Help with bridge camera please

[PicLiz]

I have found a used RX10 mkiii from a reputable dealer, do you feel that is a viable option?

Where did you find the used model? If I was going to buy a bridge camera, the Sony is the one I’d want.

Marie

I have found one at MPB for $894.00.

But that’s the iii not iv, right?

Correct.

--

Sherm
Sherms flickr page

P950 album

P900 album RX10iv album
OM1.2 150-600 album

 

[PicLiz]

I have found a used RX10 mkiii from a reputable dealer, do you feel that is a viable option?

Where did you find the used model? If I was going to buy a bridge camera, the Sony is the one I’d want.

Marie

I have found one at MPB for $894.00.

You can get a used IV for double the price at B&H.

I didn't even see those and I had searched for a couple of days!

 

[PicLiz]

If I were you I'd wait for a good deal on an RX10 IV.

FZ2500 isn't bad, but 480mm is a bit short for birds, although not useless. The f4.5 max aperture at full zoom isn't terrible, but will be on the edge of diffraction making the images softer, so combined with the shorter zoom, the images might be disappointing if you're always shooting at max zoom and cropping in.

FZ1000 is even shorter at 400mm zoom. f4.0 aperture is nice though, so closer images will look nice. But again, 400mm isn't very long for birds and you'll probably be doing a lot of cropping.

All the other options are the crazy ultrasuperzooms that use a tiny 1/2.3" sensor.

Of those, the ones I find most interesting are the FZ80D or the Canon SZ70 because they go wider than most, at 20mm or 21mm, which is a bit wider than your typical cellphone, so that's great for landscapes or indoors where there's not much room to move around. Also the old FZ300 because of its constant f2.8 aperture.

All of these however are inferior to the RX10 IV. The max aperture at 600mm is f4, which undercuts the effects of diffraction softening your images. Up to 600mm (and perhaps longer, after cropping, or using the "Clear Image Zoom" feature) it'll have much cleaner and sharper images than any of the 1/2.3" sensor cameras. They do have the benefit of the longer reach perhaps letting you photograph things that a 600mm camera can't reach, but those images won't be especially great. OK for Facebook, perhaps.

I didn't think I could even find one until another poster pointed me in the right direction. It had been my first choice. I've been going back snd forth between the FZ 1000 and FZ 300 at less than half the price of the Sony and lighter. Thank you for your points above.

 

[InkedMarie]

I have found a used RX10 mkiii from a reputable dealer, do you feel that is a viable option?

Where did you find the used model? If I was going to buy a bridge camera, the Sony is the one I’d want.

Marie

I have found one at MPB for $894.00.

Good price! Let us know what you do!

Marie

 

[InkedMarie]

I have found a used RX10 mkiii from a reputable dealer, do you feel that is a viable option?

Where did you find the used model? If I was going to buy a bridge camera, the Sony is the one I’d want.

Marie

I have found one at MPB for $894.00.

But that’s the iii not iv, right?

That explains the good price!

Marie

 

[number_5]

I have found a used RX10 mkiii from a reputable dealer, do you feel that is a viable option?

Where did you find the used model? If I was going to buy a bridge camera, the Sony is the one I’d want.

Marie

I have found one at MPB for $894.00.

You can get a used IV for double the price at B&H.

I didn't even see those and I had searched for a couple of days!'

Did you purchase all 3 copies? They were gone in less 16 hours after my post ... hope you got one.

 

[PicLiz]

I have found a used RX10 mkiii from a reputable dealer, do you feel that is a viable option?

Where did you find the used model? If I was going to buy a bridge camera, the Sony is the one I’d want.

Marie

I have found one at MPB for $894.00.

You can get a used IV for double the price at B&H.

I didn't even see those and I had searched for a couple of days!'

Did you purchase all 3 copies? They were gone in less 16 hours after my post ... hope you got one.

No i didn't. I just didnt want to shell out the $1600. I am still thinking about the RX 10 mk3 and wondering if I can live with the autofocus. I would have bought the FZ1000, but I would really like weather sealing. The more I read the more confused I get. There are people with bad copies and this problem and that. I long for the ignorance of the days of brick and mortar stores where you go in and feel the cameras and look through the viewfinder and talk to the salesman and you're blind otherwise. LOL

 

[Ryan Schwartz]

I'd keep an eye out for Nikon refurb sales on the P950. I nabbed my copy for $400 USD. I have the P900 but have a love/hate relationship due to the NR processing that others have mentioned. I like the P950 for its RAW shooting capabilities and AF improvements so much I put my P900 up for sale, which is listed over in the For Sale forum. If I'm out with a bridge camera and need more than 600mm of my RX10 IV, the P950 is my go-to camera.

