"Super zoom compacts"

Cobra

Cobra

In Memoriam. TPer Emeritus
Admin
Messages
114,434
Name
The real Chris
Edit My Images
No
Ok so after a few days of reading through the owners threads and trawling the web, I am even more confused!
I'm to buy a so called super zoom instead of dragging my Canon kit around the country with me. (Imminent)
I don't need fancy stuff like WiFi etc, but it seems that a lot come with this as standard.

I'm not interested in the HD movie thing either, just something that produces reasonable images at a reasonable price circa £200 if I can get away with it.
I know that no way will it match the quality of things like my 70-200 MkII 2.8 or a 300 f/4, and shooting RAW is neither here nor there, but would be a bonus.
I'd just like something with a decent reach that produces decent results.

I quite like the sound of the Canon SX700 although it has features I don't need.
I also see that not many have a view finder either, (inc. that one) its all live view, although I would prefer a view finder its not a deal breaker.
I'm not brand loyal as far this one goes though and would be interested to hear of real experiences of other brands too.
And of course seeing any images taken with said makes.

Thanks in advance :thumbs:
 
I like the panasonic TZ series - mines a TZ35 , but i think they are up to TZ60 now
 
Cheers Moose seems they ( TZ35) are still available too, £115 doesn't sound like a bad price from the advert blurb either.
 
Its not a bad little camera (especially at that price - I paid nearly £200 a couple of years ago), as far as i can tell the only important thing the 40, 50, 60 offer is more MP - the TZ35 is 'only' 16mp.
 
TBH I think that 16Mp is plenty in a sensor that size anyway.
So that's not really a minus.
 
When you say decent reach do you mean 300mm 400mm 500mm zoom?

Have you looked at the Panasonic FZ150 or 200 or Sony HX200 or 300
 
pete.rush said:
When you say decent reach do you mean 300mm 400mm 500mm zoom?
Have you looked at the Panasonic FZ150 or 200 or Sony HX200 or 300
Click to expand...
I was looking around the 20x - 30x optical zoom type. which equates to around 500 - 700mm max IIRC.
The Panasonic(s) I quite like, due to the Leica lens,
but I was actually looking for something to fit in a pocket.
 
pete.rush said:
Sony HX60?
Click to expand...
I have looked at that one and as I said its bloody mine field, I was hoping for some real life experiences, & resulting images,
not just the advertising blurb, thanks for posting though :thumbs:
 
Cobra said:
TBH I think that 16Mp is plenty in a sensor that size anyway.
So that's not really a minus.
Click to expand...

this is a 20x zoom (although i think its based on x1 being a 28mm eqFV - so its only 560EQFV at the long end) - it goes in my coat pocket fine - its a little bit bulky for a trouser pocket - it would be possible but all the girls would think you were pleased to see them.

I'm away from home currently so not got a lot of shots taken with it to hand, but i'll see what i can find
 
OK Cheers look forward to seeing some results and again 500-ish eqv, is OK :)
 
can't find anything sorry - but if you look on my facebook the header image was taken with the TZ35
 
Pocketable could be the killer but if you'd like to save a few quid, you're welcome to borrow my old Fuji HS30 bridge camera. In 35mm EFL, it stretches to 720mm from 24mm. IQ isn't up to modern DSLR quality but is acceptable, especially at lower ISO values. Does fit in a big jacket pocket!
 
Nod said:
Pocketable could be the killer but if you'd like to save a few quid, you're welcome to borrow my old Fuji HS30 bridge camera. In 35mm EFL, it stretches to 720mm from 24mm. IQ isn't up to modern DSLR quality but is acceptable, especially at lower ISO values. Does fit in a big jacket pocket!
Click to expand...
I appreciate the offer Nod, thanks.
I had looked at that "range" and its bigger than I really wanted TBH.
 
I have a Panasonic Lumix TZ60 and it's a good pocket camera which is advertised as having the longest zoom capability on the current market. I only ever use optical zoom, never digital zoom, but image quality is absolute crap at max optical zoom (RAW format). It is also painfully slow at autofocus at times. However, it is probably unfair of me to compare it with my Canon DSLR system.

I used to have a Sony RX100 Mk2 and the IQ was excellent but the zoom range virtually non-existant! I disliked its clunky Windows-esque interface too. Plus the wretched video button, which I never use, was badly positioned in that it was easy to unintentionally switch on.

Apparently Panasonic introduce a new model version every Spring, so it might be worth waiting for. Depends as always what you want to shoot on a camera. DSLR for me every time!!
 
Thought it probably would be but the offer's open.
 
RedRobin said:
Apparently Panasonic introduce a new model version every Spring, so it might be worth waiting for. Depends as always what you want to shoot on a camera. DSLR for me every time!!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info Robin, and that's the quandary, I find myself in,
I currently use a 7D and (mostly) L glass, but I don't want to be dragging all that
around with me, its impracticable.
But I also didn't want to miss any photo opportunities, while travelling around most of the country
(For work).

I've also got a canon 570is that I've had for a few years,
and although it still works, thats the one I want to up grade.
 
Last edited:
Have you thought about the Canon EOS M, just an idea
 
another vote for the TZ range - my "pocket" camera for when i'm out on the bike (or for smuggling into gigs) is my little TZ6...

there's a bit of an eclectic set here if it helps at all...
 
