bridge camera

petebuster1

petebuster1

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peter
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Ok so i have my 60d and sigma 18-250mm macro for 70% of what i want to do and my ixus 1000hs for my carry everywhere camera, now i need a bridge for those zooming moments.
As much as i would love those zoom len's for my 60d they are way beyond most peoples budget and unless your rich or a pro i see little point in them so like most of us i have to go for the cheaper alternative.
I had the canon sx40hs which i was pretty happy with and was really hoping when canon brought out the sx50 it would be ideal but have been most disappointed, they seem to just want outdo nikon on the zoom range rather than improve the camera so for the first time canon are not in the race
Its basically between the panosonic fz200 and the fuji x-s1.Does anyone have either to give me their impressions ?
 
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The panasonic FZ150 is supposed to be very good, the FZ200 has some improvements over the previous model (very new), issues with jpegs compression incamera from what I've read, but good RAW images. There are several other camera's with longer zooms like the Nikon P510 or Canon SX260 HS, but by all accounts (reviews) the panasonic FZ150 with its f2.8 aperature is very good (although like most bridge camera's its not perfect).

The FZ200 still too new to get a clear picture of its performance but the initial review paint a good picture. http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_fz200-review
 
I have a Fuji HS30EXR bridge with a (35mm/FF equivalent) zoom range from 24mm to 720mm. In lowish light, AF is patchy much above the 500mm mark but below that, it's fast and accurate. As you would expect, high ISOs are not its strongest point but up to 800 is very useable and eve above that it's not too bad at smaller print (and screen,digital frame) sizes. Colours are accurate and distortion is acceptable at the short end. At lower ISO settings, it provides JPEGs that print well up to A3+ straight out of the camera.

I wrote a fuller review in the reviews section - worth searching it out to find a fuller report.
 
I have two Fuji bridge cameras and want to move away from them as they can't come anywhere close to a SLR. My main bridge is the now ageing 9600. Ok at the time but things have moved on. I find I have to photoshop any pictures I want to keep, usually levels, vibrance and perhaps a bit of sharpening. Look at my Flickr and you will see what I mean.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/metroman2/
 
I got a great deal on a virtually new Fuji x-s1, it has the best build quality and looks to take good image quality so should do me fine, obviously its not taking over from my 60d but to get the equivalent focal range with a dslr lens will cost a small fortune
 
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Cagey75 said:
These images here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cagey75/sets/72157627650813544/

were all shot using my old s1000fd fuji. You can buy it now for about £60, and it did the job when I couldn't afford a dslr. The more up to date bridge cams will offer much more, better overall quality and HD video.
Click to expand...

some great pics there. What do we need dslrs for:D. As i mentioned at the start i had the sx40 and the pics were pretty impressive, but its focusing had some issues at times.If Canon had left the x35 zoom,improved the optics/lens, build quality and given it a proper 3 inch screen they would have the best bridge on the market but they had to go for the extra zoom.
Shall look forward to see what the x-s1 can do or should i say what i can do
 
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i use a fz200 and they take some beating i think the only other one i would entertain is the sx50 ,by the way i use m8 for my pics normally.
neil
 
Pete has already chosen the X-S1, and is now in a pickle over something to carry more regularly than it, as per his other thread.
Having been a Panny user since 2003 with the FZ10, then the FZ50 (pre-owned), you'd ahve thought I should've been in line for the FZ200 - not a chance!
Complete toy of a bridge camera, and nothing like the previous engineering and build of the earlier FZs.
Never was a fan of the Fuji way of doing things back then, but thank goodness someone had the balls to propose, and then convince the marketing & finance depts to produce the X-S1.
It's not perfect, but by God is it a properly designed and engineered bridge camera, in a world full of plasticky miniature toys.
 
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