Camera Choice.
I bought a Drone recently, which really brought home that my aging DSLR really needs updating to something of a greater spec.
I have a Canon 350d, bought new many many years ago. It has served my need's well.
We walk, ramble, hike, call it what you will, the camera is literally chucked in the rucksack, brought out to record our walks then wallop back in again.
I'm an early riser and have been filling my time whilst waiting for Michelle to wake by reading about cameras all week, and to be honest, I'm confused, even more so now!
I definitely want image stabilisation of some sort, a zoom capability for those not too far away objects of interest.
My budget is £1000, which I know when talking lenses isn't much, is there a Canon plus a lense out there that would suit?
Too many models, I'm lost!
Comments
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This my current choice,
Canon EOS 77D DSLR Camera with 18-135mm IS USM Lens
Would this be a good base to start with, regarding the lense choice and camera body?
How future proof is it?
Is there a better value for money camera out there?
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Have you considered a bridge camera? Quality isn't quite up to DSLR standard but they are very versatile and a lot lighter to carry. All the main manufacturers make them and you can pay anything from £300 to £1700.
I have a Canon 760D plus a variety of lenses, it's a good camera for an amateur but with the addition of the lenses very heavy. If I'm going to a hide I carry the Canon but if walking any distance the bridge camera is the ideal
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Thank you.
I have considered a bridge camera, they to me are a relatively new thing.
On the zoom aspect, not comparing them to a DSLR, would they be adequate for my needs of taking the odd wildlife snap, say cliff top to seas edge, we see a number of wild seals, and also I do like my churches, dont ask why, I have no idea myself, I think it's the "Hand made" element, so I like using a longer lense for close ups of various bits of building, then the whole building.
I suppose a bridge camera could do both, more confusion, too much choice.
Can anyone say what they have and its virtues?
I think I would like a bridge to be able to shoot in raw.
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My bridge camera is a Panasonic FZ330 which as a zoom from 25 to 600 (DSLR equivalent) and costs less than £500. Although I mainly use it for wild life it is quite versatile capturing good travel type shots.
Puffin with sand-eels, apart from a little cropping I haven't manipulated the shot
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I've got a Canon Powershot SX30 bridge camera which has served me well. For comparison with OP's, this is my puffin shot. More often it is down to the photographer rather than the camera so don't get too hung up on spec.
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Wow, that's bloody good that is! (Photo)
I think you have pointed me towards a Bridge, been looking.
Weight savings, I've been saying to Michelle this week whilst out walking that my rucksack is little too heavy.
Oneputt after you pointing me in, what is turning out to be the right direction, I've found I think a camera that could well suit my needs.
I suppose I want a quick draw and shoot type camera the most, rather than Michelle rummaging around in my rucksack for the correct lense, setup and point, but the object of wildlife has pretty much gone!!
Also I've found a hip camera bag, I'm not sure if its compatible with what I'm currently thinking as the ideal for me camera.
Canon SX70 20MP 65x Zoom Bridge Camera
Any comments of choice welcome.
Cyperyacht you would appear to have a family member to the above, judging by your photo you are very happy with it?
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I had (still have) the Canon SX10 Bridge. It’s been a darned good camera but is now 10 years old and technology has moved on. I’ve no doubt the current day equivalent will give great results.
I’ve replaced it with a high end Sony compact which I feel is going to meet my needs better than another bridge.
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I have to confess I don't know anything about the Canon so had a look at reviews, see below. The main problem with a lot of bridge cameras are that they aren't particularly weatherproof
https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/best-bridge-camera
I keep looking at the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV, it's not cheap at between £1100 and £1700 depending where you buy it but it has consistently been top of the reviews.
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Mine is a humble Canon Powershot 700HS, these photos are "as they are" I could go in and enlarge them and they'd still be reasonably sharp. Comparing the Puffin photos is interesting.
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I have a Canon 500D which is now getting on a bit. The mainly use a 15-85mm Canon lens but it does make the outfit heavy especially if walking. However if I use it with the Canon 10-18mm lens its much lighter. However most of my photos are now taken on a Canon G16 because I can pop it into a pocket easily enough. If your interest is in taking wildlife I suspect not really the sort of camera although it did manage to creep up on a Heron! Right click on the picture and select open in new tab to get a better impression.
David
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I have been using my Nikon Coolpix P610 for the last 3 years with really good results.It saves carrying a number of lenses and has a really good zoom for wild life at a distance,was not too expensive as it was a 70th birthday present!!
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Thank you everyone, all contributions I have read with interest.
So as I keep saying we are at Sandringham, last day, boo, but back here in October, yeah😀
Today we drove to the National trust car park, then walked to Blakeney, didn't manage going to the point, far too windy, but, I was taking photos all the way along.
Then after a very invigorating windy, no er gale force walk we then set off to Felbrigg house on the outskirts of Cromer, again taking photos once there.
So I had Oneputts advice regarding Bridge Cameras in mind, and out in the field so to speak, it does actually make a great deal of sense.
I had a need for the zoom capabilities, ye olde lifeboat house on Blakeney point to mention but one, then a more eye perspective lense for the stately home, plus pretty much everything in between.
