Compact Super Zooms

When you want to travel light, these cameras deliver extreme ranges and some unique features, too.

By David Willis

This Article Features Photo Zoom

Nikon Coolpix P500

LIST PRICE: $399

36x
22.5-810mm

The monstrous 36x zoom of the 12.1-megapixel Nikon COOLPIX P500 extends from a very wide 22.5mm, the widest currently available in this class of camera, and culminates in an extreme telephoto length at 810mm while allowing macro photography at only 0.4 inches from the front of the lens. That's an impressive feat, but the P500 doesn't stop there, offering full 1080p video at 30 fps and a large, clearly defined Vari-Angle tilting, 3.0-inch LCD screen with anti-reflection coating and pro-level 921K-dot resolution. Multiple Continuous Modes offer up to 120 fps at reduced resolution, as well as full-resolution bursting at 5 fps for up to eight shots. There's an Easy Panorama mode, a Smart Portrait System with Blink Warning, in-camera Skin Softening and Red-Eye technology and a Face-Priority feature that can focus on up to 12 faces. Vibration Reduction is a combination of image-sensor shift and Electronic VR during still shooting. List Price: $399.

Olympus WP-810UZ

LIST PRICE: $329

36x
24-864mm

With a 36x zoom, the 14-megapixel Olympus SP-810UZ offers the longest zoom range, with a total effective reach of 864mm. The 3D photo feature takes two captures that it sandwiches together into a single image with a 3D effect that can be viewed on compatible devices. It also includes In-Camera Panorama stitching and Dual Image Stabilization that automatically combines Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization with fast shutter speeds and ISO sensitivity of up to 1600 to reduce blur. The SP-810UZ captures 720p HD video, and Olympus has included eight Magic Art Filters (Pop Art, Pinhole, Fisheye, Drawing, Soft Focus, Punk, Watercolor, Reflection) that are applicable to both stills and video. The large, 3.0-inch LCD screen includes a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio and 230K resolution for viewing images. List Price: $329.

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