What's the best professional-grade digital camera with optical zoom?

Phase One - they cost $60,000 without a lens.

"Professional" means different things to different people. If you can make a living selling your pictures from a $100 camera then that camera becomes "professional". You don't really specify what you plan on doing with the camera and that will determine what would be best for your needs.

In general "professional" cameras tend to have interchangeable lens systems. Any optical zoom is dependent on the lens, and is the only type of zoom you are going to get on this type of camera.

http://www.hasselblad.co.uk/media/2081132/uk_h4d_d... This is probably (I could be wrong) the best professional grade digital camera currently available, as for the price, if you have to ask then you can't afford it!

A Hasselblad H3DII- 60 is a good example.

cannon