The best zoom camera in 2023

Best zoom camera: Sony RX100 VII
(Image credit: Sony)

Although the smartphone in your pocket can do a lot of great things - and take fantastic photographs - if there’s one area where traditional cameras tend to still fare better, it’s zoom capability. 

There are plenty of reasons why a camera equipped with a long zoom lens is the ideal solution for you. Whether it’s for all-round flexibility when traveling, or you just like to photograph a wide range of subjects, having the ability to zoom in (and out) from a scene always comes in handy. Shooting at longer focal lengths is useful for portraits while being able to zoom even further is ideal for sports, wildlife, and other potentially distant subjects.

Zoom cameras, with fixed built-in zooms, tend to be split into two broad categories. Traditional pocket-friendly snappers are ideal for holidays and day trips, and what are known as bridge cameras, which are bigger and chunkier, but tend to have lengthier zooms and handling which is reminiscent of DSLRs

Most pocket-friendly zoom cameras have relatively small sensors, but you can also find a few with larger one-inch type sensors that still offer a good degree of zoom. Bridge cameras also tend to have smaller sensors than that you’d find in a mirrorless or DSLR camera, but as an all-in-one solution, it’s often worth the trade-off for ease of use. 

When it comes to choosing a zoom camera, think about exactly how much zoom you actually need. You’ll probably want at least an 8-10x zoom, but some of those in our list here offer 20 or 30x, with one even offering a staggering 125x (enough power to shoot close-ups of the moon!).

Thinking about equivalent focal lengths, if zoom is your main concern you’ll generally be looking for something which goes beyond the standard 24-70mm type range, so pay attention to that in the specs list. Also think about the wide-angle end of the lens, especially if you’re looking for something to fulfill a range of needs or is ideal as an all-rounder for subjects such as travel. That could even mean you look out for something wider than 24mm for extended flexibility.

With these things in mind, it’s time to have a look at our selection of the best zoom cameras you can buy…

Best zoom camera in 2023

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(Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World)
Best all-round zoom camera

Specifications

Camera type: Compact
Sensor: 1-in Exmor
Megapixels: 20.1
Lens: 8x / 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 (equivalent)
Video: 4K
Size: 101.6 x 58.1 x 42.8mm
Weight: 302g (body only, with battery and memory card)

Reasons to buy

+
Large one-inch sensor 
+
Super fast shooting 
+
Fast and effective AF

Reasons to avoid

-
Fiddly handling 
-
Super expensive 
-
Relatively restricted zoom range 

When it comes to the king of the all-rounders, a camera that is adept at pretty much anything you’d care to throw at it, the Sony RX100 VII is the one. But, the one for which you’ll pay a huge premium for. 

With its 8x zoom, it’s fairly flexible (though if zoom is your main concern, there are others that are better here), but it’s the fact that it can shoot at super-fast burst speeds, has a retracting EVF, a well-featured touchscreen and a high-performing one-inch sensor - and does all of that while fitting in your pocket that sees it sit at the top of our list. 

If you want something which will fit more neatly into your budget, keep looking down our list. 

See our full Sony RX100 VII review.

(Image credit: James Artaius)
Best zoom camera for ultimate telephoto reach

Specifications

Camera type: Bridge
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch
Megapixels: 16MP
Lens: 125x, 24-3000mm f/2.8-8 (equivalent)
Video: 4K
Size: 146 x 119 x 181mm
Weight: 1415g (with battery and memory card)

Reasons to buy

+
Enormous 125x zoom 
+
DSLR like handling 
+
Good EVF

Reasons to avoid

-
Poor in low light 
-
Big & cumbersome 
-
Struggles at maximum zoom 

If zoom really is your key concern, then the Nikon P1000 will give you the ultimate reach - with some key compromises. 

With its amazing 125x zoom lens, you’ve got enough power here to literally shoot the moon, as well as of course everything else in between. 

As you’d expect, in order to accommodate such a lens, the camera is a whopper. There are some benefits to that, such as it’s DSLR-like handling, and excellent EVF. That said however, it’s so big and cumbersome that you have to really want that kind of zoom level to tolerate it - so it won’t be for everyone. 

Thanks to a small sensor, it also struggles in low light, and shooting at the 3000mm end of the telephoto lens can also be a bit of a hit and miss situation, too.

 See our full Nikon P1000 review.

