With up to 125x optical zoom, these cameras offer the most zoom available as well as manual controls and SLR styling. Our list features the top-scoring bridge cameras we've reviewed up to and including 2022.
| Nikon Coolpix P950 in Compact Cameras
Best Ultra Zoom Bridge Cameras
If you're looking for the best ultra zoom bridge camera, then you've come to the right place! The ultra zoom - or bridge-style camera is a popular format of camera, offering SLR-styled looks, manual controls and huge optical zoom. This style of camera lets you get wide-angle shots and then zoom into distant subjects, with the latest cameras offering huge amounts of zoom! Here is our list of the best ultra-zoom / bridge cameras reviewed on ePHOTOzine, click through to read the full review. Some of the most recent cameras feature a larger than normal (1inch) image sensor, which results in better image quality, particularly in low light.
Here we highlight some of the best bridge cameras we've reviewed, up until now, so you can make a more informed purchase next time you upgrade/buy a new ultra zoom camera. You'll also find more in-depth comments on each of the cameras featured in our reviews.
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Panasonic Lumix FZ1000The Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 features a larger* 20-megapixel 1inch sensor for improved image quality and noise performance, along with a Leica f/2.8 - f/4.0 16x optical zoom lens equivalent to 25-400mm in 35mm terms. The camera also features 4K video recording, raw shooting, manual controls and built-in Wi-Fi. Key Features at a glance: 20.1megapixel 1inch CMOS sensor, 16x optical zoom lens, f/2.8-4.0, 25-400mm equivalent (in 35mm terms), 4K video recording, 12fps continuous shooting, 3inch vari-angle screen and electronic viewfinder (EVF), Wi-Fi and NFC. |
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Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 IIThe Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II might be the newer version of the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 but its price means it, currently, slots under the older versions. Plus, the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II isn't particularly ground-breaking, in that it takes the original FZ1000 and updates it with a few new features including an improved screen, better electronic viewfinder and better connectivity. For users of the FZ1000, there may not be enough reason for them to rush out and upgrade to this camera but if you're in the market for a new bridge camera, the FZ1000 II is a good choice. The Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II is available for around £749.99. Key Features at a glance: 20.1megapixel 1inch CMOS sensor, 16x optical zoom lens, f/2.8-4.0, 25-400mm equivalent (in 35mm terms), 4K video rec |
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Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IIThe Sony Cyber-shot RX10 II is a top-scoring bridge camera. It features the world's first stacked 1inch BSI CMOS sensor with a DRAM memory chip. It's capable of 40x super slow motion capture and 4K video shooting, along with a super-fast electronic shutter. It has a weather-sealed body and we praised its excellent image quality and features, which includes an 8.3x optical zoom lens with a constant aperture of f/2.8. Key Features at a glance: 20.2megapixel 1inch BSI CMOS sensor, 8.3x optical zoom lens, f/2.8, 25-200mm equivalent (in 35mm terms), 4K video recording, 14fps continuous shooting, slow-motion video, 3inch tilting screen and electronic viewfinder (EVF), Wi-Fi and NFC. |
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Panasonic Lumix FZ330The Panasonic Lumix FZ330 may "only" have a 24x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 25mm to 600mm at the telephoto end, but it features a bright f/2.8 aperture at all lens positions, making it great for low-light photography. It also features 12fps continuous shooting, 4K video recording and a vari-angle screen. Key Features at a glance: 12megapixel 1/2.33inch sensor, 24x optical zoom lens, f/2.8, 25-600mm equivalent (in 35mm terms), 4K video recording, 12fps continuous shooting, slow-motion video, 3inch vari-angle touch screen, electronic viewfinder (EVF), Wi-Fi. |
