In case your digicam (or smartphone) doesn’t have the attain to seize the themes you prefer to shoot—assume nesting birds, airplanes, or the moon’s craters—a superzoom is likely to be the answer. We’ve examined dozens of those versatile point-and-shoots over the previous decade, and our present favourite is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300. Though its zoom isn’t so long as these of some rivals, it strikes a just-right stability of telephoto functionality, user-friendly design, and glorious picture high quality.
Our decide
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
This highly effective point-and-shoot doesn’t have essentially the most zoom or megapixels, nevertheless it does present the perfect stability of attain, picture high quality, and options of all of the superzooms we examined.
Shopping for Choices
*On the time of publishing, the worth was $398.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300’s 24x zoom lens (25–600mm) is shorter than these of different superzooms however nonetheless gives ample attain for wildlife and journey pictures. Its picture high quality is superior to what you may get from related superzooms due to its f/2.8 constant-aperture lens, and its blazing-quick autofocus and burst capturing make it an ideal candidate for sports activities and motion pictures. We love its huge, high-resolution digital viewfinder and touch-enabled show, which might swing out and round that can assist you shoot selfies or seize pictures at odd angles. And its weather-sealed, DSLR-like physique is each snug to carry and filled with customizable controls that give newbie photographers room to develop into the pastime.
Additionally nice
Canon PowerShot SX70 HS
Canon’s user-friendly superzoom is brief on customizability however huge on telephoto attain. Purchase it in the event you’re certain you want extra zoom, however remember that you might develop out of it quickly.
Shopping for Choices
*On the time of publishing, the worth was $500.
For those who want extra zoom than the Panasonic FZ300 gives, the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS has a 65x lens that goes each wider (21mm) and longer (1365mm). It can provide you handsome pictures and respectable video, and its simplified menus and button structure could make it extra approachable than our prime decide for much less skilled photographers. General, although, we don’t assume its pictures look nearly as good as what you may get out of the Panasonic, so don’t chew except you’re sure you want extra zoom.
Additionally nice
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
This mannequin provides you picture high quality on a par with that of a high-end smartphone, however with a 30x zoom lens in a physique that you would be able to slip right into a denims pocket.
If portability is paramount—on a fast enterprise journey, say, or a backcountry hike the place you could journey gentle—we predict the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 is your finest guess. Regardless of its 30x zoom lens and actually tiny physique (just a bit greater and thicker than a pack of enjoying playing cards), it contains options many greater cameras miss, akin to a nifty pop-up digital viewfinder, customizable controls, and a flip-up selfie display. The picture and video high quality is nice, if not fairly a match for that of the Panasonic FZ300.
Improve decide
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000
The FZ1000’s comparably large sensor gives glorious total picture high quality, and its comparatively brief lens may be very sharp and gives stunning bokeh.
Shopping for Choices
*On the time of publishing, the worth was $598.
If you need even higher picture high quality than the FZ300 gives—and are keen to sacrifice a little bit extra zoom to get it—the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 delivers. Its 1-inch sensor captures much more element than the tiny 1/2.3-inch sensors present in our different picks; which means pictures from this digicam will nonetheless look nice at one hundred pc magnification on a monitor and can make stunning prints. Positive, the FZ1000 has solely a 16x zoom lens (25–400mm), however its f/2.8–4 aperture vary creates fantastically blurred backgrounds that make the topic pop, and it allows you to use decrease ISO settings for cleaner, extra natural-looking pictures in dim gentle.
