Gregger Loc: Phoenix area

I need some advice on purchasing a new superzoom. I like the Nikon P900, but don't want to go much over $500 and I don't want a grey model. Are there any others I should be looking into. I had heard the IQ is very good on the P900. Not like a DSLR, but better that most superzooms. Not certain about the others. Sony has a 1" sensor, but to much out of my price range. I can keep saving, but soon the heat will be gone and I hope to get out more to shoot photos. Thanks for any advice. I have a Mico 4/3's Pen EP-5, but I am not wanting to purchase any more lenses. I believe I have a 12-124 lens on it. I can't reach very far with that looking at birds. Thanks for any help. Gregger

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

KEH in the Atlanta area, one of our approved vendors, has a Nikon P900 in Ex+ condition for $499.

Gregger Loc: Phoenix area

Thank you

Skip Murphy Loc: Sebastian, Florida

Panasonic FZ 300 is approx $500 . 25 x 600

Gregger Loc: Phoenix area

I have had the Panasonic FZ70 and still own the FZ400. I began having problems with the view finder. I could not see clearly through them. Olympus Pen EP-5 focuses fine. I gave the FZ70 to my neighbor and still have the FZ400. Then I read on a blog about how bad their customer service was from readings of several bloggers. If a company cannot get their personnel under control I don't want anything to do with them.

Gregger Loc: Phoenix area

Ralph,
I sure didn't see it. I did a search and 0 came up.

Skip Murphy Loc: Sebastian, Florida

I 've had the 28 , 35 , 200 , and now the300. Never really had any issues with them . Maybe I'm just lucky . Interesting abou your commen on the FZ400 ... As of last month , the camera has not been released ?

Gregger Loc: Phoenix area

My mistake. I have the FZ200. It was made in Japan. I wish all of them were made in Japan.

r.grossner Loc: Rockford IL & Sarasota FL

I have a close friend that winters in Florida from the Midwest. She has a P900 and gets the most amazing bird and wildlife shots and it IS a superzoom. T think it goes out to 2000mm equivalent. She uses a monopod often. My wife had several PS Nikons which she wore out and wanted something smaller with more reach and simple. She thinks my D750 is a tank and way to complicated so I got her a Nikon L340. 20MP, 24-630mm equivalent zoom, VR, ISO to 6400. Auto, program, scene and manual modes and less than a pound. And for less than $100.00 on sale at B** with free shipping New with USA Warrantee. Less than her 12 MP PS with 5x zoom! She used to shoot Olympus film cameras and is thrilled with this little camera. The P900 can be had for right around $500 and has many more features but is nearing small DSLR size. These pics were taken fishing in Canada with the L340. Eagle shot with a healthy zoom from a rocking boat. It's a little more than the VR could handle but was her first snap of a baldy. Camera fits in Quart Freezer zip lock bags for weather protection. There are a couple other models in between. Check B&H.

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Gregger Loc: Phoenix area

Fantastic! I am going to get one. Great photos. I want to ask a question. Using my FZ200 (got it right this time) I am able to focus flower on our patio at around ten feet. Zooming twenty feet taking a photo of a red rock boulder in our back yard it becomes blurry. I just don't understand it. How can a camera lose focus by simply zooming farther? I just took my Pen EP-5 took the photo and it was sharp. Any ideas?

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

It should regain focus in a second or so.

In the days of film, most zoom lenses were designed to be "parafocal"; that is, the same focus setting would work for all focal lengths. However, parafocal puts additional design constraints on the designers, so most lens units dropped that requirement for AF lenses, because an AF lens should be able to regain focus quickly.

Gregger Loc: Phoenix area

Thanks! I needed to read this. I was getting concerned. I am in my 70's and this has been bothering me. To tell the truth I have been holding off on ordering a new camera for this reason. I am not really a photographer. I am great at composing, but the features I am not good with. Hope that makes sense.

Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England

Canon sx60 seems popular.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Canon has a refurbished SX60 for $380. Yes this camera is a bit long in the tooth, but is still a great camera and shoots Raw. You can find it for less, but remember, this is a factory refurbished camera from the US distributor, with a one year warranty.

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/powershot-sx60-hs-refurbished

JPL

Just look for a refurb P900. It should be as good as new but at a lower price. There is no better value for mony than P900 if you want to shoot birds and butterflies. And sometimes you will need all the focal length it has so there are actually no alternatives available. I have one and have been sitting outside my home shooting birds with it the last few days. Works very well. For other stuff you will probably stick to your current camera.