Super-zoom cameras

Nikon Coolpix P510 The Nikon Coolpix P510 (HK$3,980) has the biggest zoom around and has a 42x optical zoom lens, up from 36x in the previous P500 version. Weighing 555 grams, there is a comfortable grip on its side and controls are sensibly set out, so there is less need to rely solely on the LCD screen. Managing about 240 shots on a single charge, the P510 achieves 16-megapixel resolution stills, although also shoots video in full HD quality. You can film in 3-D, too.

Pentax X-5 This Pentax (HK$2,200) weighs 599 grams fully loaded. It uses four AA batteries, so there is no need to pack a charger if space is tight. The flipside is the X-5 only has a 26x optical zoom lens. But it does have a macro mode for extreme close-ups. Offering 16 megapixels, the X-5 comes with a tilting three-inch LCD screen and full HD video recording.

Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ iHS A wide-angle model with a 40x super-zoom, the Olympus (HK$2,550) is suited to taking the kind of landscape and nature photos once reserved for those with an interchangeable telephoto lens. With a macro mode identical to that of the Pentax, this 485 gram camera offers 14-megapixel resolution. There's full HD video here, and a hand-held starlight mode that lessens the need for a tripod at night.