Top Ten Ultrazoom Wide Angle Cameras 2009

[UPDATE: May 23, 2009: I've posted an updated version of this blog entry, "Top Ten Ultrazoom Wide Angle Camera 2009 (Update 1)]

[UPDATE: MARCH 12, 2009: Sony and Pentax have announced their own ultrazoom wide angle cameras, the HX1 and X70, respectively. Both cameras deserve to be in the Top 10 and this will be reflected in the next update of this Top 10 list, sometime in May]

If you are looking for an all-in-one digital camera for your casual and travel photography needs, you won’t go wrong with ultrazoom wide angle cameras. The only set back is that they are too bulky to be pocketable.

Here are 10 super zoom wide angle cameras to choose from. Some are already in the market while others will ship between now and April.

Without further ado, here are the top 10 wide angle-to-super zoom cameras in alphabetical order.

1. Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
The Canon PowerShot SX1 IS is perhaps one of the most anticipated ultrazoom wide cameras. Entering the market in mid-December last year, it is still making waves even after the announcement of longer and wider lens cameras. Available (except in North America, that is) since December 2008 at retail price of equivalent to US$605.

Main features: 10 megapixels, 20x optical zoom (28mm – 560mm), ISO 80-1600, zero cm macro, hot shoe, face detection, 4fps, CMOS, HD video, anti-shake, tilt & swivel LCD screen.

2. Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

When Canon announced the SX10 IS and the SX1 IS at the same time, and considering that both are almost identical in terms of features except for the CMOS sensor, and HD video and 4fps capabilities of the SX1 IS, many were left in a dilemma whether to buy the SX10 IS or wait for the SX1 IS.With more information and reviews available now, the consumer should have the idea which model suits their needs better.

The SX10 IS does have the advantage over its big brother — it is very much cheaper and offers the very same image quality as that of the SX1 IS. Available since October 2008 at US$399.99.

Main features: 10 megapixels, 20x optical zoom (28mm – 560mm), ISO 80-1600, zero cm macro, hot shoe, face detection, anti-shake, tilt & swivel LCD screen.

3. Kodak Easyshare Z980
There is something about Kodak’s new ultrazoom camera that merely by looking at it, the word “enthusiast” would immediately comes to mind. It is definitely a unique camera, offering features that would please not only casual photographers but also enthusiasts. Available in April 2008 at a retail price of US$399.95.

Main features: 12 megapixels, 12x optical xoom (26mm – 624mm), hot shoe, zoom flash, vertical shutter release, vertical grip, anti-shake, HD movie, less than 0.2 second click-to-capture speed, ISO64 – 6400, face detection, on camera picture enhancing.

4. Nikon P90
As the saying goes, you can’t keep a good man — in this case a good camera maker — down for long. The same goes with Nikon which has finally announced its own superzoom digital camera, the P90. Available in March 2009 and will retail at US$399.95.

Main features: 12.1 megapixels, 24x optical zoom (26mm-624mm), anti-shake, 1cm macro, 15fps continuous shots, face detection, smile mode, blink warning, vari-angle LCD screen, ISO up to 6400.

5. Olympus SP-590UZ
It is not an exaggeration to say that the race for longer zooms in the compact digital camera is spurred mostly by Olympus, which has been setting the trend for others to follow. Olympus is winning the number game again with the SP-590UZ, which is by far the camera with the longest zoom range. Ship in March at the price of US$450.

Main features: 12 megapixels, 26 optical zoom (26mm – 676mm), antik-shake, face detection, 1cm macro, 10fps sequential shot, ISO64-6400, RAW, 8 minutes bulb mode.

6. Olympus SP-565UZ
You can count on Olympus to deliver the number — megapixels, frame-per-second and zoom range and all. When the SP-565UZ was announced in August last year, no cameras yet were able to match its zoom reach except its more expensive predecessor the SP-570UZ. Available since October 2008 at US$400.

Main features: 10 megapixels, 20x optical zoom (26mm-520mm), 1cm macro, 12.5fps, anti-shake, face detection.

Meanwhile, the six camera models above are all 20x optical zoom or longer. The cameras below offer sub-20x optical zoom but no less appealing due to their wider lenses and compact build.

7. Nikon L100
Nikon strengthens its position in the “entry level” ultrazoom camera with the introduction of the L100, an obvious choice for those who must have a Nikon superzoom camera but could not afford the P90. Available in April at retail price of US$279.95.

Main features: 10 megapixels, 15x optical zoom (28mm-420mm), 1cm macro, anti-shake, up to 13fps continuous shots, smile mode, blink warning, in camera red eye fix, ISO up to 3200.

8. Panasonic DMC-FZ28
Panasonic was there when the 12x optical zoom was the benchmark for camera makers wanting to make a present in the superzoom segment. After a succession of 12x opticals, the FZ28 came into the picture in October 2008, offering a 18x optical zoom. Available since August 2008 at the retail price of US$399.

Main features: 10 megapixels, (27mm – 486mm), 1cm macro, ISO100-1600, RAW, HD movie, 2.5fps, anti-shake, face detection.

9. Panasonic DMC-ZS3 (TZ7 in Europe)
Panasonic started off the year with a bang, announcing a series of compact digital cameras, including the superzoomers ZS3 and the ZS1.

The ZS3 is the more expensive of the two and offers many creativity options. With the success of the highly-acclaimed DMC-LX3 wide angle camera, Panasonic has a reputation to keep. That alone makes these two cameras, especially the ZS3, appealing. The ZS3 is available from April 2009 at the price of US$399.95.

Main features: 10 megapixels, 12x optical zoom (25mm – 300mm), multi aspect ratios shooting (4:3, 3:2 or 19:9), HD video, anti-shake, face detection, 2.3fps – 6fps (reduced resolution), tonnes of scene modes, ISO100-6400.

10. Samsung HZ10W
The HZ10W is Samsung’s first attempt at producing superzoom cameras. The highest zoom range this South Korean giant ever reached was 7x optical zoom, albeit starting at a narrow 38mm, with its L77 in early 2007.

The HZ10W offers the widest lens among the superzoom cameras, starting at 24mm (as wide as Panasonic’s LX3) and ending at 240mm. Available since January at the price of US$300.

Main features: 10.2 megapixels, 10x optical zoom (24mm – 240mm), ISO80 – 3200, anti-shake, face detection, HD video, smile shot, beauty mode.

What next? A Sony 24x optical zoom camera? The Japanese giant already has a present in the ultrazoom segment with its Cyber-shot “H” series. Sony is the only camera maker which is yet to announce any ultrazoom model this year. Let’s see if we have been saved the best for last.

I hope you find the information informative. Similar articles will be posted on this blog on a regular basis. Be sure to subscribe to Macro Photography Blog via the RSS feed or by Email.