's P1000 takes the superzoom crown with a beastly 125X lens
Nikon already holds the superzoom title with the 2,000mm (83X zoom) equivalent P900, but it hasn't been sitting on its haunches. It just unveiled the CoolPix P1000 with a 24-3,000mm f/2.8-8 lens (35mm equivalent), offering an astonishing zoom range of 125X. That will let you capture closeups of birds from a long, long distance, or even the moon, for a fairly reasonable price of $1,000.
Panasonic's ZS200 compact camera doubles down on zoom
Along with the all-new GX9, Panasonic launched the ZS200 compact superzoom, a successor to the excellent ZS100. The new model hasn't massively changed, as it still offers a 1-inch, 20.1 megapixel sensor, 5-axis stabilization, 4K, 30 fps video and more. However, there's enough new stuff there to make it interesting. Mainly, the Leica-built zoom lens has an increased range of 24-360x, compared to 25-250x (35mm equivalent) for the last model, albeit at a loss in aperture speed from f/2.8-5.9 to f/3.3-6.4.
Instagram's new feature adds dramatic zoom-ins to your Stories
Instagram's Boomerang has a new alternative that you might want to try if you've been overusing the video loop format recently. The photo-sharing app has launched a new camera format for Stories called Superzoom, which you can use to create zoom-ins with dramatic sound effects. It will make it a cinch to record quick reaction videos or to add a dramatic flair to just about anything you think of. To use it, simply start a new Story, choose the Superzoom mode, press record once for three-second videos or don't let go of the button to create longer ones.
Sony's crazy expensive RX10 IV superzoom gets a speed boost
Sony's camera theme over the last year has been "speed," especially with the arrival of its ultra-fast RX100 V compact. That notion continues today with the launch of the RX10 Mark IV, a 24-600mm f/2.4-f/4 superzoom, which gets a big shooting speed bump from 14 fps to a top-notch 24 fps. All that extra speed is thanks to the BionZ X image procesor mated to the RX-100 V's 1-inch, 20.1-megapixel Exmor RS CMOS stacked image sensor, which has a built in DRAM chip to buffer all those frames.
Panasonic's latest super-zoom camera also shoots selfies
Point-and-shoot cameras have had a bad rep lately, since they're neither as convenient as a smartphone nor as powerful as a mirrorless cam or DSLR. However, there are a few areas where they still excel: they can include ridiculously long-zoom lenses in small bodies, and take selfies that would be difficult or impossible to manage on your phone. And Panasonic, at least, is determined to make the most of those advantages. The company has just introduced the Lumix ZS70, a successor to the ZS60 that crams more into its compact frame. It now has a 20.3-megapixel sensor (up from 18MP), an even longer-ranged 24-720mm equivalent lens, and -- most importantly -- a flip-out 3-inch touchscreen. If you've ever wanted to take a high-quality selfie (including a new 4K mode) without sacrificing your ability to shoot far-off subjects, you might want to consider this model.
Sony's RX10 III is an impressive but overly expensive camera
Superzoom cameras aren't exactly the most exciting category when you're looking at photography equipment. They're usually almost as large as a DSLR but don't offer the advantage of interchangeable lenses. But Sony's just-announced RX10 III made me sit up and pay attention -- it may look nearly identical to the model Sony introduced last September, but there's an entirely different piece of glass on this camera. You're stuck with one lens, but what a lens it is: it covers an insane focal range from 24mm to 600mm (35mm equivalent) and has an impressive f/2.4 - f/4 maximum aperture range. That offers significantly more zoom capability than the 200mm lens on last year's model. It comes at a cost, though: the RX10 III will set you back a whopping $1,500. That's a lot of money for a camera with a fixed lens, even one as impressive as the one in the RX10 III (at least on paper). Fortunately Sony let me take the camera out for a spin at the San Francisco Zoo along with a bunch of other journalists to see how it stands up.
Sony's RX10 III zoom camera steps up to a 24-600mm lens
It feels like Sony announces a new camera every other day. Following the HX-80 point-and-shoot from earlier this month, the company is now introducing the RX10 III, its latest superzoom camera. For starters, Sony's new Cyber-shot features a Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-600mm (f/2.4-4) fixed lens, an improvement over the 24-200mm found on the RX10 II. That long glass is coupled with a 20.1-megapixel, 1-inch type stacked sensor, an ISO range of 64-12,800 and a Bionz X processor, the same chip that's on other mirrorless models like the A6300.
The best superzoom camera
By Amadou Diallo This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a list of the best technology to buy. Read the full article here. After more than 40 hours of researching and spending several days shooting with a handful of contenders side by side, we found the Nikon COOLPIX P610 is the best superzoom camera for most people. The Nikon P610 has a 60x zoom range, built-in Wi-Fi, and GPS support. You can shoot sharp photos with lifelike colors using the electronic viewfinder or the articulated rear screen, aided by an eye sensor that automatically switches between the two, and then quickly send them wirelessly to your phone. Plus, the P60 is simple enough to use without cracking open the manual and light enough to bring on long walks without straining your neck or shoulders.
