Blog for Photo Nerds » UltraZoom Cameras

Canon SX130 IS Long-Zoom Digital Camera with Manual Controls

Jane — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:58:59 +0000

Canon SX130IS is a 12-megapixel digital camera following the steps of the SX120IS previous model. The new camera boasts 12x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD monitor, an array of pre-programmed scenes and HD movie capture.

The lens features both wide-angle and telephoto capabilities offering 28-360mm focal length range. It is also equipped with optical image stabilization to avoid image blurring caused by camera shake in low light or at long zoom settings.

At the heart of the camera lies the Digic 4 image processing engine that provides for fast operation, accurate noise reduction and true-to life images with plenty of detail in then.

The SX130 IS offer point-and-shoot operation alongside with the possibility to control shutter speed and aperture value manually. There’s a Smart Auto feature that enables automatic shooting and makes the camera choose from 28 stored situations to match the scene being shot. At the same time, you can make use of 22 scene modes and select one of them manually.

The camera offer Face Detection to ensure easy capture of good portraits of your friends and family - with everyone in focus. There’s also a peculiar Fisheye Effect for still images to distort them in an artistic way and give a feel of DSLR fish-eye lens usage.

Canon PowerShot SX130 IS - Specifications:

12.4 Megapixels
1/2.3″ CCD Image Sensor
12x Optical Zoom
Focal Length Equivalent: 28 - 336 mm
Aperture Range: f/3.4 (W) - f/5.6 (T)
Optical Image Stabilizer
Focus: Auto, Manual
Macro Focus: 1 cm
3.0-inch LCD Screen with 230,000 pixels
DIGIC 4 Image Processor
Sensitivity: ISO80 - 3200
Shutter Speed: 15 - 1/2500
Metering Modes: Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot (spot metering at center), Face Detect AE
Advanced Smart Auto Mode
22 Pre-Set Scene Modes
Full Manual Controls
Continuous-mode: 1.0 frames/second
Movie Mode: 1280×720p at 30 fps
SD / SDHC / SDXC Memory Cards
Power Source: 2 AA Batteries
Size: 4.4 x 2.9 x 1.8 in. (113 x 73 x 46 mm)
Street Price: $249.99

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Advanced UltraZoom Compact Digital Camera

Jane — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 07:05:29 +0000

Panasonic DMC-FZ100 is a high-speed digital camera with 14-megapixel resolution, 24x optical zoom, 3-icnch LCD screen and 0.2-inch 201,600-dot EVF, intelligent automatic as well as full manual controls and full HD movie recording.

The lens offers wide-angle capabilities as well: it shows 25mm field of view when zoomed out. Furthermore, its 24x optical zoom can be extended to 32x without degrading picture quality. The lens features ED and aspherical elements to combat aberrations and hides the Power O.I.S lens-shift image stabilizer inside.

The peculiarity of this camera is its high-speed operation ensured by its speedy SMOS sensor and Venus Engine FHD image processor. The camera is capable of taking full-resolution images at a speed of 11 fps, 3.5-images at 60 fps and QVGA movies at a rate of 220fps.

The sensor also enables Full HD 50i (PAL) smooth movie recording in AVCHD (MPEG-4/H.264) format. There’s also a possibility to use optical zoom and to control camera setting in Creative movie mode and to apply different My Color effects to your movies.You can also enjoy Dolby® Digital Stereo Creator and Wind Cut functions here. The Video Divide function allows cutting out deleting a piece of video right in the camera.

The DMC-FZ100 offers its Intelligent Auto (iA) mode for automatic shooting. It combines the work of the POWER O.I.S., Face Recognition, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent Exposure features to get the best result possible. The Intelligent Resolution technology, in its turn, ensures accurate noise reduction and optimum signal processing to achieve clearness and finer detail in your images and movies.

There’re also full manual controls over the aperture and the shutter in the camera to help you express your creativity to a full extent, as well as various scene modes and My Color effects to add artistic touch to your pictures.

