SOLINA DAVE

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum, and I hope to feed on your vast knowledge of things photographic in the future. I'm 70 years old, and I've been taking snap-shots since I was a kid. I've never gotten very deeply involved with photography, and to be honest with you at this stage of the game, I don't think I will be getting all that serious. That's not to say that I don't spend time composing my photo shots carefully. I do try to discipline myself to take a thoughtful photographic memory, each time I take a photo. I guess I'm a kind of serious amateur. Just try to bear with me.
Again to be honest, I registered with the Ugly Hedgehog forum to ask your opinion regarding a potential camera purchase. So I guess I am taking advantage somewhat, and I do apologize for that. At any rate, we'll see where the adventure leads.
Please, promise you won't laugh, but I'm currently tired of using my Panasonic DMC-TZ1 compact camera. It's 10 years old, and has served me very well. It always did pretty well what I wanted, and needed. But now I want something new. I've been doing some research, and it seems that any compact camera these days is loaded with features, and are a far departure from my camera, and it's relatively simple and easy to use format.
My top-end is $400 to $500. It seems like I get to a certain camera, ie. a Nikon Coolpix B500 with a 40X zoom that has good reviews, and then I'l see a Sony DSC-HX350 with a 50X zoom, also with good reviews. It's loaded with extra features that the Nikon is missing, ie. much better screen resolution, Exmor R CMOS sensor, digital viewfinder etc. etc., for an extra $80.
I'll cut to the chase. If someone wouldn't mind Googling the Sony camera, and offering their opinion regarding the dollar value of this camera I would be very grateful. It seems to me, that it's a very good camera, with probably more features than I'll ever use. But it also would appear, that if you want specific features, you have to take them all. Learning how to use it properly would no doubt keep me busy. So that could be good.

Thanks for listening. I do tend to ramble. Any help would be appreciated.....................................Dave........PS...I noticed when I sent this posting that I'd been a subscriber since 2013. I had a feeling that was the case, but when I attempted to login, it said the login didn't work. So I re-registered. And well. here we are!! LoL

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

Take a look at the Olympus OMD EM 10 and if you can stretch you budget the Olympus OMD EM 5 MkII
Great choice of optics too.
Enjoy.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Below are site that let you compare cameras.

Read comparisons and specs, and decide what features are important to you.
(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://www.cameradecision.com/
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

Compacts for $500 -
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-point-and-shoot-under-500/
http://www.bestproducts.com/tech/gadgets/g706/point-and-shoot-digital-cameras/

BJW

Why torment yourself with which brand to select? If your Panasonic has served you well, why not upgrade within the same brand? The DMC-FZ1000 is a great bridge camera with an excellent telescopic 400 mm f2.8-4.0 lense. Moreover, you're already familiar with the Panasonic menu system which will spare you the trouble of learning the more cryptic Sony and Olympus menus. Since the FZ1000 has been upgraded with some bells and whistles you might not need, you may be able to find one in your price range, maybe a refurbished one. If you're looking for a DSLR, i'd opt for a Canon Rebel T6. But that might get you into the lens buying craze which you may want to avoid.

I have found that a great way to learn the features of the popular cameras is via youtube. Check out Graham Houghton on the Panasonic DMC-FZ1000.

Good luck!
BJW

SOLINA DAVE

That's great info. Thank you very much.

First of all I think the Olympus might be a bit out of my price range. And it might be just me, but I was finding it difficult to find a camera with a zoom feature. My camera has a 10X zoom, and I've used it often. The newer cameras seem to have huge telephoto features, which I like. I guess you would need to be interchanging lens' to accomplish that with the Olympus. That's something that I wouldn't find desirable. But it's no doubt a very good camera.
And also, thank you for all of the links. There's some on the list that I hadn't seen. I'll check them out.
And BJW, in the end you might be right about sticking with a Panasonic, for some of the reasons you mentioned. I remember 10 years ago, while shopping for my Panasonic, finally narrowing the field of possibilities to the one I finally purchased. That after doing some research regarding details, and reading reviews, and having a friend who had recently bought one and had a reputation for researching quite carefully. And also finding one in my price range. I've always had very good luck through the years, and always felt comfortable with it, and with it's performance. But now I'm going to upgrade, and probably, for reasons you mentioned, maybe I'll stick with a proven performer.

Thanks again to all of you...............Dave

BJW

Delighted to have been of some assistance. Enjoy whatever you ultimately select, for many years, in good health!
BJW

MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

Welcome to our forum!