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Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 (FZ2500)The Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 features a 20-megapixel 1inch sensor, 20x optical zoom lens equivalent to 24-480mm with an f/2.8-4.5 aperture and it's designed to be a hybrid video/photo camera, recording unlimited 4K / CINE 4K video. Build quality is very good and the camera has a lot in common with the Panasonic Lumix GH4, which means that the FZ2000 would make an excellent second camera to anyone familiar with Panasonic's other cameras. The camera has a great 3inch vari-angle touch-screen, as well as a large, bright, high-resolution electronic viewfinder, with a comfortable rubber surround. Image quality is generally good and the camera offers impressive focus performance. Key Features at a glance: 20.1megapixel 1inch CMOS sensor, 20x optical zoom lens, f/2.8-4.5, 24-480mm equivalent (in 35mm terms), unlimited 4K / CINE video recording, 12fps continuous shooting, 3inch vari-angle touch-screen and electronic viewfinder (EVF), and Wi-Fi. |
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Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IVThe Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV features a 25x optical zoom lens, with a bright f/2.4 to f/4.0 aperture, and a zoom range equivalent to 24 to 600mm in 35mm terms. The camera features a "stacked" 20 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, with phase detection focus, and the camera offers 24fps high-speed continuous shooting as well as high-speed video, and ultra-fast focus speeds. The camera is weather-sealed, making it suitable for use in inclement weather. Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth are built-in. Key Features at a glance: 20.1megapixel 1inch BSI CMOS sensor, 25x optical zoom lens, f/2.4-4.0, 24-600mm equivalent (in 35mm terms), 4K video recording, high-speed video, 24fps continuous shooting, 3inch tilting touch-screen and electronic viewfinder (EVF), Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth. |
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Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 IIIThe Sony Cyber-shot RX10 III features a 25x optical zoom lens, with a bright f/2.4 to f/4.0 aperture, and a zoom range equivalent to 24 to 600mm in 35mm terms. The camera features the same "stacked" 20 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor as the RX10 Mark II, which enables high-speed continuous shooting (at 14fps) as well as high-speed video. The camera is weather-sealed, and features 4K video recording as well as microphone and headphone sockets. Key Features at a glance: 20megapixel 1inch BSI CMOS sensor, 25x optical zoom lens, f/2.4-4.0, 24-600mm equivalent (in 35mm terms), 4K video recording, high-speed video, 14fps continuous shooting, 3inch tilting screen and electronic viewfinder (EVF), Wi-Fi and NFC. |
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Panasonic Lumix FZ82 (FZ80)The Panasonic Lumix FZ82 / FZ80 features a wide-angle 60x optical zoom lens, manual controls, raw shooting, 10fps continuous shooting, 4K (UHD) video recording, a 3inch touch-screen, stereo sound, as well as accessories that will take the zoom to 102x optical zoom! Key Features at a glance: 18megapixel sensor, 60x optical zoom lens, f/2.8-5.9, 20-1200mm equivalent (in 35mm terms), 4K video recording, 10fps continuous shooting, 3inch touch-screen and electronic viewfinder (EVF), Wi-Fi. |
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Nikon Coolpix B700The Nikon Coolpix B700 is a 60x optical zoom camera with a new 20-megapixel sensor and 4K video recording. There is built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, as well as low-power Bluetooth for transferring images to a smartphone or tablet. We gave it a recommended rating for its good colour reproduction, RAW shooting capability and good connectivity options. Key Features at a glance: 20megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, 60x optical zoom lens, f/3.3-6.5, 24-1440mm equivalent (in 35mm terms), 4K video recording, 10fps continuous shooting, 3inch vari-angle screen, electronic viewfinder (EVF), Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth |
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Nikon Coolpix P950The Nikon Coolpix P950 is an update to the P900 which has now been discontinued, and offers the same 85x optical zoom lens but features 4K video and a flash hot-shoe, which weren't featured on the previous model. There are full manual controls and raw shooting, as well as a larger screen compared to the predecessor and an improved electronic viewfinder. Key features at a glance: 4K UHD video recording (30,25fps), Microphone socket, Flash hot-shoe, Raw shooting added, Bluetooth added, GPS removed, Up to 60 seconds shutter speeds available, 3.2inch 921k dot viewfinder, 2359K dots OLED electronic viewfinder, 0.39inch (larger), +/-3 dioptre, EN-EL20a battery, 290 shot battery life, 1005g with battery and memory card. |
Even More Options
For more options have a look at our latest digital camera reviews, or peruse our other top lists so you can spend your money wisely by making informed decisions using our kit guides, Top 10s, and best gear guides.
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