(Image credit: Canon )
Best zoom camera for beginners

Specifications

Camera type: Compact
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch CMOS
Megapixels: 20.3
Lens: 40x, 24-960mm f/3.3-6.9 (equivalent)
Video: 4K
Size: 110.1 x 63.8 x 39.9mm
Weight: 299g

Reasons to buy

+
Pocket friendly
+
4K video
+
Flip-forward screen
+
Available in black or silver

Reasons to avoid

-
No EVF or touchscreen
-
Doesn't shoot in raw format
-
Image quality not great in low light

With its 40x zoom lens, the SX740 is a fantastic option for those who want a simple-to-use travel-friendly camera, which is also well-suited to family snaps and days out.

Particularly ideally suited to beginners, it also offers more advanced modes for enthusiasts (though sadly there’s no raw format shooting). Other useful specifications include the front-facing screen (ideal for those holiday selfies) and 4K video. 

The compromise for having such a lengthy zoom is a small sensor, so the SX740 is probably not one for those who like to shoot a lot in low light, but for bright light holiday shots, it’s a good value all-rounder. 

See our full Canon PowerShot SX740 HS review.

(Image credit: Panasonic )
Best zoom camera for travel

Specifications

Camera type: Compact
Sensor: 1-inch CMOS
Megapixels: 20.1
Lens: 15x, 24-360mm f/3.3-6.4 (equivalent)
Video: 4K
Size: 111.2 x 66.4 x 45.2mm
Weight: 340g (with battery and memory card)

Reasons to buy

+
Good sensor and lens combo 
+
4K Video and Photo Modes
+
Built in EVF

Reasons to avoid

-
Fixed screen
-
Image quality less than perfect at full telephoto 

Offering an excellent balance between large sensor and zoom length, the Panasonic Lumix ZS200 (called the TZ200 in Europe) is in many ways the perfect travel camera. 

Small enough to fit in your pocket, while still offering a very flexible 15x zoom, it’s ideal for capturing landscapes, portraits and reasonably far-off subjects.

Well-suited to both beginners and enthusiasts, it offers a range of shooting modes and advanced options such as raw format shooting and the ever-useful 4K Photo modes. 

There’s a couple of downsides here, such as the fact that the screen is fixed, and that there’s some image softening seen at the full 15x zoom, but, especially at the price, it’s an excellent all-rounder that is a great buy for many. 

See our full Panasonic ZS200 / TZ200 review.

(Image credit: Gavin Stoker/Digital Camera World)
Best zoom camera for wildlife and sport

Specifications

Camera type: Bridge
Sensor: 1-inch CMOS
Megapixels: 20.1
Lens: 25x, 24-600mm f/2.4-4 (equivalent)
Video: 4K
Size: 132.5 x 94 x 145mm
Weight: 1095g (including battery and memory card)

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent AF
+
Fast burst shooting
+
Superior image quality

Reasons to avoid

-
Very expensive
-
Fairly bulky 

If you’re looking for a zoom camera for wildlife or other moving subjects, the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV is a superb choice, and certainly the best of its kind on the market. Not only do you get a very flexible 25x zoom (giving you an equivalent of 600mm at the telephoto end), but you get fantastic image quality throughout the zoom range. 

You also get superb AF tracking for moving subjects, and fast burst shooting to keep up with those elusive subjects. With its large one-inch sensor and maximum wide aperture - even at the telephoto end - the RX10 IV is no slouch when it comes to low light shooting either. 

Of course there is a price to pay for such excellence, with the RX10 IV being one of the priciest models on the market, but considering the equivalent spend you’d need to make for comparable DSLR optics, it could arguably be viewed as a bit of a bargain. 

See our full Sony RX10 IV review.

(Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World)
Best for zoom camera for content creators

Specifications

Camera type: Compact
Sensor: 1in
Megapixels: 20.1
Lens: 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 (equivalent)
Video: 4K
Weight: 294g

Reasons to buy

+
Compact size
+
Vari-angle rear screen
+
Brilliantly fast AF

Reasons to avoid

-
No eyelevel viewfinder
-
Only modest zoom range

Aimed at vloggers, the Sony ZV-1 is designed for content creators that need to shoot videos of themselves. As such the zoom is a modest 24-70mm affair with a variable aperture of f/1.8 - f/2.8. However, there is a big change in minimum focusing distance as you zoom which is annoying especially if you're using it to record video.