Sony's RX10 II is a powerful superzoom camera with some quirks
Remarkable superzoom cameras are hard to come by. But every now and then, there's a standout. Take Sony's RX10 II. Introduced in June, this new shooter features a 20.2-megapixel Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor (1-inch) and a Bionz X image processor, two of the latest high-end components from Sony. Naturally, the RX10 II's main attraction is that massive 24-200mm (35mm-equivalent) Zeiss zoom lens, which lives inside a DSLR-like body (looks-wise, it hasn't changed much compared to its predecessor from 2013). As it happens, though, Sony isn't just positioning this as a superzoom; it's also going after people who want a powerful video camera. Indeed, that's one of the things the RX10 II does best: It can shoot 4K (3,840 X 2,160) at up to 30 fps and 1080p at 24, 30 and 60 fps. Pair that with a low-light sensitivity ISO of up to 25,600 and slow-motion modes that range from 240 to 960 fps (NTSC), and you have a worthy option for video buffs.
24 hours with the Sony RX10 II, a 4K-ready superzoom camera
The market for superzoom cameras is a niche one. But manufacturers continue to churn them out for people who want them, as small a group as this may be. And while Canon is designing models that can fit in your pocket, Sony's latest high-end superzoom is a very different kind of device. The RX10 II has a big, DSLR-like body (similar to its predecessor), which it needs to accommodate that Zeiss 24-200mm (35mm equivalent, constant f/2.8) zoom lens. Coupled with this fixed glass is a 1-inch, 20.2-megapixel Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor and a BIONZ X image processor for fast and sharp shooting. Aside from being just a superzoom, though, the RX10 II is also being marketed as a premium video camera: It records 4K (3,840 x 2,160) at up to 30 fps and offers an insane slow-motion setting at 960 fps. After shooting with it for a day, I can say that everything comes together nicely -- and you'd hope as much considering its $1,300 asking price.
Canon's pricey PowerShot G3 X compact is all about the zoom
By recent standards, Canon's new PowerShot G3 X is a nicely-equipped compact camera. But, arriving days after Sony's RX10 II, it's hard for it to avoid tough comparisons. Both cameras have 1-inch, 20.2-megapixel sensors with 25,600 max ISO. The G3 X's main weapon is the 25X optical zoom with a 24-600mm (35mm equivalent) field of view, handily trumping most models in terms of focal length, including Sony's. It also has five axis image stabilization, surprising for a compact camera and yet handy with such a big lens. Other features include a 2.36-megapixel EVR, 3.2-inch multi-angle LCD screen, dust and water resistance, WiFi/NFC wireless capability and 1080p/60fps video with clean HDMI output.
Sony's latest high-end superzoom shoots in 4K
The new Sony Cyber-shot RX10 II has huge boots to fill, as the original RX10 superzoom is one of the best cameras we've ever seen. To up the ante, Sony has piled on a lot of new features, with the splashiest being 4k video. Like the flagship A7R II and compact RX100 IV, the RX10 II now captures 3,840 x 2,160 video by reading out the entire 1-inch, 20.2-megapixel sensor. It then oversamples at 4K or 1080p to maximize sharpness and minimize moire and anti-aliasing. To top it off, you can shoot in nearly full HD at a stellar 240fps, or up to 1,000fps at an effective resolution of 800 x 270. Sony points out that it would take about 80 seconds to play back just 2 seconds of video shot at that speed.
Nikon Coolpix P900 point-and-shoot has a monstrous 83x zoom
If you're a fan of superzoom cameras, you may have to look no further than Nikon's Coolpix P900 to find the category's new king. This compact, yet powerful point-and-shoot features a remarkable 83x optical zoom, the equivalent of 24-2000mm, which is quite outstanding for a camera this size. While the whopping zoom range is the obvious highlight spec here, there's a lot more to the Coolpix P900. Namely, a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, an autofocus system with support for up to 7 fps continuous shooting, NFC, WiFi and a 3-inch, articulating LCD display. Sure, those seem like standard features found in most entry-level cameras nowadays, more or less -- but not so much the super, super 83x zoom. Either way, Nikon's making its Coolpix P900 available next month for $600, in case any of you are into it. Are you?
Canon's newest connected cameras: when a smartphone still won't do
You know the drill: Smartphones are making compact cameras obsolete, killing the category and yada yada. But still! Camera makers launch a seemingly endless number of new models at CES, and Canon is a great example of that this year. It just unveiled no fewer than eight compact, superzoom and video cameras in the PowerShot, ELPH and VIXIA lines, along with a Pixma photo printer. The common thread among them is wireless connectivity: Each features WiFi and NFC (other than the ELPHs and VIXIA HF R600), letting you get social with your smartphone sans the optical drawbacks. The wireless aspect also provides connectivity with peripherals like Canon's Connection Station CS100 or the new Pixma MX492 photo printer.
Canon's most powerful superzoom sports advanced video features, 65x lens
If you need a 21-1365mm focal range in a single permanently affixed lens, man does Canon have the camera for you. The PowerShot SX60 HS, which replaces the SX50, sports a 65x optical zoom with an f/3.4-6.5 maximum aperture range and features to help you track distant subjects when you're zoomed all the way in. The camera's Advanced Zoom Framing Assist lets you select how much of a person you want to keep in the frame, and the camera will automatically zoom in and out to maintain that composition. The SX60 has an upgraded 16.1-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, a DIGIC 6 processor, a 922k-dot viewfinder that flips out, up and forward, along with built-in WiFi and NFC.
