Going on a family holiday abroad in the summer, 1st time in years and my dilemma is should I travel light with camera & a couple of lenses or even lighter by investing in a second hand bridge?
I have been checking them out in the under £100 range & narrowed it down to a Panasonic FZ? (quite pricey) or a Fuji s1500/1600 or you might have a better idea. Most likely use will be the usual holiday snaps but you never know what might crop up.
Any ideas, suggestions or experiences?
Simon.
Well I bought a Panasonic TZ18 in may, pretty much unused until 2 weeks ago when we went to Tenerife for a fortnight.
1st impressions -
1. No gear to lug about - great
2. Put it on auto & enjoy my holiday
3. The whole family can use it.
4. Great zoom (16x optical)
5. Videos look good, shame about my wobbly hands.
6. Battery life good
7. Small & inconspicuous
Downsides
1. Never going to rival my DSLR
2. Wide angle (24mm) more like a fish eye, anything close & near the edge looks wonky
3. Software not the best.
Will post some pics & videos when i have sorted them out, 800+ pics & 1/2 a dozen videos.
Simon
Glad you had a good time.
I bought myself an LX5 during my visit to London.
Good points:
1. RAW
2. Superb fast Leica lens
3. Fast start up and focus
4. Seems well built
5. 4 different aspect ratios available
6. Videos OK
7. Hot shoe
8. Compact and bijou, Mostin.
Bad Points
1. Lens distortion at the wide end and some CA (but DxO have a module for this, see below)
2. Battery life if you do not limit the LCD on time
3. Noise above 400ISO
4. No paper manual
Before DxO
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Trafalgar_Sq-P1000076_before.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=10036&fullsize=1)
After DxO (auto, vignetting off)
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Trafalgar_Sq-P1000076_afterDxO.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=10035&fullsize=1)
I had a FUJI S6500fd a few years back and it was superb, not sure what the most recent version is but it had 28-300 lens, and I got some cracking shots with it, mine took xd cards but think the newer one switched to SD and come with a hotshoe which mine didn't have (one of the reasons I upgraded to a DSLR)
If I was in the market for a bridge camera in all honesty I would probably go with a FUJI as I loved mine and sold it to a friend for almost as much as I paid for it and she's still got it and loves using it.
Just my twopenneth worth.
Indeed Keith, the Fuji bridges are excellent. I had an S9500 for several years - great camera.
I just needed something pocketable.
I'd be reluctant to trust any brand new or second hand camera for a holiday, especially a "trip of a lifetime". Not just the risk of a fault, but also lack of familiarity with the controls etc. However, if you can give it a good try-out for a month or so beforehand, that's fine. I found, last family holiday I left the SLR behind and took a decent compact (Canon s95) and never regretted it.
Just added a video to youtube from the tz18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce3pwqSCKXM&hd=1
Simon
Quote from: bones615 on July 21, 2011, 09:50:49 PM
Just added a video to youtube from the tz18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce3pwqSCKXM&hd=1
Simon
Great quality and sound. :tup:
So in December you asked for advice. Nobody gave any :( In July you reported back on your choice. Now people are recommending cameras......... :D
Quote from: Jonathan on July 22, 2011, 07:57:49 AM
So in December you asked for advice. Nobody gave any :( In July you reported back on your choice. Now people are recommending cameras......... :D
You can't rush these things . . :)
Quote from: Hinfrance on July 22, 2011, 08:13:59 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on July 22, 2011, 07:57:49 AM
So in December you asked for advice. Nobody gave any :( In July you reported back on your choice. Now people are recommending cameras......... :D
You can't rush these things . . :)
:2funny: :2funny:
I bought my G11 s/h just before going on holiday - but then it isn't a bridge. ::)
I did get some great pics too (with both it and with the 30D I took - I'm never likely to leave a dSLR behind!)
<---------- avatar shot taken with the 30D + 105
Quote from: Jonathan on July 22, 2011, 07:57:49 AM
So in December you asked for advice. Nobody gave any :( In July you reported back on your choice. Now people are recommending cameras......... :D
Thats why they call me Billy no mates :(
Quote from: bones615 on July 22, 2011, 06:20:56 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on July 22, 2011, 07:57:49 AM
So in December you asked for advice. Nobody gave any :( In July you reported back on your choice. Now people are recommending cameras......... :D
Thats why they call me Billy no mates :(
You've got lots of mates, just a shame they not in this universe! :2funny:
Quote from: Jonathan on July 22, 2011, 07:57:49 AM
So in December you asked for advice. Nobody gave any :( In July you reported back on your choice. Now people are recommending cameras......... :D
I must confess, when I jumped in to bash out a quick reply to the new post, I didn't notice the date of the first one. Memo to self - must read the threads more carefully.
A few holiday snaps from the Panasonic.
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10179/normal_P1000613web_.JPG) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=10186)
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10179/normal_P1000415web_.JPG) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=10187)
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10179/normal_P1000381web_.JPG) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=10188)
Looks like it served you well. Love the Parrot shot. ;D
That looks like a lorikeet (saw those at Longleat) that is a great shot glad it served you well