The camera is compatible with a wide range of optional devices including Tele Conversion Lens, Close-up Lens, Conversion Lens Adaptor, MC Protector, ND and PL Filters, External Flash, Stereo Microphone, and Remote Shutter.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 - Specifications:

1/2.33″ Type MOS Sensor
14.1 Megapixels
Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1
Movie Mode: 1980 x 1080 (17Mbps)
File formats: JPEG, RAW; AVCHD, AVCHD Lite, QuickTime Motion JPEG
24x Optical Zoom
Focal Length Equivalent: 25 - 600mm (
Power O.I.S Lens-Shift Stabilization
Aperture Range: F2.8 - F5.2
0.20″ 202K Pixel Viewfinder
3.0″ TFT LCD Display with 460K dots
AF Area Modes: Face / AF Tracking, 11-point, 1-point High speed, 1-point, Spot (flexible/ scalable)
Macro Mode: 1 cm
Metering: Intelligent Multiple, Center, Spot
Sensitivity: ISO100 - 6400
Exposure Bracketing
Shutter Speed: 60-1/2000 sec
Intelligent AUTO Mode
Manual Exposure Controls
19 Scene Modes
Continuous Shooting: up to 60 frames/sec
23 Image Parameters
SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Cards
40MB Internal Memory
Price: US: $499.95

Panasonic DMC-FZ40 Advanced Digital Camera

Jane — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:17:49 +0000

Panasonic DMC-FZ40 aka FZ45 is a 14.1-megapixel hybrid digital compact camera with 24x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD screen alongside with 0.2-inch 201,600-dot EVF, HD movie capture and an array of automatic as well as manual controls.

The camera’s lens offers 25mm ultra wide angle field of view as well as exceptional telephoto coverage, which can be further extended to 32x with the Intelligent Zoom function without degradation in picture quality and to 50x at 3-megapixel resolution. The lens features ED and aspherical lenses to combat aberration while the built-in POWER O.I.S. lens-shift stabilizer combats blur caused by camera shake.

At the heart of the DMC-FZ40 lies the high-performance Venus Engine HD II image processor that provides for high-speed shooting and accurate noise reduction. It also enables the Intelligent Resolution technology that ensures that you stills and movies look naturally clear and crisp.

The camera features Panasonic proprietary iA (Intelligent Auto) mode for those who are unfamiliar with camera settings or want to get great photos without thinking about the tech aspect of shooting. This mode makes the POWER O.I.S., Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control and Intelligent Exposure technologies work together, so that the camera automatically produces great results.

There’re also numerous scene modes, My color modes as well as fully manual controls. The latter allow you to manually set aperture value and shutter speed for both still images and movies.

The 720p HD movies are recorded in AVCHD Lite format. The camera also features Dolby Digital Creator to record high quality audio and a Wind Cut function to block background noise caused by wind. The 24x optical zoom is also available for movie recording.

The DMC-FZ40 takes optional devices like 1.7x tele conversion lens, close-up lens, conversion lens adaptor, MC protector, ND and PL filters.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ4o aka FZ45 - Specifications:

1/2.33″ CCD Sensor
14.1 Megapixels
Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1
24x Optical Zoom
Aperture Range: F2.8 - 5.2
Focal Length Equivalent: 25 - 600mm
Power O.I.S Lens-Shift Stabilization
0.20″ Color EVF (201,600 Pixels equiv.)
3.0″ TFT LCD Display with 230K dots
AF Area Modes: Face / AF tracking, 23-point, 1-point, pot (flexible/ scalable)
Macro Mode: 1 cm
Metering: Intelligent Multiple, Center, Spot
Sensitivity: ISO80 - 6400
Exposure Bracketing
Shutter Speed: 60-1/2000 sec
Modes: Intelligent AUTO, Program, Aperture & Shutter Priority, Manual, SCN, Custom
16 Scene modes
Continuous Shooting: 1.8 frames/sec, 5 frames/sec
23 Image Styles
Movie Mode: 1280 x 720 pixels (17Mbps)
SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Cards
40mb Internal Memory
Price: US: $399.95

Fujifilm FinePix S2800HD Advanced UltraZoom Camera

Jane — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:43:15 +0000

Fujifilm announces the launch of the world’s smallest ultrazoom camera, as it claims. The new FinePix S2800HD features a generous 18x optical zoom housed in a compact and lightweight body. The camera also boasts 14-megapixel resolution, 3-inch LCD display and the ability to take 720p HD movies.

While offering long zoom distance the lens has wide-angle properties as well: its angle of view is 28mm when zoomed out, which is typical of modern compacts. The lens is supported by in0camera sensor-shift image stabilization, which allows taking clear and blur-free images in low light.

