Best super zoom camera for long distance recording?

[hejsansvejs]

Hi!

So a few days ago I found a video of someone recording and zooming in with great quality from half way around the world and realized I need of of those cameras.

I only knew about canon sx60 and nikon p900 until an hour ago when I found out there's a few more, like the Panasonic LUMIX FZ82 which is better priced.

I will be buying a used one in the $300 (or less) range and want the one best at recording at a long distance, say 100-500 meters.

Help me choose!

Thanks

 

[Ido Scharf]

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2017-roundup-consumer-long-zoom-compacts

Also look at their predecessors, they can be a lot cheaper.

Keep in mind that shooting from a great distance has its shortcomings. You would likely find that shooting from a closer range will give you better results that are clearer, sharper and more vibrant. But if you just want it to play around with zooming in on far objects, go ahead.

 

[PhotoTeach2]

I think the P-900 is the current super-zoom king w/ 2000mm-EFL.

But that camera does have some limitations, like no RAW.

The FZ-82 is indeed cheaper but it is not a "Leica" lens as on the FZ-200/300 and 1000/2500, so not quite as sharp.

From a practical standpoint I still prefer the FZ-200/300 for its 600mm-EFL @ f/2.8.

But note that the FZ-1000/2500 is actually better because it has the same mpx when zoomed to 600mm, (and with a 4X larger sensor.

 

[tedolf]

The reality is that taking a long focal length picture at long distances, e.g. 1500 feet is only successful under rare atmospheric conditions. First there is the filtering of certain colors due to atmospheric absorption (makes objects in the distance look blue), then there is atmospheric heating which affects sharpness, then there is the problem of trying to hand hold at high magnifications.

Long lenses are best at taking photo's of small things that are less than 100 feet away that would otherwise be hard to approach, e.g. wildlife, sports, etc. so as to fill the frame.

If you want to take a good photo of something that is very far away, just get closer.

tEdolph

 

[LightCloud]

I haven't used stabilized video, but you should consider a tripod for telephoto video.

Vibration very annoying, probably some editing options as well

 

[PhotoTeach2]

If you want to take a good photo of something that is very far away, just get closer.

tEdolph

I was at a party with all the pro-photographers in town and someone asked the question of what was the best exposure for a (full) MOON.

So we got into a discussion of the "Sunny-16" rule, (surprisingly some had never heard of it), and how it applied, (as "Loney-16" rule), to a full-moon.

So I suggested he manually set that exposure on his (Canon), dSLR and try it, (there was a full-moon at the time).

He only had a 80-200mm so after he pre-set the, (Loney-16), exposure he stood up and pointed at the moon.

He commented that it looked "small", (ala only 200mm), ....

So I said "GET CLOSER !!!".

He actually started WALKING, (towards the MOON).

It was quite amusing .... (I think he is STILL walking) ....

And that is similar to my GrandMother .... she went to a doctor for health advice 10 years ago and he told her to walk 5-miles/day ....

so she started walking, (5-miles/day), and we have no idea where she is today.