The new Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR digital camera brings Fujifilm’s Super CCD EXR sensor to the superzoom “bridge” camera category. Based on last year’s popular FinePix S100FS digital camera, the 12-megapixel S200EXR has the same 14.3x optical zoom lens and the look and feel of a digital SLR.
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Fujifilm brings their award-winning EXR sensor technology to the pocket-sized superzoom digital camera category. The new Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR has a 10-megapixel Super CCD EXR sensor and a 10x Fujinon 27-270mm wide-angle zoom lens. Fujifilm introduced the FinePix F200EXR - their first camera with EXR sensor technology - at PMA, this spring. The F70EXR announced today doubles the zoom range of the F200EXR and takes a shot across the bow of Panasonic’s popular Lumix ZS3 / TZ7 pocket superzoom.
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Casio just announced a new compact superzoom addition to their line of compact Exilim digital cameras. The 12.1-megapixel Casio Exilim Hi-Zoom EX-H10 digital camera has an ultra-wide10x optical zoom lens (24-240mm - 35mm equivalent), a 3-inch LCD, and an estimated 1000 shots per battery charge - very impressive for a camera that will actually fit in your pocket!
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The Sony Cybershot DSC-H50 is a compact, 9.1-megapixel digital camera with an impressive image-stabilized 15x Carl Zeiss f/2.7-4.8 optical zoom lens and a 3-inch tilting LCD monitor. The DSC-H50 features Face Detection, Smile Shutter and Intelligent Scene Recognition technologies, as well as video recording, HDTV compatibility and a remote control. It has a retail list price of $399.99.

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Sony Cybershot DSC-H50 Studio Test Images
	ISO 80 Sample >> ISO 100 Sample >> ISO 200 Sample >> ISO 400 Sample >> ISO 800 Sample >> ISO 1600 Sample >> ISO 3200 Sample >>

Sony Cybershot DSC-H50 Pros 15x zoom lens with Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization (31-465 mm equivalent). Very good image quality. Exposure settings ranging from Easy Mode to full manual control. Compact size and light weight. Large, tilting LCD monitor. MPEG video recording with zoom functionality. Easily accessible continuous shooting/bracket button. Remote control - great for group and self-portraits. In-camera editing and slideshow functions.

Sony Cybershot DSC-H50 Cons Optical viewfinder is so small it’s almost useless. Somewhat awkward physical design and user interface. Battery for remote control is difficult to access.

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With the announcement this week of the new Canon PowerShot SX1 IS and SX200 IS digital cameras, it looks like Canon’s venerable S-Series superzoom line has been retired. The PowerShot S5 IS is no longer listed on the Canon USA PowerShot page and the new PowerShot SX1 IS has more zoom, a better sensor and better video capability. It’s clear that Canon intends the PowerShot SX1 IS to be their new all-purpose power camera for people who want to have it all in one compact, user-friendly package. It could even be the digital SLR challenger people have been waiting for. Reading between the lines of the press release reveals some interesting details about the new SX1 IS.
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Superzoom digital cameras just keep getting more super.

Nikon today announced the Coolpix P90, a 12.1-megapixel compact digital camera with an impressive 24x optical superzoom lens — the 35mm equivalent of a 26-624mm lens. That’s a lot of lens for a camera that weighs about a pound and will fit in a purse or glove box.

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The new 10-megapixel Nikon Coolpix L100 is a compact superzoom digital camera designed for the photographer who wants power, quality, and ease-of-use. It has a 28-420mm 15x optical zoom lens, sensor shift VR image stabilization, movie mode, 15 scene modes, and Nikon’s excellent D-Lighting in-camera image adjustment.

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The Panasonic Lumix TZ5 is a compact digital point-and-shoot camera with a 10x Leica 28mm wide-angle zoom lens. The TZ5 has 9.1 megapixels of resolution, a large and vivid 3-inch LCD screen, an Intelligent Auto mode as well as regular Auto and scene modes, QuickTime and HD video recording, and a special Clipboard mode geared toward travelers.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Studio Test Images
	ISO 100 Sample >> ISO 200 Sample >> ISO 400 Sample >> ISO 800 Sample >> ISO 1600 Sample >>

Pros 10x optical zoom — one of the longest lenses on a pocket point-and-shoot. 28mm wide-angle lens makes it easy to capture the whole scene. Intelligent Auto mode really helps get great pictures. QuickTime and HD video recording with zoom capability. 2 frames-per-second continuous burst shooting mode. Optical image stabilization. Fits in a pocket or purse. Large, easy-to-see LCD screen. Clean, simple design inside and out. Long battery life.

Cons Image quality could be better. No manual exposure options. No optical viewfinder. Flash takes a while to recharge.

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Another Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has come and gone. Spread out before us are all the hyped new gadgets that we’ll no doubt have to wait months to get our hands on. As much as innovation is the focus, so is upping the technological ante. This year one of those antes was digital camera zoom range, once again redefining the term “superzoom.” Olympus and Kodak said, “I see your 18x zoom lens, and raise you 6x.”

Olympus SP-590 and Kodak Z908 Superzoom Digital Cameras

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Sigma Corporation announces a new superzoom lens

January 15, 2009 The Optically Stabilized (OS) lens sports a 13.8 times zoom ratio. Sigma’s new lens features a wide focal length range from 18mm to 250mm at F3.5-6.3 with a minimum aperture of F22. Equipped with a HSM (Hyper-Sonic Motor), a minimum focusing distance of less than a foot and a half at all focal lengths, and included petal type hood this is potentially an all around performer for the photographer with a wide range of needs who does not want to be changing their lens frequently.
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Tamron AF18-270mm Di II VC Lens Official Press Release

Tamron Announces Second Vibration Compensation (VC) Lens With 15x Zoom Range

Hot on the heels of my review for Tamron’s very first Vibration Compensation (VC) image-stabilized lens (Tamron AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC Lens Pro Review), Tamron announces they’re working on a second VC lens. This is great news for photographers shooting with Nikon and Canon APS-C sensor digital SLRs. One of the things I said in my review of the Tamron AF28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC lens was that it would be nice to have a shorter, wider version for cameras like the Canon EOS Rebel XSi / 450D or the Nikon D60. Apparently Tamron’s designers were thinking ahead - because the 15x 18-270mm Di II VC lens is exactly what I was asking for. The 15x zoom will be roughly equivalent to a 28-420mm lens on a 35mm camera. And at 3.8-inches (101mm) it will actually be smaller than Tamron’s 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di or the Canon EF 28-135mm IS lens (see lens size comparison in the Tamron 28-300mm VC lens review). The Vibration Compensation image stabilization worked great on the AF28-300mm VC lens I tested and it’s exciting to see that more VC lenses are already in the works, even if they aren’t yet sure about pricing or when the new lens will be available.
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The Tamron AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC Lens:
Tamron’s First Image Stabilized Lens

Street Price: Approximately $600 US

Tamron’s AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical (IF) Macro lens is a do-it-all superzoom lens with Tamron’s new, proprietary “Vibration Compensation” optical image stabilization system. It’s their first lens to include image stabilization. The Tamron 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC lens is compatible with 35mm and digital SLRs and is currently available with Canon and Nikon lens mounts.

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