What type of camera should I get?

[Tinkjon]

I want a step up from my iPhone 11 but not sure whether to go for DSLR, mirrorless, bridge or point & shoot.

I want to take landscapes but also be able to zoom in for wildlife shots. I'm probably not going to bother with changing lenses although I'm not averse to the idea of having the option. I don't want to learn about apertures and shutter speeds and so on, which makes me think a point & shoot would be best. But am I right in saying that those aren't great for zooming in to snap distant objects? I'm not bothered about an incredibly close zoom, just something that significantly better than my iPhone.

thanks!

 

[bodeswell]

I want a step up from my iPhone 11 but not sure whether to go for DSLR, mirrorless, bridge or point & shoot.

I want to take landscapes but also be able to zoom in for wildlife shots. I'm probably not going to bother with changing lenses although I'm not averse to the idea of having the option. I don't want to learn about apertures and shutter speeds and so on, which makes me think a point & shoot would be best. But am I right in saying that those aren't great for zooming in to snap distant objects? I'm not bothered about an incredibly close zoom, just something that significantly better than my iPhone.

thanks!

You should look at the Nikon Coolpix line. They are point and shoot bridge cameras that can really zoom. You will either need good light or good software to make the most of their long ends. You can do it.

 

[number_5]

It's a bit dated, but you can look into RX100, either VII or VI. It gets you to 200mm. Or much bigger RX10IV, up to 600mm. They are optical and not digital zooms, and should produce 'cleaner' images than the phone for the longer focal length. You might still want to run through some phone filter apps (e.g., snap seed, etc); iPhone does a lot of post processing for you, and the camera does a lot less.

... I don't want to learn about apertures and shutter speeds and so on, which makes me think a point & shoot would be best.

Unfortunately, you still want to learn those parameters to make the most out of the camera. Yes, even the P&S, especially the advanced compact/bridge. The cameras have fully auto options, but often, they don't pick the right parameters.

 

[Phaser]

I want a step up from my iPhone 11 but not sure whether to go for DSLR, mirrorless, bridge or point & shoot.

I would go with a mirrorless option with a Micro Four Thirds sensor. I find this sensor size to be a good balance in-between a point and shoot and Full Frame.

I want to take landscapes but also be able to zoom in for wildlife shots. I'm probably not going to bother with changing lenses although I'm not averse to the idea of having the option.

A "Superzoom" lens would likely be your best option, then.

I don't want to learn about apertures and shutter speeds and so on, which makes me think a point & shoot would be best. But am I right in saying that those aren't great for zooming in to snap distant objects? I'm not bothered about an incredibly close zoom, just something that significantly better than my iPhone.

OM System OM-5 Mark II + Olympus 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 lens would be my recommendation. It's a well equipped camera that's not too large with weather sealing and won't hold you back as you learn. You can start shooting in full auto mode, but it's a great camera to learn with if you change your mind.

 

[Planterz]

Any camera can be used as a "point and shoot", just put it in "Auto".

The thing that separates what we call a "point and shoot" camera, other than settings options, is sensor size, which directly relates to camera size. Better images come from bigger sensors, which require bigger optics, which means bigger cameras.

We're missing a couple key points of info from you on what type of camera, and what cameras to recommend; how much you're willing to spend, and how big/heavy you're willing to go. Also, if you're willing to buy used or you only want to buy new (a lot of great cameras are discontinued).

 

[New Wrycuda]

I want a step up from my iPhone 11 but not sure whether to go for DSLR, mirrorless, bridge or point & shoot.

DSLR cameras are just about obsolete, particularly if you are thinking of buying a new model. Also, you will eventually find bridge and P&S rather limiting as you gain experience.

I consider Sony mirrorless, such as the a6xxx or A7xxx series to be the best of the bunch, and there’s a good range of lenses available for these. A prime lens such as FE 35mm f/2.8 is a good place to start (fits either size body). A moderate zoom lens such as the FE 70-200mm f/4 is suitable for (cooperative) wildlife.
Some of the Sony options may stretch your budget, but you haven’t indicated how much you expect to spend.

I want to take landscapes but also be able to zoom in for wildlife shots. I'm probably not going to bother with changing lenses although I'm not averse to the idea of having the option. I don't want to learn about apertures and shutter speeds and so on, which makes me think a point & shoot would be best. But am I right in saying that those aren't great for zooming in to snap distant objects? I'm not bothered about an incredibly close zoom, just something that significantly better than my iPhone.

Don’t underestimate the capabilities of Auto mode on the better cameras, but you should aim to learn about apertures and shutter speeds if you want to make the most of photography. Honestly, it’s not as involved as some will tell you, and about the same complexity as setting temperature and time when cooking with an oven, except that there’s greater latitude with a camera.

There are some simple rules of thumb for camera settings, and the modern implementation of ISO is a good safety net (consider it to be like a sensitivity control, but it’s not).

Finally, don’t listen to those who might tell you to use Manual mode.




Mouse over lower left to see details.




Close to full auto, high ISO.

 

[Bohemian_storyteller]

I want a step up from my iPhone 11 but not sure whether to go for DSLR, mirrorless, bridge or point & shoot.

I want to take landscapes but also be able to zoom in for wildlife shots. I'm probably not going to bother with changing lenses although I'm not averse to the idea of having the option. I don't want to learn about apertures and shutter speeds and so on, which makes me think a point & shoot would be best. But am I right in saying that those aren't great for zooming in to snap distant objects? I'm not bothered about an incredibly close zoom, just something that significantly better than my iPhone.

thanks!

If you dont want to learn how to use camera and how photography works, then stay with smartphone

 

[JNK 100]

I want a step up from my iPhone 11 but not sure whether to go for DSLR, mirrorless, bridge or point & shoot.

I want to take landscapes but also be able to zoom in for wildlife shots. I'm probably not going to bother with changing lenses although I'm not averse to the idea of having the option. I don't want to learn about apertures and shutter speeds and so on, which makes me think a point & shoot would be best. But am I right in saying that those aren't great for zooming in to snap distant objects? I'm not bothered about an incredibly close zoom, just something that significantly better than my iPhone.

thanks!

If you dont want to learn how to use camera and how photography works, then stay with smartphone

I agree - without being bothered to learn the basics it is better to just point your phone around.