Needed 1400mm to get this shot of a red squirrel:

 

[Planterz]

I'd keep an eye out for Nikon refurb sales on the P950. I nabbed my copy for $400 USD. I have the P900 but have a love/hate relationship due to the NR processing that others have mentioned. I like the P950 for its RAW shooting capabilities and AF improvements so much I put my P900 up for sale, which is listed over in the For Sale forum. If I'm out with a bridge camera and need more than 600mm of my RX10 IV, the P950 is my go-to camera.

Needed 1400mm to get this shot of a red squirrel:

That might be the cleanest shot I've ever seen from one of these Nikons.

 

[PicLiz]

I'd keep an eye out for Nikon refurb sales on the P950. I nabbed my copy for $400 USD. I have the P900 but have a love/hate relationship due to the NR processing that others have mentioned. I like the P950 for its RAW shooting capabilities and AF improvements so much I put my P900 up for sale, which is listed over in the For Sale forum. If I'm out with a bridge camera and need more than 600mm of my RX10 IV, the P950 is my go-to camera.

Needed 1400mm to get this shot of a red squirrel:

That is a fabulous shot of that squirrel!

That's a great price for the 950. I almost bought the 950, as I got some good recommendations, but its weight is holding me back. I'm a rather shaky sort also and wondered if I would only get good results on a tri-pod, but of course I would not be shooting at full zoom all the time. I think though, if the cameras I got don't satisfy the reach I need I may look for a used copy. As nothing can really make up for being close enough to your subject, at times.

I ordered an FZ300 and a Leica V-Lux Typ 114. I ordered the 300 to use out with the dogs at our agility and NASDA trials where we may be get caught in light rain or be in a dusty barn. I know the Leica is really a rebranded FZ1000 and I was really interested in that camera. The Leica had all original accessories including the manual and a couple of reviewers stated that they felt the JPEG's were a little better than the ones from the FZ1000. Being those two things are important to me I opted for Leica over the FZ1000 copy I had my eye on and it was less than $100 more. I still spent less than I sold my other gear for and it was still much less than the RX10 mkiv. Which is by all respects a great camera, but the weight was again holding me back. I also sold a Sony because the menu gave me fits and do not want to make that mistake again.

I am very excited to try the 300 out at some upcoming dog events. It looks so easy to handle and pack in a bag, I never really took any of my other gear because I was afraid of dropping it or getting it messed up, even though most of it is weather sealed.

Thanks for the help everyone.



--
And we never failed to fail it was the
easiest thing to do...
Crosby, Stills & Nash

 

[Lepewhi]

Good luck and enjoy! And post pictures of the pups.

 

[Ryan Schwartz]

I'd keep an eye out for Nikon refurb sales on the P950. I nabbed my copy for $400 USD. I have the P900 but have a love/hate relationship due to the NR processing that others have mentioned. I like the P950 for its RAW shooting capabilities and AF improvements so much I put my P900 up for sale, which is listed over in the For Sale forum. If I'm out with a bridge camera and need more than 600mm of my RX10 IV, the P950 is my go-to camera.

Needed 1400mm to get this shot of a red squirrel:

That is a fabulous shot of that squirrel!

That's a great price for the 950. I almost bought the 950, as I got some good recommendations, but its weight is holding me back. I'm a rather shaky sort also and wondered if I would only get good results on a tri-pod, but of course I would not be shooting at full zoom all the time. I think though, if the cameras I got don't satisfy the reach I need I may look for a used copy. As nothing can really make up for being close enough to your subject, at times.

I ordered an FZ300 and a Leica V-Lux Typ 114. I ordered the 300 to use out with the dogs at our agility and NASDA trials where we may be get caught in light rain or be in a dusty barn. I know the Leica is really a rebranded FZ1000 and I was really interested in that camera. The Leica had all original accessories including the manual and a couple of reviewers stated that they felt the JPEG's were a little better than the ones from the FZ1000. Being those two things are important to me I opted for Leica over the FZ1000 copy I had my eye on and it was less than $100 more. I still spent less than I sold my other gear for and it was still much less than the RX10 mkiv. Which is by all respects a great camera, but the weight was again holding me back. I also sold a Sony because the menu gave me fits and do not want to make that mistake again.

I am very excited to try the 300 out at some upcoming dog events. It looks so easy to handle and pack in a bag, I never really took any of my other gear because I was afraid of dropping it or getting it messed up, even though most of it is weather sealed.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Thank you and enjoy the new camera!