TheBigYin said:
another vote for the TZ range - my "pocket" camera for when i'm out on the bike (or for smuggling into gigs) is my little TZ6...

there's a bit of an eclectic set here if it helps at all...
Click to expand...
Thanks for the images link Mark
(I love the water mark on a couple or so :D )

The TZ 40 or even a "grey" TZ60
are tempting :thumbs:
 
My wife has a Panny TZ10 we bought her a couple of years back. IIRC zoom range is about 24-300ish equivalent, so you can zoom fairly effectively. Good points - image quality is good for a compact across the whole range, image stabilisation is effective and it's quite small for a pocket. Images aren't up to what you'd expect from APS-C, but for websize and up to 8X12 prints it's OK.
 
ancient_mariner said:
My wife has a Panny TZ10 we bought her a couple of years back. IIRC zoom range is about 24-300ish equivalent, so you can zoom fairly effectively. Good points - image quality is good for a compact across the whole range, image stabilisation is effective and it's quite small for a pocket. Images aren't up to what you'd expect from APS-C, but for websize and up to 8X12 prints it's OK.
Click to expand...
Thanks Toni, and TBH thats all I'm looking for image / print size wise.
 
Cobra said:
Thanks for the images link Mark
(I love the water mark on a couple or so :D )

The TZ 40 or even a "grey" TZ60
are tempting (y)
Click to expand...

Ah the "Image stolen from..." ones... yeah - some far eastern website were using them (and directly linking to them to add insult to injury) as their advertising images. I sent 'em a cease and desist, but they didn't, so I watermarked 'em... :lol:
 
I once bought a Canon P&S, took ok pictures but I just hated the lack of control I had, so sold it quite quickly.
Was quite impressed with the quality of the Panasonic bridge camera I bought, but once again hated the lack of
control, DSLR all the way here
But if I was going for a P&S I defo go for panasonic
 
The travel zoom category has some good cameras to choose from. DPReview do a travel zoom comparison test. That includes Canon, Panasonic, Sony...
 
pete.rush said:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3221130.htm
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/canon-ef-m-bits-and-pieces.576805/
Click to expand...
Thanks Peter, I did look earlier, and they are swap able lens, not really what I was looking for TBH. But thanks for taking the time :thumbs:

Gremlin said:
I once bought a Canon P&S, took ok pictures but I just hated the lack of control I had, so sold it quite quickly.
Was quite impressed with the quality of the Panasonic bridge camera I bought, but once again hated the lack of
control, DSLR all the way here
But if I was going for a P&S I defo go for panasonic
Click to expand...
Curiously my old A570 is compact controls are pretty much as per my 7D.
But it does look like the Panasonic's are a popular choice.
Thanks for the info Ingrid :thumbs:

ianp5a said:
The travel zoom category has some good cameras to choose from. DPReview do a travel zoom comparison test. That includes Canon, Panasonic, Sony...
Click to expand...
]Thanks Ian I'll have a read later :thumbs:
 
I wanted something similar but choosing one is a minefield as the model replacement cycle is so short that it's hard to make meaningful comparisons. In the end I just went to Currys and bought a Canon that had just been superseded by a newer model. I don't even know which model it is but its fine, the pictures are ok, the zoom range is very good and it fits in a pocket. It's a versatile snapshot camera that I take almost everywhere and the absence of controls doesn't bother me one hit.
 
viewfromthenorth said:
I wanted something similar but choosing one is a minefield as the model replacement cycle is so short that it's hard to make meaningful comparisons. .
Click to expand...
I know its a bloody mine field, isn' it?
Hence the thread, but it kinda confirms what you found and what I'm finding :(

I'm kind of erring towards the PowerShot SX700 HS or the TZ 40 / 60 (type)
 
All pretty much the same I recon in a particular price range, I've got a couple of Canon compacts that I've had for a while and give good results,if I was to replace them I'd probably get the SX700, reviews I've read are favourable.
 
Cobra said:
I know its a bloody mine field, isn' it?
Hence the thread, but it kinda confirms what you found and what I'm finding :(

I'm kind of erring towards the PowerShot SX700 HS or the TZ 40 / 60 (type)
Click to expand...


Just had a look at what mine is and its an SX230. 14x zoom apparently. It's fine, cost me £115 (I think) from Dixons. I could easily have spent £300 on something that probably wasn't noticeably different in performance but may have had a bigger zoom range or some other feature set that if never use.

I wasn't prepared to spend huge amounts of money on something that wasn't for serious photography and would live in my bag for opportunistic snapshots that were beyond the capabilities of my iPhone. There are certainly some very nice cameras available in this market segment currently though!
 
viewfromthenorth said:
I wasn't prepared to spend huge amounts of money on something that wasn't for serious photography and would live in my bag for opportunistic snapshots that were beyond the capabilities of my iPhone.
Click to expand...
Thats pretty much my reasoning too :)
 
viewfromthenorth said:
Buying the one which looks nicest Is my new camera buying philosophy, otherwise I suffer from paralysis by analysis!

;)
Click to expand...
At least you didn't say "prettiest" then I'd be really worried :D
 
Cobra said:
Thanks for the images link Mark
(I love the water mark on a couple or so :D )

The TZ 40 or even a "grey" TZ60
are tempting :thumbs:
Click to expand...
You're welcome to borrow my ancient TZ7 as well if you like.
 
I'm waiting for the new TZ70 which comes out in March! On pre-order in places.

Mel
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top