Thanks for all the replies. My head says £400 on the FZ330 (or less used) is the sensible option, and the least amount lost if it turns out I’m either crap at photography or lose interest in it. And also, if it goes the other way, and I want to trade it in or supplement it with a mirrorless camera and posh lens, that would be more palatable if I’ve not spent £1000+ on the first one.
Joe,
When you first buy a camera, you have no idea what you're doing with it in the sense of what conditions and scenarios will lead to a decent picture. After using it a bit, you look back at when you were first taking pictures and think why didn't I realise what I know now. It seems obvious after a while but it really isn't when you first start. I suppose that's the organic learning process that we all have to go through.
The reason for saying that is the starting point when you buy any camera shouldn't be the camera itself, but rather how you're going to use a camera and this should drive the type of camera you buy.
Considerations such as how much spare time you have, are you able to drop everything when there is good light, the types of birds you're primarily looking to photograph and their habitat, how agile you are/health conditions, how you're going to take pictures, e.g. standing up or sitting/lying down, and so on.
All of these will determine how much you can get out of a bridge camera/superzoom and it follows whether or not it is the right buy for you. One of the most important is: when the sun turns up, can you get out of the house/away from work with your camera? If not, then a bridge camera/superzoom is going to be of limited use to you.
To illustrate: in the event I have a few hours spare on a cloudy day, I take my camera in case it brightens up and if doesn't I don't even get it out of my bag because I know that it's not going to be a picture worth keeping and therefore I'm wasting my time and I'm getting on birds' nerves for no good reason. I use that time for just watching or looking for interesting places where something interesting may turn up. It follows that if I wasn't able to get out when there is good light, the Nikon P950, or any other bridge camera/superzoom for that matter; would be no good to me.
When you first start taking pictures, the light or whatever won't matter. You'll be happy to get some pictures of birds. As time goes on, you'll look at other people's pictures and think why can't I do that. You'll read, learn and so on and you'll improve. One day you'll get a really nice picture and you'll realise it was taken in good light. In your mind, you'll have set a bit of a standard for yourself and you'll be thinking: "when I take pictures, this is the type of picture I want and expect". The problem is, if you're only able to get out on the odd sunny day because of home and work commitments, then you're not going to be able to meet those expectations you have set for yourself because more often than not you'll be taking pictures when it's cloudy.
There's always the chance of course that you think as long as you get some pictures then the quality doesn't matter so much, but I think this goes against human nature and trying to do as well as we can, and I reckon, like most people; the quality of the pictures will matter to you and it will only be a couple of weeks of taking pictures before you're thinking: I need to do better than this.
You may think that a buying a budget level entry bridge camera, e.g. FZ330, is saving you money. Actually it could be money down the drain and it may even deter you from pursuing what could become a very worthwhile hobby giving you a lot of pleasure. As said, in the event you usually get out on a cloudy day due to commitments, then a bridge camera/superzoom will not get you decent pictures and you could think it's not for you but actually the issue would be that you have the wrong type of camera for your situation.
You mentioned that you're not sure it will be for you. I was like that and that was part of the reason I bought the FZ330. You'll find yourself in some beautiful places, you'll meet some interesting people with interesting stories to tell who have devoted a lifetime's spare time to watching birds and so on, you'll enjoy watching the birds floating around and singing on a nice sunny day, you'll enjoy just being out in nature and walking. There's a lot to enjoy and make it worthwhile.
Were I you, I would post exactly how much time you have, what commitments you have and the types of places you'll be going to watching birds. People with experience of using bridge cameras/superzooms, and people who have have experience of DSLR, and people who have experience of both; will be able to give you a better idea of whether buying the FZ330, or any other bridge camera/superzoom, is money well spent or money down the drain.