The S2800HD model is easy to use with its Smart Scene recognition function hidden in its Intelligent Auto mode and 16 pre-set scene modes to your choice yet it offer full manual controls for those who want to achieve maximum creativity in shooting process and makes the camera do exactly what they want it to do. There’s also Auto panorama function in this camera.

Portrait shooting is simple; you can achieve great picture with this camera as it offer Face detection for bright and sharp faces detected in a frame, Blink Detection to warn you in case your subject blinks so that you can immediately retake the photo, and Smile detection function that ensures you never miss the moment as it automatically presses the shutter button just the moment your subject smiles.

It is also worth mentioning that the camera is powered by 4 standard AA batteries, which makes power supply easier as you can buy a new set every time anywhere without the necessity to charge the battery (unlike many digicams with proprietary batteries inside).

Fujifilm FinePix S2800HD - Specifications:

1/2.3″ CCD Image Sensor
14.0 Megapixels
18x Optical Zoom
Focal Length Equivalent: 28-504mm
Aperture Range: F3.1 - F5.6
Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
3.0-inch LCD Monitor with 230,0000 pixels
AF Area Modes: Multi, Centre, Tracking
Macro Mode: 2cm
TTL 256-zones Metering
Sensitivity: ISO 64 - 6400
Shutter Speed: 8 - 1/2000 sec
Exposure Modes: Programmed, Aperture & Shutter Priority, Manual
Scene Recognition Auto
16 Scene Pre-set Modes
Face Detection
Blink Detection
Smile Shot Mode
Auto Panorama mode
Continuous Shooting: up to 3.3 frames/sec
Movie Mode: 1280 x 720 pixels, 24fps
23 MB Internal memory
SD / SDHC Memory Cards
Power Source: 4 x AA batteries
Dimensions: 4.3 x 2.9 x 3.2 in

Samsung WB5500 26x Ultrazoom Advanced Digital Camera

Jane — Wed, 19 May 2010 09:53:04 +0000

Samsung has announced the new Samsung WB5500 ultrazoom camera model featuring 13.8 megapixels of resolution, 26x optical zoom and 3.0-inch LCD monitor. Most of its functions are similar to that of its long-zoom (24x) sibling, Samsung HZ25W aka WB5000.

The camera’s lens is peculiar indeed. Except for is telephoto capabilities, it offers wide-angle coverage with 26mm angle of view at the wider end. Maximum aperture varies from f/2.8 to f/5.0. There’s also sensor-shift image stabilization in the camera, which helps combat blur caused by camera shake in low light as well at the telephoto end and deliver clear and sharp images.

The WB5500 has all manual controls a creative photographer needs: in aperture and shutter priority modes you set either aperture or shutter, and the camera will calculate the other parameter automatically, and in manual mode you can set both values manually.

There’s a possibility of point-an-shoot operation as well alongside with 11 creative scene modes from which you choose the one that suits your shooting situation best.

The camera also offers Face Detection function to automatically identify faces in a frame and optimize focus and exposure for them. As to its movie mode, so far there’s no data available in this respect.

Samsung WB5500 – Specifications:

1/2.33 CCD Image Sensor
13.80 Megapixels
Maximum Image Size: 4288 x 3216
3.0 in. LCD Screen with 230,000 dots
a 0.24-inch Electronic Viewfinder
26x Optical Zoom
Focal Length Equivalent: 26 - 676mm
Aperture Range : f/2.8 (W) - f/5.0 (T)
Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization
AF Area Modes: Center, Multi, Face Detection, Tracking, Selection
Manual Focus Possible
Macro: 0.4″ / 1 cm
Sensitivity: ISO80 - 6400
Shutter Speed: 16 - 1/2000 second
Exposure Modes: Aperture, Shutter, Manual
Metering: Multi, Spot, Center Weighted, Face Detection
11 Scene Modes: Frame Guide, Portrait, Children, Landscape, Close Up, Text, Sunset, Dawn, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow
SD/ SDHC, MMC Memory Cards
Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery
8.0MB Internal Memory
Dimensions: 4.6 x 3.3 x 3.6 in. / 116 x 83 x 91 mm
Weight 14.0 oz /396 g