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Enthusiast Long Zoom Cameras

Enthusiast Long Zoom Cameras

Last updated: June 9, 2017
While most of new 1" sensor enthusiast cameras have been on the shorter end of the focal length spectrum, there are now quite a few long zoom models, as well. Whether you want something pocketable or want to shoot for the moon (pun intended), you'll find it in this group.
There are plenty of other long zoom compacts out there, some offering focal ranges reaching 2000mm though they use much smaller 1/2.3" sensors. The larger sensors used in the cameras in this roundup completely eclipse those models, especially when it comes to image quality and control over depth-of-field.
The models we're looking at in this article include:
With the exception of the Panasonic ZS100/TZ100, all of these cameras are pretty hefty, so don't plan on stuffing those into a pocket. Focal ranges are all over the map, ranging from 200mm on the Sony RX10 I/II to 600mm on the Sony RX10 III and Canon G3 X. The vast majority of these cameras shoot 4K video, with some having more controls than others.
To further help you pick the right camera in this class, we've created the chart below, which breaks down the equivalent aperture for each camera, as you work your way through the zoom range. Our article here explains the concept of equivalence, but at a high level all you need to know is that the lower the line is on the graph below, the blurrier the backgrounds you'll be able to get and, typically at least, the better the overall low-light performance.
Panasonic FZ1000Sony RX10 IICanon G3 XPanasonic ZS100Sony RX10 IIIPanasonic FZ2500242835501002004006004.05.68.011.016.022.0Equivalent focal length (mm)Equivalent aperture (F)
Equivalent focal length (mm)Panasonic FZ1000Sony RX10 IICanon G3 XPanasonic ZS100Sony RX10 IIIPanasonic FZ2500
247.6367.6366.5457.636
257.6367.6366.8187.909
267.9097.909
278.7278.182
287.6368.182
308.1828.7278.455
3298.727
348.4559.273
359.5458.7279
369.545
399.273
418.727
439.545
47910.909
499.818
519.273
569.54510.091
589.545
6012.273
639.818
6910.364
7010.09110.636
7910.909
8113.636
8410.364
9111.182
10010.909
10211.455
10510.636
14415.818
15111.727
15716.091
16315.273
17010.909
2007.636
20812
25016.091
26212.273
40010.909
48012.273
60015.27310.909
With its F2.8 constant aperture lens, the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 I & II capture more total light and offer more control over depth-of-field compared to its peers, by 1 or 2 stops. The trade-off is that its focal length caps out at 200mm equiv. The Canon PowerShot G3 X and Sony RX10 III have the longest lenses, with the latter being about 2/3-stop faster once hitting around 100mm. The Panasonic FZ2500 splits the difference between the G3 X and RX10 III.
And with that out of the way, let's get right into exploring the enthusiast long zoom cameras!
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