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.

The HX200V sports a 18.2 Megapixel Back-illuminated Exmor R image sensor, a 3-inch tilting LCD display and BIONZ high speed image processor. The camera offers a super fast auto focus speed at 0.13 second in daylight and 0.24 seconds in low-light at 3EV. It is able to capture Full HD 1080p videos and the Dual-Record function allows users to take 13 Megapixel equivalent still images while shooting video.

Sony’s HX200V is equipped with built-in GPS and compass to record location data and camera direction. The new GPS Log Recording lets users track a photographic journey and later view the path and images on a map. The long zoom camera features Optical SteadyShot image stabilizatio with 3-way Active mode for taking blur-free images and video; Background Defocus system that takes two shots, identifies the background and applies a defocused background keeping the subject crisp and clear; and the Intelligent Sweep Panorama HR mode and 3D still image and 3D Sweep Panorama mode. There is the Photo Creativity function that allows you to fine-tune your exposure settings and 9 Picture Effects.

Other features include Intelligent Scene Recognition mode, Face Detection, Smile Shutter, Anti-blink, Natural Flash, Superior Auto mode, Soft Skin mode and in-camera editing. The shooter uses Memory Stick DUO and SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards and has mini HDMI output. Coming in Black, the Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V will be available in March for $479.00 (pre-order at Amazon).

[Sony 1|2]