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- #5 COOLPIX P1000 From Nikon
- #4 Pro Shot 20 Mega Pixel HD Digital Camera From Minolta
- #3 Lumix FZ1000 II From Panasonic
- #2 RX10 III From Sony
- #1 PowerShot SX70 From Canon
The Superzoom Cameras of 2021
Sometimes a traditional SLR just doesn’t cut it. When you want a camera that has a really long zoom, like a 400mm or more, a DSLR camera with optical zoom is a great option. But not all superzoom cameras are created equal. Some have excellent image quality, while others have superb video capabilities.
You’ll find all kinds of great bridge cameras on the market, and our team has reviewed dozens of them. And after that, we’ve selected the very best of the bunch. Keep reading to find the perfect one.
To give you this top 5 review, we have looked at 177 products and analyzed 2936 customer reviews.
#1. PowerShot SX70 From Canon
Best for Smartphone Photography
Top Pick
Canon PowerShot SX70 HS offers superb image quality and a versatile 65x optical zoom range. It has the same physical body as an SLR, with a larger 6.0-inch OLED touchscreen and a physical shutter button. Its compact body is weather-sealed for dust and splash protection, and it sports a top-notch optical image processor.
- 65X Optical Zoom
- 6.0″ Touchscreen
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The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS is a bridge camera built for the modern era. While it may not be as flashy as some of the newer cameras on the market, it still offers superb image quality and a versatile 65x optical zoom range. It has the same physical body as an SLR, with a larger 6.0-inch OLED touchscreen and a physical shutter button, but with a smaller and more portable body.
Its compact body is weather-sealed for dust and splash protection, and it sports a top-notch optical image processor. Its CMOS image sensor delivers a crisp image and accurate colors. The SX70 HS has some strong competition, it’s arguably better suited for street photography than many of the more compact cameras on the market.
Those who like to shoot nature or city scenes might want something with a little more versatility, so the SX70 HS offers a unique combination of superb image quality and portability.
#2. RX10 III From Sony
Best For Video
Top Pick
The Sony RX10 III is one of the best compact cameras money can buy. It combines a superb, fixed-lens design with a phenomenal 9.7-megapixel image sensor. Its price is higher than that of the competition but it’s hard to beat if you’re looking for something that provides excellent value and high-quality performance.
- 9.7-Megapixel
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Consider the Sony RX10 III if you’re looking for a compact that goes beyond the typical compact format. In our previous review, we noted that this new model builds on the excellent performance of the Sony RX10 II, offering a sharper image and greater versatility.
If you’re looking for something that can do it all, look no further than the Sony RX10 III. It combines a superb, fixed-lens design with a phenomenal 9.7-megapixel image sensor. It’s hard to find much to gripe about the Sony RX10 III.
It offers superb image quality at high ISO, a superb battery life, a superb ergonomic grip, and fine-tuned controls. For us, it’s simply one of the best compact cameras that money can buy. While its price is higher than that of the competition, it’s hard to beat, if you’re looking for something that provides excellent value and high-quality performance.
#3. Lumix FZ1000 II From Panasonic
Best midrange bridge camera
Top Pick
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 is a long-zoom compact camera that doesn’t break the bank. It has a large 1-inch image sensor, and a 16 by 25-400mm LEICA DC lens. Its excellent camera controls and electronic viewfinder make it a pleasure to use. The FZ1000’s larger-sensor relative to its smaller body and heavier weight can be a bit daunting for some users.
- 16x 25-400Mm LEICA DC Lens
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If you’ve found yourself on the hunt for a new long-zoom compact camera that doesn’t break the bank, take a look at the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000. This camera has a large 1-inch image sensor, and a 16 by 25-400mm LEICA DC lens. It produces excellent photos and video and has a deep feature set to satisfy both beginners and experts alike. Its excellent camera controls and electronic viewfinder make it a pleasure to use. While we’ve been most impressed with the image quality of Panasonic’s cameras lately, we have to admit that the FZ1000’s larger-sensor relative to its smaller body and heavier weight can be a bit daunting for some users.
You may be tempted to opt for a DSLR instead, but that would mean giving up some image quality or control.
#4. Pro Shot 20 Mega Pixel HD Digital Camera From Minolta
The Budget Option
Budget Option
The Minolta MN67Z offers superb image quality at a reasonable price. It features a 20.0MP still-image sensor with a crisp 920K resolution and an electronic viewfinder with an adjustable diopter. The large 3.0-inch LCD monitor helps to manage exposure while the built-in WiFi connection provides fast. and easy image transfer to and from compatible devices.
- 20.0MP
- Viewfinder Display
- Optical Image Stabilization
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The Minolta MN67Z offers superb image quality at a reasonable price. The MN67Z features a 20.0MP still-image sensor with a crisp 920K resolution and an electronic viewfinder with an adjustable diopter. When shooting, the electronic viewfinder helps you to frame the perfect shot from different angles, while the camera’s image sensor helps to record it in glorious detail.
When shooting action, the large 3.0-inch LCD monitor helps to manage exposure while the built-in WiFi connection provides fast and easy image transfer to and from compatible devices.
The MN67Z features 14 scene modes with a variety of creative shooting options to suit your needs. For the enthusiast, there is a dedicated street mode with various street scenes, sports, macro, and night photography.
The MN67Z is also packed with advanced features like face, smile, and blink detection to capture the perfect shot. The built-in Optical Image Stabilization will help produce sharper, clearer images, and reduce blur and camera shakes that can occur when shooting hand-held.
For most people, the MN67Z is a superb option for travel or extended use.
#5. COOLPIX P1000 From Nikon
Best for Travel and Adventure
Top Pick
The Nikon P1000 is perhaps the most versatile camera we’ve ever seen. It has an impressive 125 times optical zoom range, which is a whopping 3000mm equivalent focal length. We found the P1000 to be surprisingly good at capturing images both indoors and out, and even excelled at extreme sports. While we didn’t find the image quality to be all that impressive, it’s certainly good for most people.
- 125x Optical Zoom
- Comfortable Grip
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Capable of shooting everything from far-off wildlife to expansive landscapes, the Nikon P1000 is perhaps the most versatile camera we’ve ever seen. It has an impressive 125 times optical zoom range, which is a whopping 3000mm equivalent focal length. While it’s not a DSLR, it certainly fits the bill for superzooms. This camera has a built-in tripod attach, and like its predecessor, the P1000 features a nice DSLR-style grip that offers a sizable, comfortable hold on the camera.
Its compact body isn’t the biggest or the lightest among the competition, but we found it to be more than adequate for most outdoor pursuits. We found the P1000 to be surprisingly good at capturing images both indoors and out, and even excelled at extreme sports.
While we didn’t find the image quality to be all that impressive, it’s certainly good enough for most people. We did find, however, that it struggles a bit in low lighting conditions and with higher ISOs. As a result, we recommend keeping the ISO low so that you can get good quality shots regardless.
