[stockhead]

I,m looking for a good bridge camera,for taking pic,s of birds and wildlife. I have narrowed it down to three. The panasonic fz150, the cannon sx40 or nikon 510. Any sugestions. Thanks.

[KCFoggin]

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum

You might want to read the thread listed below and if you don't get your answer there, start a thread in that section

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread....ghlight=bridge

[delia todd]

Hi stockhead and a warm welcome from me too.

I've moved your post to the Cameras and Photography forum - I'm sure you'll soon get the information you need.

I subscribed you to this thread so you don't loose track of it.

[scodgerott]

Hi Stockhead. I currently use a Panasonic FZ150 and thinks its the best of the "super zooms" for bird photography. It has faster than all the other cameras and that's really important if you are trying to get birds in flight. However it doesn't have as long a zoom as the others and that may be an important factor in your decision. By the way, the FZ200 is about to be released within 12 hours, but it has the same zoom as the FZ150. If you do a search on the FZ200 there's quite a few references to it on the web now, including pictures, but of course it doesn't look all that different from the FZ150.

[speckled wood]

Work a look at this thread, I'm not a Canon enthusiast but Roy C has made some impressive shots with his Canon SX40

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread....213076&page=11

[Roy C]

I have been shooting with DSLR's for years now but got a SX40 a couple of weeks ago. I must say for such a small sensor it has impressed me a lot. high ISO performance is good up to ISO800 which was a mega surprise (see swallow shot below at ISO 800). Obviously not up to DSLR standards but a great little walkabout and it is easily hand holdable at full zoom (840mm 35mm equivalent).
Still learning but here are some of my first snaps with it. All hand held at full zoom.

[Roy C]

I forgot to mention that the SX40 has a couple of built-in digital teleconverters - not played around with them much but attached is one I took with the 1.5x tc (1260mm). Not too bad when you are reach limited.

[njlarsen]

Originally Posted by Roy C

I forgot to mention that the SX40 has a couple of built-in digital teleconverters - not played around with them much but attached is one I took with the 1.5x tc (1260mm). Not too bad when you are reach limited.

In all fairness, you find similar functionality with the panasonic range

Niels

[stockhead]

Originally Posted by scodgerott

Hi Stockhead. I currently use a Panasonic FZ150 and thinks its the best of the "super zooms" for bird photography. It has faster than all the other cameras and that's really important if you are trying to get birds in flight. However it doesn't have as long a zoom as the others and that may be an important factor in your decision. By the way, the FZ200 is about to be released within 12 hours, but it has the same zoom as the FZ150. If you do a search on the FZ200 there's quite a few references to it on the web now, including pictures, but of course it doesn't look all that different from the FZ150.

Thanks for the Info Scodgerott. Will check out the Panasonic FZ200. The SX40 Canon sounds good too.

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by njlarsen

In all fairness, you find similar functionality with the panasonic range

Niels

Yep,I suspect you will find it on all of these little P&P Cameras no matter what the make.I have tried a few shots with the digital zoom (e.g. digital converters) on the SX40 but I see it as very much a desperate measure with some novelty value and cannot see myself using it much. I posted the sample shot in case anyone would be satisfied with the IQ.
I must admit I never even looked at the FZ150 as the focal length was too short for me - at its longest it is equal to a 375mm lens on a 1.6 crop Camera and I know from experience in the DSLR world that this is too short for my walkabout style (The SX40 is akin to a 525mm lens on a 1.6 cropper so significantly longer). As I said earlier I was surprised at the performance of the SX40 but for anyone wanting the very best it is no substitute for a good DSLR set-up.

[Amarillo]

Interesting points there Roy, I like my FZ38 and my natural inclination is to go for the FZ200 as an upgrade, but the focal length of the SX40 is making me have second thoughts...

have thought long and hard about the DSLR set up, but the best camera is the one that you have with you and I think I see myself as more of an opportunist photographer than someone who goes out with the intention of getting particular shots.

[Hor Kee]

Fujifilm's HS30 is also one to consider. The advantage it has is manual zoom control, compared to the three cameras you mentioned that retract the lens all the way back once powered off.

[Amarillo]

agree that sounds like a good point, but it doesn't seem to be as highly rated in most areas though

[Hor Kee]

That's typical Fuji to me - great innovative ideas but questionable execution.

[jimthomson]

I chose the Panasonic FZ-150 as my superzoom. Main reason was the frame rate and the ability to shoot raw. It also does very well with the 1.7x converter lens which you can add.
The specs on the FZ-200 make it worth waiting for assuming that the IQ is as good as the FZ-150. The better EVF and the constant F2.8 lens are a real improvement on the FZ-150.

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by Hor Kee

That's typical Fuji to me - great innovative ideas but questionable execution.

I think that the issue is that you have to use the different cameras in different ways, all of them will have areas of strength and areas of weakness. my FZ45 sadly turned out to be less robust than either the Fuji HS10 or HS20. It also seemed to be vulnerable to switching itself on when in the bag.

The real point that sealed it for me with the Fujis was the manual zoom.

The issue for me now with the Panasonics is that they are not matching the zoom ratios of either the Fuji or the Canon, as it stands were I in the market for a new superzoom now I would probably choose the Canon SX40. Roy C's photos on other threads do illustrate the capability of the SX40.

I would add that the Nikon 510 built in GPS would be a selling point for me but sadly from what I have read the camera's overall performance fall well short of the SX40.

[AndyM]

Originally Posted by Hor Kee

Fujifilm's HS30 is also one to consider. The advantage it has is manual zoom control, compared to the three cameras you mentioned that retract the lens all the way back once powered off.

Forgive me if I have taken this the wrong way but are you saying that the lens remains extended when you power off? Don't much like the sound of idea of that if that's how it works.

Both the P500/510 and the SX40 have the option to 'save' the last zoom setting so can automatically extend to full zoom at power up.

Andy.

[njlarsen]

Originally Posted by AndyM

Forgive me if I have taken this the wrong way but are you saying that the lens remains extended when you power off? Don't much like the sound of idea of that if that's how it works.

Both the P500/510 and the SX40 have the option to 'save' the last zoom setting so can automatically extend to full zoom at power up.

Andy.

So does the FZ models.

However, regarding the Fuji.
That is not too different from how a dSLR lens or my 100-300 mm lens in m43 works: there is a ring you can manually change the zoom setting no matter if the camera is on or off. That means that when I walk around the the camera hanging from its strap I leave the 100-300 extended, when needed I just turn on the camera body and the camera is ready to shoot. If I want to store the camera away I zoom to 100 without having to turn the camera on.

Niels

[AndyM]

Originally Posted by speckled wood

I would add that the Nikon 510 built in GPS would be a selling point for me but sadly from what I have read the camera's overall performance fall well short of the SX40.

When I was trying to justify going for the P510 over the SX40, the GPS feature actually became something of a 'con' rather than a 'pro'. I read several reports of failed GPS readings and use of this function eating away at the battery life! It's looks like it's a trade off. To keep the GPS readings accurate, it needs to retain power thus draining the battery.

See; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dFOn...feature=relmfu for comments on GPS etc. - about 3.30mins in.

Andy.

[warren30]

I have spent few months reading reviews and trying the cameras I went for the nikon p510 it felt better in my hand I would get more use out of the longer zoom then the quick focus.it is alot slower on p510 will be hard to take pictures of bird in flight,have seen some great bird in flight pictures on it thou.if you want a faster camera fz150 would be the one.