I have a Nikon P900 and I am reasonably happy wit it. I get some very distant shots and I can carry it with ease when out birding. It is not going to take photographs as great as a DSLR but still can manage some pretty decent shots. The biggest problem is keeping up with a fast moving bird like a Leaf Warbler or a Tit.
I had an interesting conversation at Elton Reservoir yesterday with Chris Greene, Simon Adams, and another birder (im sorry but I didn't get your name) about bridge cameras. Chris commented it was interesting all 4 of us had bridge cameras. I said I've had mine over 3 years now and I'm still happy with it but obviously has its flaws. I didn't get chance to mention some of the flaws as the conversation just escalated into the good things these cameras can do and how pleased everyone was with theirs in the main. The flaws include not being able to properly deal with distant Ducks on a choppy sea, and previously mentioned ... birds in flight especially if a little distant in a grey sky or are fast flying, although as far as record shots go, and simply for my own benefit and not trying to win a photographic competition, I've not done too badly with birds in flight!
One other thing, the guy whose name I didn't get, I remember talking to you at Elton the day you mentioned when the Black Tern was there. I'm glad you found my advice helpful that day regarding my own findings of my bridge camera. So much so you got yourself a bridge camera and you're happy with your choice.
....oh yeah and you said you're gonna start doing what I do, take my camera and bins to work with me. Another advantage of a bridge camera as you're not lumping all that gear around and they take up little room in my works rucksack. Cheers
Thanks Pete and Robert. I actually changed my mind after my last post and will be buying a Canon SX50. Most reviewers seem to prefer the SX50 to the SX60 and a few have sent to 60 back because of the inferior clarity at the business end of the lens. Nice shots of the Shorelark Pete. Thanks again. Mark.
Thanks Rob - I've looked at the FZ-72 amongst loads of others. I think I've settled for the Nikon P600 but there's still time to change my mind yet! I don't think there's too much difference in them all in the same price bracket if you read what buyers have to say about each. I've never been a bird photographer, so if I do really get into it, I can upgrade in the future. I've seen photographs with the P600 and it won a review on some website. For what I need it for, it will be ok. Thanks once again.
Some good deals about on the Canon SX50 and in a number of discussions it seems to be preferred over its replacement the SX60.
I use one and have been pretty pleased with it.
I also have a Nikon DSLR /300 f4 so I do appreciate the inevitable 'small sensor' limitations, but that said, the Canon does get me shots I would have missed with the DSLR.
No probs Mark, took a shed load of photos today on the Fylde Coast, most were up close of the Snow Bunting and Shore Lark, but managed some distant ones of Twite and they're not bad at all. They certainly won't win any competitions but good record shots nonetheless. Cheers Rob
Thanks Rob - I've looked at the FZ-72 amongst loads of others. I think I've settled for the Nikon P600 but there's still time to change my mind yet! I don't think there's too much difference in them all in the same price bracket if you read what buyers have to say about each. I've never been a bird photographer, so if I do really get into it, I can upgrade in the future. I've seen photographs with the P600 and it won a review on some website. For what I need it for, it will be ok. Thanks once again.
Hi Mark, I bought the Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ-72 Bridge Camera a few months ago. It was £279 with £30 cashback from Panasonic when I registered it for the warranty etc. It has 60x Optical Zoom and with a few setting adjustments I've played around with it to get 675x ... BUT obviously you lose a lot of clarity when you start rising towards that figure. That said however, I've been very happy with it, and it does what I bought it for, zooming in to distant birds! What it doesn't handle very well (as John Tymon has already pointed out) is birds in flight! The sensor also finds it very difficult if you are trying to photo small birds against the sky. It tries to locate what you want to focus on but a lot of the time can't focus as it thinks there's nothing there. By the time you've located the bird and zoomed in, the focus has readjusted itself and the bird has changed direction! As yet there isn't a telefoto lens available that I know of so I can increase the optical zoom. I ordered one from New York, it was a 2.2x mag but it didn't work and kept vignetting! It fits nicely onto my Manfrotto tripod with a screw-in stone type connection. For now I'm happy with it but I will keep looking at others. Hope this is of help. Rob
Any of you guys that were thinking of buying now bought? If so, perhaps you could review?
