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Re-activateSome of the new superzoom cameras I reported on earlier this year, which were shown at CES and PMA, are just starting to show up in stores. All have 20x or more optical zoom, which is a good thing, but they're pretty chunky for point-and-shoots. Still, if maximum zoom is your priority, they're the way to go.
On the other hand, if you wouldn't mind sacrificing a little zoom power for smaller size, you might be interested in some slimmer models that are hitting the market now.
We're testing both types so you can see how they compare and decide which you'd prefer:
Chunky: These superzooms can have as much as 26x optical zoom, but they're hefty. They have many buttons and controls, and have some options that few point-and-shoots have, such as a hot-shoe for attaching an external flash. They also generally have viewfinders, which can be helpful in bright-light situations when the LCD gets washed out. They can also be among the priciest point-and-shoots.
Slim: These superzooms generally have either a 10x or 12x optical zoom lens and come in a form factor that's only slightly larger than most compacts. They're more portable than the larger models, but often have fewer buttons and controls to change exposure settings and don't include a viewfinder. Generally, they're cheaper than the chunkier models.
Check our digital camera Ratings for more details on these and other models. —Terry Sullivan
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