10 Best Zoom Cameras 2025 in the United States

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is a compact, versatile zoom camera that’s great for travelers, vloggers, and casual photographers who want good quality without bulky gear. It features a 1-inch sensor with 20.1 megapixels, which is fairly large for a compact camera and helps capture sharp, detailed images with good color and low noise. Its 4.2x optical zoom (24-100mm) covers wide to medium telephoto shots, suitable for landscapes, portraits, and some zoomed-in subjects, though it won’t reach far like larger zoom cameras. The lens is bright (f/1.8-2.8), which helps in low light and creates nice blurry backgrounds.

The Sony Alpha 7 IV is a powerful full-frame mirrorless camera that stands out in the zoom camera category, especially for those who value high-quality images and video. With a 33MP full-frame Exmor R sensor, it captures detailed photos, and the BIONZ XR image processing engine enhances performance significantly, making it suitable for both photography and videography enthusiasts. Its 8x optical zoom, with a maximum focal length of 70mm, allows for flexibility in capturing subjects from various distances, which is great for dynamic shooting scenarios.

The Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR with the 18-55mm lens is a solid choice for those stepping into serious photography or wanting a versatile zoom camera. It features a 24.1 MP APS-C CMOS sensor, which means you get good detail and image quality, especially for prints or cropping photos. The lens offers an optical zoom range of 3x (18-55mm), suitable for everyday shots from landscapes to portraits, though it’s not designed for very long-distance zooming. The built-in image stabilization helps reduce blur from shaky hands, which is handy for clearer photos and smooth video. Autofocus is handled by a 9-point system with AI Servo for tracking moving subjects, making it reasonably quick and reliable for typical shooting scenarios, though it’s not as advanced as higher-end models with more focus points.