So yes, sold, Bridge camera it is, I'm looking at the one I suggested, it pretty much ticks my boxes.
So thank you again all, and especially Oneputt, great call.
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As a ps
At the stately home I bought the National Trust, Book of the Coast, theres only flipping Puffins on the back cover!
Cant escape them!!!!!!!
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Welly& Mac
Although I have not used a bridge camera myself, I have seen some very impressive results from several cameras Canon, Panasonic and Nikon.
The main areas to look at are
1 Optical zoom, this will give better results than any longer Digital zoom range.
2 What aperture the lens operates at. I believe the Panasonic cameras have Leica lenses and are F2.8 throughout the range.
3 A very important issue is any delay in the camera system, such as shutter delay. buffering times etc. One guy I spoke to recently explained one of his bridge cameras was great for capturing quality, but took an age to process each image, but his Nikon was very quick in comparison and had an impressive zoom range.
May I suggest you look at the WEX website and select the cameras you have been considering, then use the comparison option. This gives full spec side by side and may assist your choice.
Perhaps you could start with the Nikon Coolpix P1000 Digital Camera which I have seen very good results from. Very good spec and at the top end of your budget. The guy that was using this was able to plonk it on a fence post to steady it and the range was very impressive.
Advertising Blurb - The Nikon Coolpix P1000 is a 16-megapixel camera that makes capturing awe-inspiring photos and 4K movies a breeze. It features an incredibly versatile 125x optical zoom lens (24-3000mm) with a maximum f/2.8 aperture, and if that’s not enough reach, the 250x Dynamic Fine Zoom can digitally extend the focal length to 6000mm. It also has a 5-stop VR system, RAW support and SnapBridge connectivity. All this with a claim of 7 frames per second burst.
Good Luck with your choice
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This is a good website for reviews of cameras of any variety. https://www.dpreview.com/
David
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We do all seem a bit obsessed with sea parrots.
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I've had a quick look on my main research resource, YouTube, at the Nikon P1000, the opening sequence in the link is pretty amazing, Zooooooommmm.
Thought I'd add it for others
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Im in a bit of a quandary.
I think for my sort of photography I'm probably going with the Canon.
I understand it doesn't have the more desirable 1 inch sensor.
But what I have decided to do, is actually go to a shop. 😳
I think seeing them for real, maybe handling them, then knowledgable, hopefully, sales staff, I can come away happy.
Norwich!, on its doorstep yesterday, never realised, I could have called in on the shop.
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I have recently got the Panasonic Lumix fz330 mentioned above and would just like to add the following points that sold it to me.
It is dust and splash proof , previous cameras I have had have had dust ingress into the zoom lens. Not full water immersion obviously but great if you get caught in a shower.
The zoom has a constant f2.8 aperture available from 25 to 600 mm. Great for wildlife pics.
Imagine getting a DSLR with that, cost and weight wise!
Ultra fast focussing and shutter speed good enough for action shots. Unlike my previous bridge camera. Also Lightweight enough for an easy carry.
And last but not least good reviews from most quarters.
Pic has been cropped, don't think image resizer is too good as original shows water droplets flying off. Plus be prepared force steep learning curve if you want to use many of the features
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My daughters partner does professional photography and swears by Canon, but others use different makes and generally they admit the true difference is personal and not really technical.
I would have thought though that your current lenses would fit a new body and that is probably all you need assuming you do not need extra ones.
There are literally dozens of offers out there so going through the different retailers web sites and Amazon is probably the best bet.
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I always look at Grey Imports for best prices. Example the Sony RX is roughly £1700 from U.K. sources whereas using someone like infinity cameras the exact same camera, same specification is £1200. The same sort of prices apply across the range of cameras and lenses.
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So I went ahead and bought the Canon SX70, erm, yesterday.
So I dont have a tripod, yet, but undaunted took these pictures of the moon, not brilliant, gives an idea of the zoom.
Had to make them into a video, so they pass by too quickly but you will get an idea.
Ps, camera was in Auto mode, pictures blue toothed to my mobile phone, made into a short film on same, uploaded to YouTube via 4g.
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That's excellent. I expect a tripod will add some extra stillness if you give it a go at some point. I've got one and as I know my hands aren't always steady it would probably improve the photos I take but I tend to leave it at home.!
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Thanks brue.
I nipped down to Argos yesterday and bought the cheapest tripod they had, the head isn't very smooth, it will be ok as a spare I suppose, but at a high zoom I couldn't really find my subject with any accuracy.
But.....
I bought from Amazon a Manfrotto MVKBRFT-live with a MVH400AH fluid head.
No idea what I have purchased, seemed reassuringly expensive, but doesn't arrive until Friday, hence the Argos trip.
The Canon SX70 is taking some getting used to, technology has certainly moved on at a pace, slowly making inroads into the download only manual, but yes, sound advice regarding a tripod, the capabilities of the camera on a smooth tripod with the inbuilt function of bluetooth, which not only allows taking of pictures but zoom control too, should add another dimension to my photography, other than point and shoot that is, oh and the drone!
Going to need a bigger rucksack, and a pair of legs too.
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Tripod Moon
On a tripod, bluetooth telephoto/picture control.
260x digital zoom!!!!
Well I'm impressed.
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