I am thinking of trading in my Canon EOS 1000D (no decent lens for bird photography) for a bridge camera. I have read so many reviews my head is spinning and I still can't decide. I am looking to spend £275-350.
Do any that use bridge cameras on here post your pictures in the photographic section? That would give an insight as to quality etc?
Now I've looked at a few more reviews, the FZ200 is looking more and more attractive for the price!...
Have a look at Expedite Electronics. They reviewed well and I have just bought a Nikon lens from them 25% cheaper than the best price on CameraPriceBuster. I had the usual concerns along the lines "if it is too good to be true etc etc" but I ordered on Monday, could track delivery throughout and it arrived Thursday.
Now I've looked at a few more reviews, the FZ200 is looking more and more attractive for the price! The fixed aperture of 2.8 throughout the zoom to 600mm is tempting. Does anyone know how quick the focus lock is and whether the viewfinders any good?
Viewfinder on the fz200 is one of the best around, and the focus is quick but birds in flight are near impossible with bridge cameras, its mainly aim and hope as there is always some shutter lag, but I would say of the ones your looking at the fz200 is as good as you get, and the constant 2.8 is a minor engineering miracle as to have a 600 2.8 in a dslr, the lens would be about 4 foot long and a foot wide and cost £100,000,so again its the tiny sensor that allows this sort of Magic. Its also a good price now as at one time it was £500 ,and ive heard that some users are buying a spare one before they stop making them, so now's the time to buy. I think a few people on here have one, maybe one of those can let you know how they are with birds.
Now I've looked at a few more reviews, the FZ200 is looking more and more attractive for the price! The fixed aperture of 2.8 throughout the zoom to 600mm is tempting. Does anyone know how quick the focus lock is and whether the viewfinders any good?
" Trusted Reviews gives the Canon SX50 a pretty average rewiew with plenty of criticism. Quote '' the Fuji HS 50 is vastly superior.''
Hi Keith,
Read the review on trusted reviews and was somewhat surprised, having seen some top quality shots from others taken by the SX50 decided to then check some other sites. Cant help thinking trusted reviews comments were overly critical, a quick example Image quality, Canon sx50 Trusted reviews 6/10 Camera Labs 8.5/10 What Digital 9/10
Also typed best bridge camera in google and checked results out
Tech radar, canon sx50 3rd behind the more expensive Panasonic FZ1000 and the Sony RX10, no mention of Fuji
Amateur Photographer again 3rd with the Sony coming top ahead of the FZ1000, Fuji x-51 4th
Ephotozine has FZ 1000 top followed by the canon sx50 and again no mention of the Fuji
Wirecutter.com the Canon SX50 is still the best super zoom you can buy right now.
Thanks for all the comments everyone. I guess one of my main priorities for a new bridge would be a much quicker focus lock, as for sure the SX40 is a bit slow, although does give good photos and video! I've now got a bit more thinking to do! Hadn't even considered a Fuji. Having just watch 'Life Story' and the superb photography I'm expecting great things of any new camera!!
"Hi All I'm looking for some advice on a new bridge camera. I'm currently using a Canon SX40HS and was thinking of replacing with either the SX50 (or 60?), a Sony HX400v or the new Panasonic FZ1000. Anybody have any strong views about these? As I'm familiar with the Canon, that's probably my choice, but any thoughts would be welcome. Cheers Nev"
Hi Nev,
I'm in the same boat, I too have been using the Canon SX40HS and have been awaiting the newer model to the SX50. The SX40 can produce some fantastic shots but can be finicky at times, the SX50 allegedly ironed out these problems and increased that magnification, I havent seen a bad review of this camera and have seen many impressive shots, from what Ive seen Panasonic lumix lost it by not competing on the magnification front, when it did boost this from what I have seen and read it lost out again to its competitors, check out the reviews on expertreviews.co.uk Sony's latest venture has some excellent reviews, Im still awaiting to see some more reviews and shots from the experts on the SX60 before making my decision, if you get there before me let us know what you think
I am no photographer (not got the patience nor the willingness to learn about f stops etc) but I used to have a Fuji bridge camera and it was absolutely brilliant until it broke after 8 years of rough use. It was far and away a better camera than the Nikon I bought to replace it. I'd have a Fuji any day.
