Image stabalizer and AF-assist lamp

[Torey]

It seems to me that for the cameras with more zoom, there is a common lack of both an AF-assist lamp and image stabilization. Why to manufactures seem to not put this in the design off ALL cameras? Are these features really not that important after all?

[David Metsky]

IS is complex technology that costs a lot of money to develop and build. It may make the cameras much more expensive, or increase the size, or both. By not having it they can change the price-point for a camera and perhaps get more sales.

AF-assist lamp should be on every camera. I suspect that it's not included on some of the ultra-zooms because if you are focusing at a long distance the AF-assist really doesn't help you at all. Rather than add a feature that will raise the cost and not be used often, they leave it out.