Advice Please!

[CMCM]

I come from the SLR world of the past (I used to shoot F3's), and have been lazy about the developments in the digital world. I have a vague understanding of the various sensors, but still don't fully understand the digital zoom factors and how to compare cameras.

I have other cameras so I'm not looking for a "do everything" camera.

I have decided I would like a good super zoom of some kind, but I can't figure out what would be best. My first question is whether all the compact zooms with the smaller than 1" sensor could be compared equally.

I'm blown away by the P900, but then I wonder if I don't really need all that zoom. Of course it's neat to take a great moon shot, and I would do that on occasion, but my main purpose is to shoot wildlife such as birds, owls, deer. Maybe I don't really need the 83x zoom to do that happily and well. But I don't want to underbuy a zoom.

The cameras I've thus far identified in terms of various features I would really like in a long zoom type camera (especially viewfinder, tilting screen on back, decent controls, etc. are:

Panasonic ZS70 ((30x)

Nikon B700 (60x zoom, 24-1440....is that perhaps "enough"?)

Nikon P900 (for that giant lens, of course)

Panasonic Lumix FZ80 (60X)

I keep going in circles with this. Any input/advice is appreciated!

 

[633 squadron]

it depends what you really need your camera for. If you shoot a lot of wildlife you may be better of with the p900 where as if you want to shoot a little more video you may want the b700 as it has 4k video and a vari-angle screen. I've found that i never thought, i wish i had more zoom with my b700. i can generally get to where i want to with it. also with the b700 you can just zoom in to the full amount and then crop it to the size you want and the resolution should be the same because the b700 has 20 mp and the p90016mp.

--
A man without a camera is like a soldier without a gun.

 

[Sactojim]

You really need to go visit a real camera shop to handle the one's you are interested in. Take your sd card and shoot a few images from each and view when home. Every shop that has a demo camera should allow you to do this and my local shop lets me walk outside for some photos too. As you know the P900 is a big beast that's all about the reach. I've seen excellent images from all cams mentioned, but the Panasonic FZ80 has 4K video and also allows video grabs for stills..nice option. THe FZ80 also has a really nice EVF. Happy testing.

 

[633 squadron]

if you dont need loads and loads of zoom the Panasonic fz1000 might be worth considering. it has loads of great features plus a 1inch sensor which is 318% bigger than the b700 and p900.

 

[CMCM]

I went to BBuy yesterday to handle and fiddle with the B700 and P900. I was favorably impressed with the P900. I couldn't get it to focus at full telephoto, but when I pulled it back a bit I got an impressively sharp photo across the store of some lettering, hand held. I guess I'm just not sure how different the reach on the B700 is vs. the P900 out in nature. Would the extra 23x be huge when I'm not shooting the moon? I'm really drawn to the P900 after playing with it a bit. Its shortcomings such as lack of RAW don't bother me for how I'll probably use it. I don't shoot much video either.

 

[CMCM]

I don't know that I NEED a super zoom, but I kind of WANT one. It looks fun. I guess I'm having trouble evaluating what all the digital zoom equivalents mean in relation to the sensor size, I guess. Is it possible that some zooms with a larger sensor would seem to zoom more than with a smaller sensor?

 

[633 squadron]

heres one comparison that might help

--


24mm


At full optical 1440mm if it (was digital extra zoom it would only fit a quarter of the moon in the photo)

hope this helps

 

[633 squadron]

you mean the bigger the sensor the bigger the zoom?

 

[CMCM]

Well, I don't know enough to answer that. Somewhere I got the impression that a bigger sensor could look closer with, for example, 300mm than on a smaller sensor. That didn't make sense to me, but I don't understand well what happens with the various sensors. I understand the basics. Anyhow, I'm wondering if the B700 is easier to stabilize when hand held than the P900. Presumably so, their sizes were different.

 

[633 squadron]

i think that with a bigger sensor you can crop more but it doesn't really matter how big the sensor is in comparison to the zoom

 

[CMCM]

So I see you own the B700. Do you like it? Did you consider the P900?

 

[633 squadron]

yes, this was my first camera and i have been very pleased with it. it has served its purpose very well. but soon i will be upgrading to either a dslr of a higher end bridge camera like the fz1000 of the rx10m3 because i feel as if i'm outgrowing the b700. no i didnt consider the p900 because i felt felt that i didnt need that much zoom. also it didnt have 4k or raw which i needed.

if you look at my gallrey you will see all the photos i took. with the b700

--
A man without a camera is like a soldier without a gun.

 

[CMCM]

I did happen to look at your photos, very impressive. It's funny about Raw.... I've got it on 2 cameras and never use it. I've been doing photo processing with Photoshop since the early 1990s, but never got around to playing with Raw. I guess I should.

 

[CMCM]

This is very helpful! Thanks!

 

[633 squadron]

do you have a final decision??

 

[Thebigbird]

it depends what you really need your camera for. If you shoot a lot of wildlife you may be better of with the p900 where as if you want to shoot a little more video you may want the b700 as it has 4k video and a vari-angle screen. I've found that i never thought, i wish i had more zoom with my b700. i can generally get to where i want to with it. also with the b700 you can just zoom in to the full amount and then crop it to the size you want and the resolution should be the same because the b700 has 20 mp and the p90016mp.

 

[CMCM]

I'm about 98% sure I'll be getting the P900 at this point. Mainly due to the zoom, which is what I'm most interested in anyway.

 

[ratfugel]

Interesting set of posts.

The P900 has a lot more going for it than just the colossal zoom. Everybody has a go at the moon at least once. That is usually enough. Does it very well indeed.

The really pleasant thing about the P900 is it's pick-up-and-shoot NOW capability.

No messing about looking for the right lens etc.

I keep mine handy so that if anything happens I would like to look at later, its on the ball. I always get the shot. Put camera down again until next time. It's surprising how many 'keepers' you get.

It's also a telescope, even if you don't take a shot, you can take a good look at something a long way off.

Like everyone else I've got other cameras, but this one is a fun camera. Full stop.

Image quality? More than adequate for normal purposes. If not, then tweak it in PS or something and then go out and win something just for the hell of it.

You'll gather I'm a P900 fan. Currently I couldn't care less about Nikon making a new one.

Incidentally I'm about to make mine do something it was never designed for.

Post the results later if it works..

rat.

 

[Augustin Man]

+1 and I'm eagerly expecting your news!

All the best,

Augustin

 

[Gordon W]

...but my main purpose is to shoot wildlife such as birds, owls, deer...

When it comes to wildlife, you can never have too much zoom. I have a B700 and I'll often wish for more zoom than its 1,440mm. On the other hand, at that focal length I sometimes have trouble keeping the subject centered in the frame, so I'm happy enough with 1,440mm.

I got the B700 instead of the P900 primarily because of the B700's RAW and its smaller size. The B700's JPEGs are very good and are often difficult to improve on with RAW, but for someone interested in getting the most detail, RAW still gives it to you.

The link here goes to my gallery of 500 photos taken with the B700. The images are low res, but show the wide variety of subjects I shoot with the camera.

http://www.pbase.com/merriwolf/nikon_coolpix_b700

I also have a couple DSLRs and a Panasonic FZ1000. I rarely shoot with the DSLRs anymore, despite their better image quality. For low light and night photography, I use the FZ1000; during daylight I mostly use the B700.