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No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
Thanks for that, Frank. I've not looked at the Fuji XS1 but our local town centre shop is keen on the Fuji HS50 which I tried a few times, but found it a bit bulky compared LUMIX. They praised the 1/2'' CMOS sensor and the fast autofocus, but trial shots versus Lumix zx72 on full zoom, appeared inferior to the Lumix. Your XS1 appears to have a bigger 2/3'' CMOS sensor, and is available online at a good price. I will look at it. I take your point about the zoom not being all that matters Lumix 1000 is not on my list because of price!
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
Keith. My wife has a Panasonic FZ200 and it's not in the same league as my Fuji (see below). I've used both quite a lot, but the Fuji, with its manual zoom and much bigger sensor is a class apart. Don't be fooled by these bridge cameras with monster zooms - as John points out, all they are doing is cropping. If you think about it, the new Panasonic FZ1000 with its maximum 400mm at the tele end will give you just as good, if not bettethr quality, than those bridge cameras with a 1,000mm zoom or more. All you need to do is crop a section of the Pano image. That's all those monster zooms are doing because they are planting the image on such a tiny sensor. By the same token, I have a pal with a Canon 5D full frame DSLR. I have a Canon 60D with a smaller APS-C sensor. He can take the same pic as me from a hide and gets as good, if not better, quality than me simply by cropping his bigger image.
I am planning to buy my first bridge camera soon. The FZ 1000 is over the top for me. The choice appears to be between the two Lumix's Fz 200 and Fz72. The 200 is used by a lot of people that I know, and has the constant 2.8f lens but it has been out a couple of years. The 72 has an incredible 60x optical zoom which my local camera shop has demonstrated to me. They claim that, as it is more modern, it has improved image stabilisation plus a few more features that better the 200, I find the 72 easy to hold as the grip has been redesigned, but it does not have the 2.8f lens. It is also significantly cheaper. The shop claims that people these days mainly buy the 72, although I have heard elsewhere that they both sell well £30 cash back on both at present, so any advice on how these 2 compare would be a help.
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
Panasonic Lumix have always made the best bridge cameras, the only issue with the FZ1000,is the lens is only 400mm at the long end ,which is rarely enough for birding ,but there's no daupt its the best bridge camera out there, along with the lumix fz200 which has a bit more zoom at 600 ,but smaller sensor. Many of the others canon, nikon, fuji, etc have massive zooms, with up to 1600mm zoom ,which for record shots works,but these have what is termed pin head sensors, which means any cropping and you will lose quality immediately. None match a DSLR with a good lens,but for convenience of carrying when birding ,you can't beat them, remember though the fz1000 is larger than a DSLR body and kit lens and more expensive than the lower end DSLR's ,so it all depends on what you are willing to spend and what compromise you are happy to make,as there is always a compromise with bridge cameras. cheers John
I've had a Fuji X-S1 for a couple of years. I have a Canon DSLR outfit but bought the Fuji bridge to take out when I'm walking any distance. As bridge cameras go I find it hard to fault and, with the bigger sensor, the quality is excellent. I've had many photos on sites like Lesvos Birders and I don't think anyone has ever noticed they are not on my DSLR. But, like all cameras with electronic viewfinders, they are not as good as a DSLR for tracking birds in flight. But you'll already know that if you have a bridge. Since I got the Fuji I have always regarded it as the bee's knees of bridge cameras ---- until this year's Birdfair, when I got to try out the new Panasonic FZ 1000. That really is something special. It has a 1 inch sensor and the viewfinder quality is so good (and the refresh rate so fast), that I could hardly tell I wasn't looking through a flip-up mirror DSLR. It's hellishly expensive, but head and shoulders above anything else, I reckon. Hope that helps.
Hi All I'm looking for some advice on a new bridge camera. I'm currently using a Canon SX40HS and was thinking of replacing with either the SX50 (or 60?), a Sony HX400v or the new Panasonic FZ1000. Anybody have any strong views about these? As I'm familiar with the Canon, that's probably my choice, but any thoughts would be welcome. Cheers Nev