SOLINA DAVE

Thanks Mike. It's good to be here.
It's already an interesting trip, even in such a short period of time. Like I said, I've been taking, "snapshots" for most of my life. And now, relatively late in that life, I'm just beginning to rekindle an interest in more of the details, as they pertain to photography. I've already asked a few questions, and i've received many responses, each time, in very short order. I appreciate the interest in answering my generally elemental questions. I also belong to a motorcycling forum, and never receive as much feedback, in such a short period of time. It's like everybody here, is just out there waitng to offer me advice! LoL
Some replies have been relatively to the point, short, concise, and aimed at this amateur more directly. I definitely appreciate, and intensely need that. Some replies are infinitely more detailed, way above my pay grade, and often leave my head spinning. But I really appreciate that feedback also, because it keeps me humble.

Thanks to everyone, and thanks again Mike, for your welcoming.................................Dave

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

If you plan on doing PP in the furture make sure you choice shoots RAW.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Hi Dave,
I did what you asked and looked at the specs of the Sony HX350 and I don't think you can go wrong with that camera. The ability to shoot at f2.8 at all zoom settings is huge in terms of capturing images in less than perfect lighting. It is also important in being able to auto focus in poor lighting, something that many lenses and cameras have problems with. It also shoots 4K video which is huge in terms of being able to zoom into the frame in the video editor if you ever get into that hobby as well. I'm 70 also and just got back into photography a few yers ago. I don't think the Nikon or the Panasonic are as good choices as the Sony. If I was just now getting back into photography, I would buy the Sony myself. You can always use as many or few of the features of any camera as you want to, and different cameras all do the same thing (like different model cars), a bit different, but basically the same. Good luck.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Welcome to the UHH Dave, enjoy.

creativ simon Loc: Coulsdon, South London

Welcome and enjoy

SOLINA DAVE

Thank you very much Bob. I appreciate that, and the more I look at it, the more it seems to be as much, or more, than I'll ever need. And it fits right into my budget range.
I wonder, could trouble you to check out the 2 links I've attached? I've also been looking at a Nikon Coolpix B500 that is somewhat comparable. It's slightly less money, and got pretty good reviews.
The Sony doesn't have a Macro Mode, but if I'm reading the specs. right, has at least as good or better focusing range than the Nikon. So is the lack of Macro a factor? You'll probably understand the numbers better than me.
The computer interface specs. also are a bit confusing. I have a PC with Windows 7.
The Nikon has Wi-Fi and a touch screen which I wouldn't need anyway. And the only other thing that I have difficulty interpreting, is the comparison of the limits of operation of the tilt screens.
Any comments about how the two cameras compare would be much appreciated.
The Sony camera, I don't believe, is even available in the U.S. And Best Buy up here says they have them on sale until July 13. So if It's not too much of an imposition, the sooner you could advise me, the better. I know availability for some of the products can be a problem.

Thanks again Bob.........................Dave http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/nikon-nikon-coolpix-b500-16mp-40x-optical-zoom-digital-camera-b500/10415981.aspx?
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/sony-sony-dschx350-b-20-4mp-50x-optical-zoom-compact-camera-black-dschx350-b/10573934.aspx?&fromBrandStore=sony

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Hi Dave,
I reviewed both camera specs again. I was wrong about the Sony being a constant f2.8 through the zoom range. Like the Nikon it goes up to f6.3 when you go into telephoto zoom. Both cameras have macro capability and allow focusing at 1cm in wifde angle mode. I was also wrong about the Sony shooting 4K video. Both cameras shoot HD video at 1920x1080 resolution. The Nikon is about $80 cheaper. I think they both are pretty equal in capability. The Nikon has a lower wide angle focusing range (23mm) which is better for landscapes. The difference in telephoto won't matter much. The 900mm telephoto range on the Nikon is as much as is usable for good bird pics. The low light capability is not generally as advertised. Once you get past iso 800 on most cameras, you run into unacceptable noise. So the cameras are probably equal in usable low light capabilities. The only thing I don't see on the nikon is timed exposures longer than 1 second. I'm not sure if either camera has a manual mode. You will need to buy a couple of sets of rechargeable batteries and a charger with either camera, as they will eat up regular batteries quickly. Another thing you will want is an sd card reader (fairly cheap) so you can insert the card into the reader and transfer your pics on the computer without going through the camera. It doesn't matter what camera or computer you have, done that way. You can tilt the lcd screen or not, up to you.
Bob

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Welcome to the forum.