Which camera?

Discussion in 'Photography Talk' started by mowgley, Sep 19, 2015.

  1. mowgley

    mowgley Total Gardener

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    Looking for some unbiased advice :)As you all may know I've been looking into getting myself a new camera for awhile now. But with one thing and another it's been put off. Now I know a few users on here use dslr cameras with some fantastic pictures as a result.
    With bridge cameras bridging the gap is a dslr really necessary?
    I've currently got a 8 year old Panasonic TZ3 which on the whole takes pretty good pics but within the last 6 month I've been going to various motor sports events and the camera struggles to focus on faster moving objects
    Now I've kinda narrowed my choices down to these. I know that if I go down the dslr route I will have to buy a telephoto lens for Motorsport

    Bridge cameras

    Panasonic fz1000
    Panasonic fz330

    DSLR

    Canon 700d
    Nikon d5300
    Pentax k50
     
  2. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    That depends on what you're using the camera for, mowgley. I'm a long serving Pentax fan and have the K5 at the moment while thinking of getting the Pentax K3II, so my unbiased[?:heehee:] advice would point towards the Pentax K50. The advantage to a Pentax is that there is a 40 year range of lenses of great "glass" that can be got quite cheaply. I have a collection of 22 lenses from 18mm to 500mm for the K5 and having such a choice of lenses is fantastic.
     
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    • Bilbo675

      Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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      Hi Mowgley

      I have a Panasonic FZ200 myself and its an amazing camera, superb for wildlife and macro work, especially with accessories that are available. The FZ300/330 (same camera) is its successor with a few improvements, reviews although very positive don't suggest, for me anyway that its worth splashing the cash to upgrade. I have read that the FZ1000 although also a great camera is better suited for landscape and low light photography and is more bulky than the FZ200 & FZ300

      All depends on your budget and what you want it for but you could well pick up an FZ200 for a very good price now with the releases of the FZ1000 and FZ300

      Hope this is of some help :biggrin:
       
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      • strongylodon

        strongylodon Old Member

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        I have had a Panasonic fz150 for a few years now and the one thing it falls down on is slow auto focus and shutter lag, so taking anything fast moving is a waste of time, I'm not sure if any of the newer Panasonic bridge camera are any better.
         
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        • Bilbo675

          Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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          The auto focus on the FZ200 is pretty good and I have no complaints personally, with 12fps possible at full resolution and no noticeable shutter lag its more than capable of shooting fast moving subjects, I've taken plenty of shots of airplanes and birds etc that I'm happy with. Others of course may not be :snork:
           
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          • mowgley

            mowgley Total Gardener

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            Thx all for your valued opinions.
            I'll have to read up on them all more and go and if possible try some of them out.
            Focus speed is a key thing for me as wanting to take lots of pictures of F1 and endurance racing next year.
            Is going down the second hand route a viable option with lenses
            Here's a few pics from Donington last week

            image.jpg

            This has been edited
            image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg
             
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              Last edited: Sep 20, 2015
            • Sheal

              Sheal Total Gardener

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              I have Canon cameras Mowgley. My DSLR is the 1100D and the bridge camera is the SX50.

              The largest lens I have for my DSLR is a 250mm, anything beyond that was out of my price range so early last year I looked into bridge cameras. The thing that worried me before buying was whether the camera could be hand held stable enough when taking distance shots. The two pictures below were both hand held shots with the SX50 but the camera has to be really steady to keep them in focus, ideally a tripod is best but that isn't always possible.

              This first one, Snaefell Mountain, was taken at dusk at 4.40pm on 28th December 2014 with the bridge camera. Distance approximately 7 miles. I couldn't see the para-glider on the right hand side until this picture was on my computer screen.
              194.JPG

              This shot of Peel Castle was taken at 3pm, 24th May, 2015. Distance approximately 5 miles, taken on a hazy day.
              219.JPG

              Any moving target particularly birds and wildlife I find nigh on impossible to shoot at great distance. The electronic viewfinder with the bridge camera set to automatic is too slow in it's responses. I still prefer to use my DSLR when taking shots of any moving target as the viewfinder isn't electronic. I have eyesight problems and use automatic focusing on both cameras.

              If I had to choose between both cameras it would be a very close decision as they both have good and bad points but I think I would go for my 1100D the DSLR because I have more control over it's actions and reactions. A telephoto lens would be a must even though they cost an arm and a leg second hand as well as new. I had started a search on the American market for a lens before getting the bridge camera and at that point both new and second hand prices were almost half what they are here in Britain. Import duties would have added quite a bit but my son lives there and would have done the buying and posting for me. :)

              Test driving a bridge camera is a must, the responses are different to a DSLR.
               
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                Last edited: Sep 20, 2015
              • wiseowl

                wiseowl FRIENDLY ADMIN Staff Member

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                • mowgley

                  mowgley Total Gardener

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                  Yes I know @wiseowl this is one of the reasons it's in my choices due to your fantastic shots.
                  Is the Panasonic capable of great panning shots?
                   
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                  • wiseowl

                    wiseowl FRIENDLY ADMIN Staff Member

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                    Good evening @mowgley my friend its capable of anything a DSLR can do only better:sofa::heehee: and I don't say that Lightly:smile:
                     
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                    • Bilbo675

                      Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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                      @mowgley search for Graham Houghton on YouTube or join the FZ200 page on Facebook, he has done extensive and detailed test shots and reviews on the FZ200 and FZ1000, on the Facebook page he has also started doing test shots with the new FZ300/330 and today has revealed the FZ300 is producing better shots than the FZ1000 and in some settings better than the FZ200, however the FZ200 is still holding its own and producing better shots in other settings. Phew....:snork:
                       
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                      • wiseowl

                        wiseowl FRIENDLY ADMIN Staff Member

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                        Good morning @Bilbo675 my friend yes he often asks yours truly for advice:lunapic 130165696578242 5: FZ 1000 larger sensor/more pixels ,FZ300 never came close to the FZ1000,only woos opinion of course;) You get what you pay for:heehee:
                         
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                        • Bilbo675

                          Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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                          :lunapic 130165696578242 5:, interesting @wiseowl

                          In all fairness he has just posted some more test shots with different settings (higher iso i think) and the FZ1000 comes out on top with far superior photos :)

                          Hope your having a good day :spinning:
                           
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                          • wiseowl

                            wiseowl FRIENDLY ADMIN Staff Member

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                            Good afternoon @Bilbo675 my friend yes thank you ,I can get about a bit ,mind you it takes me 20 minutes to get to the top of the garden but its well worth the effort,I am just looking for a cable release for the FZ100 on Amazon,enjoy your day my friend:smile::blue thumb:
                             
                          • Bilbo675

                            Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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                            @wiseowl I got a cabled remote from Amazon for my FZ200 for around £10, its ideal for taking shots of the moon etc with a tripod set up. I know there are also wireless remotes for between £20 & £30 :)
                             
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