Panasonic LUMIX ZS20 Front

Panasonic updates its ZS-series of long-zoom cameras with the new LUMIX DMC-ZS20 (aka LUMIX TZ30) with 20x optical zoom, which is the follow-up to the LUMIX ZS10. The new ZS20 sports a 24mm ultra wide-angle 20x optocal zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens, and it is the world’s slimmest digital camera with 20x zoom lens. The camera is equipped with a 14.1 Megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor and a 3-inch Smart Touch LCD touchscreen display for easy operation that allows for Touch AF, Touch Zoom or Touch Shutter.

Samsung releases its WB150F and DualView DV300F digital cameras. The former is a high-zoom camera with 18x optical zoom lens, and the latter is a DualView camera featuring a 1.5-inch LCD on the front of the camera to assist in self-portraiture. Both of them are SMART cameras with built-in WiFi connectivity, allowing users to photo sharing and backup.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V

Other than the the high-end HX200V and mid-range HX20V and HX30V, Sony will also release in March the more affordable DSC-HX10V and DSC-H90 long zoom cameras. They are equipped with 16x optical zoom lens, and the HX10V includes Clear Image Zoom technology to extend zoom range to up to 40x. The HX10V packs 18.2 Megapixel Exmor R CMOS image sensor and BIONZ image processor, while the H90 gets 16.1 Megapixel Super HAD CCD sensor.

Along with the 30x zoom Cyber-shot HX200V, Sony also brings the more compact Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V and DSC-HX20V camera with 20x optical zoom. They are equipped with 18.2 Megapixel Exmor R CMOS image sensor, 20x optical zoom lens and BIONZ processor that rapidly analyzes the Extra-High Sensitivity data from the sensor. With Clear Image Zoom technology, they can even provide 40x zoom. Each of them has a 3-inch LCD display and offers HDMI output.

For those who are looking for a super long zoom camera, here comes another choice. Sony’s new Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V, successor to the HX100V, is the company latest ultra zoom camera featuring a 30x optical zoom lens (27-810mm in 35mm format). Using Sony’s Clear Image Zoom technology, the zoom range can be extended by 2x, providing 60x zoom.

Along with the SZ-12, Olympus is launching just another ultra zoom digital camera – the SP-620UZ. Compare to the SZ-12, the SP-620UZ packs a less powerful lens in a less compact body, and that makes the latter more affordable. The 16 Megapixel shooter gets a 21x optical zoom lens with 25mm wide angle, TruePic III+ image processor, and a 3-inch LCD screen. It is the successor to the SP-610UZ.

Olympus launches a new digital camera, the SZ-31MR iHS with a long-zoom lens and the iHS Technology. In fact, the SZ-31MR looks just like the new SZ-12/SZ-14 but of course it gets more functions and features. With a compact and lightweight body, the camera sports a 24x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and a 16 Megapixel back-illuminated sensor. The new iHS (Intelligent, High-Sensitivity and High-Speed) technologies are there to deliver “excellent images and videos in the most challenging backlit and low light conditions.” It even offers 48x Super-Resolution Zoom in case you need to get closer to your subject.

Canon introduces two new long-zoom digital cameras, the PowerShot SX260 HS and the PowerShot SX240 HS. Both have a sleek and compact design, yet packs Canon’s 25mm wide angle 20x optical zoom lens with 4-stop optical Image Stabilizer. According to Canon, the new models are its slimmest 20x zoom camera. The SX260 comes with built-in GPS chip for tagging each picture with the local time and location it was taken automatically. The Map Utility software also lets you to view your journey on Google Maps.

Following the CoolPix P500 last year, Nikon brings the new CoolPix P510 ultra zoom digital camera in 2012. While its predecessor P500 gets a 36x optical zoom lens, the P510 further the zoom range featuring a 42x optical Zoom-NIKKOR ED glass lens with 24mm wide angle. The camera is equipped with Nikon’s EXPEED C2 digital image processing engine to ensure quality images and videos. It is able to focus as close as 0.4 inches (1cm).

Olympus brings a new compact long-zoom digital camera, the SZ-12 (known as SZ-14 in Europe and Australia) featuring a powerful 24x optical zoom lens with 25mm wide angle that utilizes high performance ED glass (Extra-low Dispersion glass) and Olympus’ double-sided aspherical lens technology. To deliver clear images even in low light, the camera offers the Dual Image Stabilization, combing sensor-shift image stabilization with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds.