Used Bridge Camera Options (2 Viewers)

[mattpitts74]

Hi All,

I'm a long-time DSLR shooter, but not for birds. My bird photography tends to be out on a walk and spot something a fair way off and would be good to quickly snap a reasonable pic for ID and share it online. My friend has the Nikon P1000 and has managed to get some cracking shoots. I have tried that camera and it's tricky coming from a DSLR, as its slow in comparison. But I can totally see the value of having that reach is amazing for those quick snaps, especially of stationary birds at a distance.

So I guess I'm interested in grabbing something secondhand mainly for spotting and ID purposes to easily carry around, but I don't think it would be either P1000, or the P900, but I'm open to being persuaded if they are the best options.

Based on my reading of other bridge camera alternatives there is the Sony RX10 or various Panasonic models or various Canon Powershots old and newer. Sony has limited reach and is very expensive, Panasonic also has limited reach, Canon seems closer, but the image quality isn't as good??

Any thoughts from the owners of any of these cameras would be much appreciated

 

[MelospizaMelodiaFan]

There are a handful of models. From just Panasonic alone, there is the FZ300, FZ80/82. I use the 12 year old FZ150, and it is still usable, especially for record shots and ID.

You can check out the Bridge Camera Photography Showcase to see what others are using. If you are not looking for the best image quality or low light performance, any used bridge camera with enough zoom that is easy to acquire, will be satisfactory.

 

[Talster]

I've owned a couple of Panasonic Bridge Cameras and I have been extremely happy with them. All the ones I've owned have had Leica lenses in them. I firstly owned the FZ28 and later (think it was around 2014) I purchased the FZ200 and I still own this and use it from time to time. It's been an excellent camera, and takes beautifully crisp sharp detailed images. Here's a link to one of my FlickR albums, with some images I took with the Panasonic FZ200.

Panasonic DMC-FZ200 set

 

[Gzoladz74]

Hi All,

I'm a long-time DSLR shooter, but not for birds. My bird photography tends to be out on a walk and spot something a fair way off and would be good to quickly snap a reasonable pic for ID and share it online. My friend has the Nikon P1000 and has managed to get some cracking shoots. I have tried that camera and it's tricky coming from a DSLR, as its slow in comparison. But I can totally see the value of having that reach is amazing for those quick snaps, especially of stationary birds at a distance.

So I guess I'm interested in grabbing something secondhand mainly for spotting and ID purposes to easily carry around, but I don't think it would be either P1000, or the P900, but I'm open to being persuaded if they are the best options.

Based on my reading of other bridge camera alternatives there is the Sony RX10 or various Panasonic models or various Canon Powershots old and newer. Sony has limited reach and is very expensive, Panasonic also has limited reach, Canon seems closer, but the image quality isn't as good??

Any thoughts from the owners of any of these cameras would be much appreciated

I own a P1000 and love it. But you must be aware and accept the compromises associated to a small sensor, and a camera that it is now +5 years old (you seem to be).
I bought it many years ago for walks in the park (a it was actually a P900, which I then upgraded to a P1000) and within a few weeks that was all I was using, to do exactly for what you describe...try to get a reasonable shot, id and online sharing, in a light (vs DSLR + long lens) and portable package. The P950 is even lighter with shorter reach.
I find it a lot of fun and easy to use (i.e. just snap and go on birdwatching mode), but it also has many other features that makes it quite capable...I have even used it for camera trapping, badger photography and even as a telescope when I could not carry one (4k video would give you even more reach and it can be very useful for ids).
I did hesitate a lot before buying it as it is a camera as there were many negative comments online. But after seeing some pictures from users like us I decided to buy it and have not looked back.

 

[Mikbul]

If you are used to a DSLR you won't be happy with a point & shoot! (Canon 300L lens)

 

[njlarsen]

Check this thread, and especially the posts from Steve Babbs, who switched from a canon dSLR to the Sony. He has later switched to an OM1 m43 system.

