Kodak's 24x megazoom with vertical grip

Although Kodak is one of the pioneers of modern photography, it has been overshadowed by other brands in this digital era. You probably don't know this, but the US company was one of the first to announce a point-and-shoot with HD video-recording capabilities.

The rumoured Z980 megazoom shooter from Kodak.
(Credit: Engadget)

Before CES kicks off on 8 January, Kodak has already slipped out a prosumer shooter with 24x optical zoom, according to Engadget. The Z980 houses a 12-megapixel sensor, and, as with most of its siblings, HD video capture. The long lens is optically stabilised and offers photographers a nice 26mm at its widest.

But what really caught our attention was the vertical grip, an attachment once reserved only for dSLRs. This accessory has another shutter button to facilitate taking pictures in portrait orientation. To complete the package, the Z980 comes with a hotshoe for external flashlights.

Engadget reports that the camera will be available from March with a retail price of US$399.95.