While a competent camera, the Nikon Coolpix P90 doesn't distinguish itself from the ultrazoom competition, and has a disappointing video mode. Though the 24x lens is impressive, other cameras have better features and performance.

video mode, made even less satisfying by its lack of key controls

It looks like an innocent compact SLR, but the Canon SX1 IS is actually a paparazzi-pleasing ultrazoom in sheep's clothing, with a 20x zoom plus high-def 1080p video. For the same $600, though, you could buy a highly rated interchangeable-lens SLR.

The Canon SX1, at $599.99, is the most expensive ultrazoom in our test group by a substantial margin, with a $200 gap between the 10-megapixel 20x Canon and the 12.1-megapixel 24x Nikon P90. Of course, two of the ultrazooms reviewed are limited to ...

The $450 Olympus SP-590UZ has the biggest zoom in town, a whopping 26x lens, but lacks the performance or features to distance it from the competition.

The Olympus SP-590UZ arrived with a splash, thanks to it's record-breaking zoom magnification. However, it comes up against stiff competition from other companies putting forward strong cameras in the ultrazoom category

It looks like an innocent compact SLR, but the Canon SX1 IS is actually a paparazzi-pleasing ultrazoom in sheep's clothing, with a 20x zoom plus high-def 1080p video. For the same $600, though, you could buy a highly rated interchangeable-lens SLR.

The Canon SX1, at $599.99, is the most expensive ultrazoom in our test group by a substantial margin, with a $200 gap between the 10-megapixel 20x Canon and the 12.1-megapixel 24x Nikon P90. Of course, two of the ultrazooms reviewed are limited to ...

The Olympus E-P1 is a kick-ass modern camera in retro-design disguise, with a compact size that finally delivers on the "micro" part of the Micro Four Thirds promise.

Olympus has designed a camera that's bigger than your typical point and shoot but significantly smaller than a digital SLR, thanks to the Micro Four Thirds format (which eliminates the SLR mirror box to shrink a camera's depth) and some smart ...

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 is a $400 point-and-shoot that brings extensive manual controls, a touch-screen interface and wide-angle lens to the table. While we were highly impressed by the level of control while shooting, the image quality was ...

Our view on the FX580 is split. On one hand, we absolutely love the manual controls. Manual, aperture-priority, and shutter-priority shooting modes. Tweakable white balance. Auto exposure bracketing. Adjustable noise compensation, sharpness, ...

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 is a $400 point-and-shoot that brings extensive manual controls, a touch-screen interface and wide-angle lens to the table. While we were highly impressed by the level of control while shooting, the image quality was ...

Our view on the FX580 is split. On one hand, we absolutely love the manual controls. Manual, aperture-priority, and shutter-priority shooting modes. Tweakable white balance. Auto exposure bracketing. Adjustable noise compensation, sharpness, ...

The Samsung HZ15W packs a 10x zoom into a very compact camera, complete with impressive image quality, 720p video and plenty of manual control.

Samsung HZ15W is part of the relatively new division of the point-and-shoot market, the compact ultrazoom. These squeeze significant zoom lenses into bodies only marginally bigger than a standard camera

The Samsung HZ15W packs a 10x zoom into a very compact camera, complete with impressive image quality, 720p video and plenty of manual control.

Samsung HZ15W is part of the relatively new division of the point-and-shoot market, the compact ultrazoom. These squeeze significant zoom lenses into bodies only marginally bigger than a standard camera

The Canon PowerShot SD780 IS is a tiny, pocket-sized camera that has a 3x zoom, shoots 12-megapixel images and 720p HD video. This svelte little unit performed well in most of our tests, and can be had for $280.

The Canon PowerShot SD780 IS a decent camera poured into a very small package. It may not have the world's most impressive range of manual controls, nor the biggest zoom we've ever seen, but it shoots well, with excellent image sharpness (though with ...