The best superzoom cameras
— -- With all this fuss about interchangeable lens cameras getting smaller and smaller in the past few years, one forgotten segment of the camera market has been happy to blindly chug along. These so-called superzoom cameras have been improving to the point that their spec sheets now border on the ridiculous. Optical zoom in excess of 30x? Why not? DSLR size (and styling) for a point-and-shoot? Absolutely!
These so-called superzoom cameras are at the peak of the point-and-shoot market, perfect for those looking for a simplified experience with great optical zoom power, for whom size and price are only a minor concern. Despite their name, these cameras go far beyond simply offering expansive zoom range, however, with performance and features to match. We've reviewed superzoom cameras from every major manufacturer, and now present our best of 2011.
The Panasonic FZ150 is currently our best overall point-and-shoot camera and, as a result, our best superzoom. It has a bevy of features that separate it from its slightly cheaper cousin, the Panasonic FZ47: more manual control, higher resolution video capture, an articulating rear LCD, hot shoe, and slightly superior image quality.
The FZ150 also handles very well, giving it a leg up over the Canon SX40 and other superzoom cameras that sometimes seem to take on DSLR styling without the level of comfort DSLR shooters are accustomed to. Compared to some other cameras in this category it cedes the zoom race, opting for "just" a 24x optical zoom range, but the FZ150 is the best overall point-and-shoot by our 2011 testing and a mammoth improvement over the FZ100 that preceded it.
Canon SX40 HS
The Canon SX40 HS is the premier superzoom from Canon, offering the same excellent control scheme and design of the SX30, but with a greatly improved CMOS image sensor. The result is excellent sharpness and noise results for a point and shoot, with a 35x optical zoom lens. The camera also benefits from a 202k-dot resolution electronic viewfinder and a 2.7-inch flip-out LCD. The SX40 even comes with a hot shoe hidden behind a removable (if stubborn) plastic cover.
Altogether, the SX40 rounded out to be the second-best point and shoot we have tested in our current testing rubric, and the second-best superzoom we've ever seen. With great ease of use and solid all-around performance, the Canon SX40 is a great option for anyone looking for a point and shoot that can do it all and do it well.
Sony HX100V
While the Sony HX100V can't quite match the Canon SX40 and Panasonic FZ150 for image quality, it may make up some of that gap by offering more extensive manual control. It's got a great set of features, in-camera tips, a control ring around the lens barrel, and an extensive guide for the beginner willing to learn every in and out of the camera.
The Sony beat both the SX40 and the FZ150 for color accuracy, but lost out to the Panasonic and Canon in other performance areas. Its main issues lay with the camera's handling of noise and some issues with chromatic aberration and lens distortion, but its performance still puts it among the best point-and-shoot cameras we've tested. With a 30x optical zoom, the HX100V nicely splits the difference between the 35x Canon SX40 and the 24x FZ150. It's more of a jack-of-all-trades, with solid all-around performance that doesn't quite achieve the same peaks as the above models, but has innovative features that will appeal to many beginners eager to hone their skills.
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