rizibat8 Loc: Birmingham, AL

I've seen a lot of members deliberating over whether to get one or the other of the above. Since I have both, I thought it might be helpful to set up a post with test pics from each to help in the decision.
What I was thinking was to make a pic of the same distant object at full optical zoom with the camera set to full auto, on a tripod, delayed shutter, with the stabilizer off and throw in the same pic using a Canon 6D and Sigma Big Sig (maybe with the 2x) for a dslr comparison.
Obviously the P900 will blow it away in the zoom category but the main thing is the IQ.
Please let me know if this with be beneficial and I'll try to get it done over the weekend.
Thanks,
Larry

CliffC Loc: Colorado USA

Yeah that set up makes sense. I would love to see your test photos.

rizibat8 Loc: Birmingham, AL

Hi Cliff. I'll try to get it done as soon as the weather clears this weekend.

Speedy Loc: Alabama

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Sounds good. Thanks

rizibat8 Loc: Birmingham, AL

No problem Speedy. What part of Alabama? I'm in south B'ham.

wireman8 Loc: Toledo, Ohio

Now that's what this site is all about, thanks for your effort.

rizibat8 Loc: Birmingham, AL

Thanks Wireman8. I totally agree.

Speedy Loc: Alabama

I have a Opelika address, but I live about half way between Opelika and Phenix City .

rizibat8 Loc: Birmingham, AL

I think I asked you that before. War Eagle!

steveo52 Loc: Rhode Island and Ocala Florida

I'd be very interested in seeing the comparison!

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

Great idea!
I was thinking about getting the P900, but it doesn't support raw, and then I found a refurb sx50 for $199 on the Canon site so I got that instead.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

For the comparison images, try to get the white balance to match up as close as possible. No need for additional visual factors that may distract from the intended purpose of the test!

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I'm going to give you an idea for a way to compare. I will start with a picture of a bridge. There is is a sign to the right of the entrance to the bridge. I will take this picture with several cameras and then blow up the sign to the right and compare how it looks.

All tests were done using a tripod.

Camera #1: Canon SX50

Camera #2: Fujifilm HS EXR30

Camera #3: Sony A99 Full Frame Camera. Using a 24-70mm, F2.8 zoom. Lens was set to 50mm. ISO = 200, F5.6, 1/800 sec.

Some observations from this exercise:

1) The Sony had better color in the non-cropped bridge image

2) Nether bridge camera had good edge crop results. But the tremendous range of the lens means that you zoom in for the picture optically and don't expect to do much cropping later.

3) The full frame camera wasn't fair competition to the bridge cameras.

I also have a Sony A6000 which I didn't use for this test. But it is small and easy to carry and the Canon can't compete with it, other than extreme zoom. I find the A6000 is my favorite walk around camera. I may throw the SX50 in the camera bag if there is chance there may be something I want that is out of zoom range of the A6000.

Original Shot with SX50

(Download)

SX50, crop of sign

(Download)

SX50, zoomed into the sign with camera's zoom

(Download)

Fujifilm HS EXR30 - tried to keep everything the same

(Download)

Fujifilm HS EXR30 - crop of sign

(Download)

Fujifilm HS EXR30 - zoomed in on sign using camera's zoom

(Download)

Sony A99 original shot

(Download)

Sony A99, crop of sign

(Download)

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

Sony wins