Top Ultrazoom Wide Angle Cameras 2009 [Final Update]

This is the final update for this list of top 10 ultrazoom wide angle cameras 2009 posted in February and updated in May this year. Things have somewhat slowed down in the ultra long zoom segment since the last time this post was updated.

In this final update, I’ve removed from the list cameras whose minimum zoom range is less than 18 optical zoom as they are, in my opinion, belong to another camera segment (10-12 optical zoom segment), which I shall try to list down in one of my coming blog entries.

With these cameras eliminated, we are now left with only nine cameras. Without further ado, here are the list of Top Nine Ultrazoom Wide Angle Cameras of 2009, arranged based on their announced dates, the top being the latest:

1. Samsung HZ25W (WB5000) (Announced on Sept 1, 2009)

The 12.5-megapixel Samsung HZ25W, which boasts a Schneider-KREUZNACH 26mm wide angle lens and 24x optical zoom (26 – 624mm), is the South Korean giant’s first foray into the superzoom camera segment.

The longest zoom ever attempted by Samsung prior to this was 10x optical zoom.

The HZ25W has full manual control and RAW shooting as well as other shooting modes such as aperture priority, shutter priority and two User defined Modes; dual image stabilization (optical and digital) to fight blur from handshake; HD movie in 1280x720p resolution at 30fps using the latest H.264 format; ISO 80 – 6400.

Other features include Smart Face Recognition and Blink Detection mode.

2. Canon PowerShot SX20 IS (Announced on August 19, 2009)

The Canon PowerShot SX20 IS is the successor to the popular SX10 IS. Some say this camera succeeds both the SX10 IS and SX1 IS although I don’t think that is the case.

I would love to think that Canon had other plans for the SX1 IS, like making it a premium ultrazoom camera similar to the way it made the G11 a premium compact.

The SX20 IS is a 10-megapixel with a 20x optical zoom lens (28 – 560mm) and like its predecessor, has a 2.5 inch vari-angle LCD display; full manual controls; HD video 1280 x 720 at 30fps; Smart Auto Mode with Scene Detection Technology; enhanced version of i-Contrast which is Canon’s Intelligent Contrast Correction technology.

3. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 (Announced on July 27, 2009)

Panasonic is perhaps the only other camera maker which has a long experience in producing ultrazoom cameras, having been producing 18x optical zoomers since 2007. The other is Olympus.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 is a 12.1-megapixel camera with 18x optical zoom (27-486mm). This Lumix “falls short” of zoom reach compared to other cameras but it has a little trick that can outdo all other superzoom cameras through an extended zoom, allowing for a maximum of 35.2x optical zoom, although at a lower resolution of 3 megapixels.

Other features include Leica DC Vario-Elmart Lens, an upgraded Optical Image Stabiliser, high-speed AF, Intelligent Auto more,

4. Pentax X70 (Announced on March 2, 2009)

Pentax hopped onto the superzoom bandwagon with the release of the X70, a 12-megapixel camera with a 24x optical zoom (26mm – 624mm). This has been Pentax first foray into the superzoom segment.

The X70 features 11fps continuous shooting, full manual control, fast face detection, 1280 x 720 video at 15fps, 848×480, VGA and QVGA at 30fps; ISO 50 – 6400, digital wide mode which quickly stitches 2 images together for an extra wide-angle image (equivalent to 20mm).

5. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 (Announced on March 2, 2009)

I will have to stand by this entry, titled “Sony Cyber-shot DSC HX1, the Best Compact Camera 2009?“.

The camera is good because it carries revolutionary technologies, one of which is the ability to auto-stitch image. The other is the ability to superimpose six images taken in quick succession.

Digital Photography Review gives the HX1 a 0.5-point advantage over the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS in terms of image quality.

Main features: 9.1 megapixels, 20x optical zoom (28mm – 560mm), pan-and-stitch technology where pictures taken at 10fps are stitched together to make a single extreme wide angle picture, superimpose technology where six images are shot and superimposed to compose the sharpest image possible in night photography, HD video, 10fps burst mode, tilting LCD screen, ISO 125-3200. Price: US$499.95.

6. Nikon P90 (Announced on February 3, 2009)

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 since March 2009 and retails 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.

7. Olympus SP-590UZ (Announced on January 7, 2009)

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. Shipped from 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.

8. Kodak Easyshare Z980 (Announced on January 5, 2009)

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 since April 2009 at a retail price of US$399.95.

Main features: 12 megapixels, 12x 24x 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.

9. Canon PowerShot SX1 IS (Announced on September 17, 2008)

Despite its age, Canon PowerShot SX1 IS is still attracting attention a year after its release. This is perhaps one of the most anticipated ultrazoom wide angle cameras in its time.

It chalked up renewed interests among consumers around the world when Canon announced in March that the camera would be available in North America, with RAW capture to boot. Despite DP Review’s “harsh” criticism of the camera’s image quality, I am satisfied with it most of the time. Other camera review sites give the SX1 IS’ image quality a thumbs up.

Main features: 10 megapixels, 20x optical zoom (28mm – 560mm), ISO 80-1600, zero cm macro, RAW capture, hot shoe, face detection, 4fps, CMOS sensor, HD video, anti-shake, tilt and swivel LCD screen. Price: US$600.

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.