The SteadyShot active stabilization wasn't the best however the autofocus is very impressive. It has a vari-angle, a rear tilting screen that means it's perfect for recording yourself a mic-wind shield which means its audio quality even with the built-in mic is still pretty good. Unlike the Sony RX100 compact cameras, it doesn't have a viewfinder, but it produces high-quality images, is even better at video, and, best of all, it'll cost you less. 

Read our full Sony ZV-1 review 

(Image credit: Panasonic)

7: Panasonic FZ2500 / FZ2000

Best all-round zoom bridge camera

Specifications

Camera type: Bridge
Sensor: 1-inch CMOS
Megapixels: 20.1
Lens: 20x, 24-480mm f/2.8-4.5 (equivalent)
Video: 4K
Size: 137.6 x 101.9 x 134.7mm
Weight: 966g (including battery and memory card)

Reasons to buy

+
Very good AF system 
+
Great value
+
4K video

Reasons to avoid

-
Somewhat bulky 

What was once a fairly pricey model has come down in price to make for excellent value, especially when you compare the Panasonic FZ2500 (sold as the FZ2000 in Europe) against its biggest rival, the Sony RX10 IV. 

In many ways, the two cameras very similar, being premium bridge cameras with one-inch sensors and pretty lengthy zoom lenses. The RX10 IV just about pips the FZ2000 when it comes to image quality, but in terms of value it’s the Panasonic which is the clear winner. 

You also get a well-performing EVF, fully articulating screen, 4K video and a range of different shooting modes to suit the needs of both beginners and more advanced users. 

The DSLR handling means it’s a little on the bulky side, but once again, if you compare this to the equivalent gear you’d need for a DSLR or mirrorless camera, it actually makes for a very practical travel companion.

(Image credit: Future)
Best value zoom bridge camera

Specifications

Camera type: Bridge
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch CMOS
Megapixels: 20.3
Lens: 65x, 21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5
Video: 4K
Size: 127 x 90.9 x 116.6mm
Weight: 610g (including battery and memory card)

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent zoom range 
+
Vari-angle screen
+
4K video

Reasons to avoid

-
No touchscreen
-
Cheap build quality 
-
Small sensor

If you’re looking for a well-rounded bridge camera which offers a good range of functions - and has that all important ultra long zoom, then the Canon SX70 is a good option. 

At 65x, it’s one of the longest on the market (without verging into the ridiculous territory of the Nikon P1000), giving you good scope to shoot pretty much every subject imaginable. 

It handles pleasantly, especially if you’re used to using a Canon camera, and has a useable enough EVF and fully-articulating screen (which is let down by the fact it’s not touch sensitive). There’s a good range of shooting modes, plus the ability to shoot in raw format.

The trade off here for the ultra-long zoom is a small sensor, meaning the SX70 doesn’t perform amazingly well in certain conditions - such as low light. But for a good value travel and holiday camera, it’s well worth considering. 

See our full Canon PowerShot SX70 HS review.

(Image credit: Sony)

9: Sony Cyber-shot HX99

Best zoom camera to fit in your pocket

Specifications

Camera type: Compact
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch CMOS
Megapixels: 18.2
Lens: 30x, 24-720mm f/3.5-f/6.4 (equivalent)
Video: 4K
Size: 102 x 58.1 x 35.5mm
Weight: 243g

Reasons to buy

+
Super small
+
Long zoom 
+
4K video

Reasons to avoid

-
Small sensor
-
Less suited to low light 

In terms of feats of engineering, the Sony HX99 lays claim to being the world’s smallest 30x optical zoom camera. So, if having a lengthy zoom in something which is truly pocket-friendly is your main ambition, then it’s the compact to beat. 

It’s also a stylish offering, with useful features, such as a screen which faces all the way forwards for framing selfies. You also get 4K video recording and a range of shooting modes. 

Like others on the list with a small sensor, it’s less adept for shooting in low light, but if you’re using it for travel and day trips, that might not be too much of a concern.

Read more:
Best travel camera
The 10 best point-and-shoot cameras
Best cameras for hiking
Best cameras under $200
Best cameras under $500
Best cameras for beginners
Best compact cameras
Best mirrorless cameras

Amy Davies

Amy Davies has been writing about photography since 2009, and used to be a colleague on Digital Camera magazine and Techradar.com. She now works as a freelance journalist writing for nclude Amateur Photographer, Stuff, Wired, T3, Digital Photographer, Digital Camera World, TechRadar, Trusted Reviews, ePhotozine and Photography Blog. She has an undergraduate degree in journalism and a postgraduate diploma in magazine journalism, both from Cardiff Journalism School.