Top 10 Pocket Megazooms
These powerful compact cameras offer a lot of optical-zoom range, and they're a very versatile style of point-and-shoot. The 20X-zoom Canon PowerShot SX260 HS is the king of the category, but it has several excellent competitors.
Rated: Jun 4, 2012 11:05 AM
The 20X-optical-zoom PowerShot SX260 HS does many things well. It's as close as a compact camera can get to being "one size fits all," thanks to very good image quality and a great mix of options for novices and experienced photographers.
Rated: Jun 3, 2011 6:10 PM
The 16X-optical-zoom Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V is loaded with fun extras, including 3D shooting, excellent video quality, in-camera GPS, and groundbreaking scene modes.
Rated: Aug 16, 2012 6:58 PM
The feature-loaded, 21X-zoom Samsung WB850F is the best Wi-Fi camera we've reviewed, but a few usability hangups keep it from a higher ranking.
Rated: May 17, 2012 1:20 PM
The Lumix ZS20 is a top-tier travel camera, thanks to a far-reaching zoom lens, built-in GPS with mapping, extensive shooting options, and good (but not great) image and video quality.
Rated: Feb 17, 2011 5:35 PM
The vacation-friendly EX-H20G has a 10X-optical-zoom lens, great GPS features, and in-camera mapping. It's a top performer in daylight, but it lacks manual controls and a few key features.
Rated: Sep 6, 2011 4:02 PM
The Exilim ZR100 offers super-high-speed shooting and phenomenal battery life, two factors that set it apart from other pocket megazooms in its class.
The 20X-optical-zoom FinePix F770EXR does a lot of things well, but it falls short of its competition in terms of overall image quality.
The Coolpix S9300 is an 18X-zoom pocket camera with very simple controls, but its image quality takes a big step backward when matched against that of its excellent predecessor.
Rated: Apr 27, 2012 4:40 PM
The 18X-optical-zoom, Wi-Fi-enabled Samsung WB150F has a nice mix of creative modes for casual shooters, but its manual controls require a bit too much menu-diving.
Rated: Apr 9, 2012 5:00 PM
The PowerShot Elph 520 HS is a very compact 12X-optical-zoom camera designed for casual shooters. It doesn't perform at the level we're used to seeing in Canon's cameras, and its MicroSD slot and lack of manual controls may give prospective buyers...
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Canon PowerShot SX260 HS