Sony RX10 1V the new boy.

http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sony-announces-new-rx10m4/

www.birdforum.net

Niels

 

[PaulCountyDurham]

Hi All,

I'm a long-time DSLR shooter, but not for birds. My bird photography tends to be out on a walk and spot something a fair way off and would be good to quickly snap a reasonable pic for ID and share it online. My friend has the Nikon P1000 and has managed to get some cracking shoots. I have tried that camera and it's tricky coming from a DSLR, as its slow in comparison. But I can totally see the value of having that reach is amazing for those quick snaps, especially of stationary birds at a distance.

So I guess I'm interested in grabbing something secondhand mainly for spotting and ID purposes to easily carry around, but I don't think it would be either P1000, or the P900, but I'm open to being persuaded if they are the best options.

Based on my reading of other bridge camera alternatives there is the Sony RX10 or various Panasonic models or various Canon Powershots old and newer. Sony has limited reach and is very expensive, Panasonic also has limited reach, Canon seems closer, but the image quality isn't as good??

Any thoughts from the owners of any of these cameras would be much appreciated

A selection of pictures I've taken with the Nikon P950. It's a good camera, pretty much the same camera as the P900. I'm going the other way to you in that I have a mirrorless camera and lens on order. There's only so much these cameras can do, but they're far from merely record shot affairs.

The P950 is very easy to carry around. I have it 'round my neck and there's no weight to it all.

 

[Missy_MT_AK]

I purchased a used Fujifilm Finepix 9400 with 50x optical. Since it was inexpensive I take it everywhere with me.
It is a 16mp camera, I think the most significant limitation is fastest shutter speed in 1/1700 second.
Here are some cropped pics from here in Montana:
Drake mallard from about 15 meters:

Great blue heron from about 40 meters:


American Coots from about 200 meters

 

[PaulCountyDurham]

I purchased a used Fujifilm Finepix 9400 with 50x optical. Since it was inexpensive I take it everywhere with me.
It is a 16mp camera, I think the most significant limitation is fastest shutter speed in 1/1700 second.
Here are some cropped pics from here in Montana:
Drake mallard from about 15 meters:
View attachment 1570090
Great blue heron from about 40 meters:
View attachment 1570091

American Coots from about 200 meters
View attachment 1570093

Nice pictures, Missy!

 

[robinlanark]

Hi All,

I'm a long-time DSLR shooter, but not for birds. My bird photography tends to be out on a walk and spot something a fair way off and would be good to quickly snap a reasonable pic for ID and share it online. My friend has the Nikon P1000 and has managed to get some cracking shoots. I have tried that camera and it's tricky coming from a DSLR, as its slow in comparison. But I can totally see the value of having that reach is amazing for those quick snaps, especially of stationary birds at a distance.

So I guess I'm interested in grabbing something secondhand mainly for spotting and ID purposes to easily carry around, but I don't think it would be either P1000, or the P900, but I'm open to being persuaded if they are the best options.

Based on my reading of other bridge camera alternatives there is the Sony RX10 or various Panasonic models or various Canon Powershots old and newer. Sony has limited reach and is very expensive, Panasonic also has limited reach, Canon seems closer, but the image quality isn't as good??

Any thoughts from the owners of any of these cameras would be much appreciated

I tried a few bridge cameras and found the Canon SX70 to be the best for me with my limited budget. Great user interface EVF. I am amazed and continually pleased at how quick it is at focusing and zooming, and the shots are excellent for it's class. And it does Raw, which i don't use.

 

[Gzoladz74]

For bridge with a compact sensor the Nikon P1000, now discontinued, or the P950 are best in class. Raw (I shoot 80% jpeg), focus ring, flash hotshoe (which I use to place a remote shooter release sensor for camara trapping), very decent flash, 3000mm/2000mm optical reach and very good close up mode. A very solid all rounder and a lot of fun to use IMHO.

 

[PaulCountyDurham]

A very solid all rounder and a lot of fun to use IMHO.

And, very convenient/flexible. You can walk around with it 'round your neck all day long and it's no problem. I suppose it depends on whether or not you're a walker.