MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

I need a bit of advice from any of my fellow Hogs who have had personal experience with either or both of these cameras.

My husband NEEDS!! a new P&S. His old Sony P&S finally died while on a Zodiak in Antarctica last month. Such fun. I handed over the P&S I had in my pocket for him to use for the duration. I am trying to help him with the final decision.

He is finally ready to make a decision and has gotten his choices down to the 2 mentioned above. He pretty much only shoots on auto (don't even go there, please!), and needs the longer range zoom the above have for the type of travel we do. Tilt screen vs. stationary, viewfinder vs. LCD only, and the ability to shoot RAW do not matter to him. It MUST fit in his pocket. (I offered him my 2 year old Sony P&S and he refused - too big according to him!) He checked out the Sony P&S's on the market now, and does not like them- too small with very small controls. Same with the Canons.

We have both read the reviews and I honestly do not know which one to suggest for him. The biggest complaint seems to be softness of images shot at full zoom (720 on the Panasonic and 840 on the Nikon). I told him that this is pretty much the norm for any of the "super" zooms out there. Oh - he will not use either a monopod or a tripod. Also, he will only be using optical zoom - has never intentionally used digital zoom.

I would really appreciate hearing experiences from my fellow Hogs who actually own and use either of these cameras.

Many thanks,
"Mike"

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Why not the ZS100. Bigger sensor = sharper images.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Not enough va-va-boom ZOOM! Sorry, Bill, could not resist that bit of nonsense. The ZS100 only goes out to 250. I had already looked at that one for him.

Thank you, though. Your suggestion was much appreciated.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

"could not resist that bit of nonsense." Truth is that spouses should not pick out cameras for spouses. I've learned.

Akronrog

I have had several Panasonic cameras in the ZS line, using them for travel. The ZS 40 with the viewfinder has been super for me, allowing for pictures in the sun when the screen
is not visible. The extreme zoom range isn't too useful due to air pollution even in the boondocks where the air seems pristine. These cameras have all been trouble free over the
years except for getting very fine sand in one in the Sahara. It was easier to get a new one rather than have the old one repaired. I have been pleased with the Panasonic cameras
over the years, hope this helps you.

JPL

If those are the options you just have to take him to a camera shop to handle and test both of them before buying. Then he can make up his mind.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

This might help.

Read comparisons and specs, and decide what features are important to you.
(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://cameras.reviewed.com/
http://camerasize.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://snapsort.com/compare
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

It did help. Thanks.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Thanks, Jerry. Actually, I read through most, if not all of these. Hubby has, too I was just hoping for neutral from members who own and use one of these.

lhardister Loc: Brownsville, TN

I agree with JPL. Just before Christmas, I purchased a Panasonic zs60 for my wife. Before that, I owned a Fujifilm S-1 (16mpx, 50x magnification) bridge camera which was stolen, and then I purchased a Nikon B700 to replace it. Based on my experience with these cameras, I have concluded that a bridge camera, by any other name, is still a bridge camera. Under more or less ideal conditions they can make pretty good photos; but in poor light, or in settings where the subject is not highly contrasted from/against its surroundings--and especially at the longer focal lengths-- they have much difficulty with regard to focusing. I have no hands-on experience with the Nikon A900, but based upon the specs shown on Amazon, there appears to be little actual difference between it and the Panasonic zs60. I think the difference between the 30x magnification of the zs60 and the 35x magnification of the A900 would be negligible in actual practice. Therefore, the ergonomics and the "feel" of the respective cameras seems to be the critical factor upon which to base a decision.

BTW, if saving still photos from a section of 4k video is important to him, I would recommend that he examine and compare the process for doing so on each of the cameras. While it is not insurmountably difficult to accomplish on my zs60, it involves more steps than I like to have to execute.

Best regards,

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

How does your wife like her ZS60? What does she NOT like about it.

Theses are both P&S cameras, not bridge cameras.

Hubby and I have both compared the specs and read the available reviews on both the Nikon & the Panasonic. We would both like to hear the experiences and opinions of forum members who actually have and use one of these cameras. He has had both in his hands and considers them about equal in that respect.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

I loved my P510. That's why I later got the P600, the reason I now own the P900. I wouldn't be without it. I take my Sony a6000 along for a lot of things but for that extra reach when I see something way too far away, I pick up the P900. I never leave the P900 at home!

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

If I am not mistaken, the P900 is a Nikon BRIDGE camera, not a Nikon P&S.

lhardister Loc: Brownsville, TN

My wife has not indicated that there is anything in particular that she does not like about her ZS60. Her previous camera was a 7.1mpx Kodak Z712 IS with a 12X zoom magnification. With both, she shoots entirely in the "A" or "automatic" modes. If there is a problem, it seems to be simply adjusting to the changed ergonomics, the somewhat different display of info on the LCD, and the somewhat changed location of the relevant buttons on the ZS60. She seems to be warming up to it with each day that she uses it.

I do not suppose that it really matters whether the ZS60 is called a bridge camera or not. I found the following links which purport to set forth characteristics of a bridge camera, to wit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_camera
digital-photography-school.com/bridge-camera-what-is-it-and-is-it-for-me/

It appears to me that the Panasonic zs60 has the characteristics of a bridge camera regardless of the fact that it is small. In any event, it performs like a bridge camera, and my point, based upon my admittedly limited experience, is that it has essentially the same pros and cons as bridge cameras.

Best regards,

Horseart Loc: Alabama

I have seen it called both and to tell the truth, it matters not to me what they call it. I can get 2000mm out of it when I need it even though I hardly ever use all it can do. You asked for comments from people who had experience with it and that's all I offered. I'm sorry if my comment was confusing.
If you want to get really, deep-down serious, find a refurbished Sony a6000 for a great price right now and one decent zoom lens. You'll never regret it.
And...BTW. here's a pic I took with either my P510 or my P600. I loved the lighter weight of the P600 and should have kept it, but I got greedy for more zoom. Best wishes with whatever you choose.

Oh and my deepest apology. I just looked back at your title and you asked about a Nikon A900 NOT a P900. I can't remove my posts so please just ignore them.