Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

OP explains in this entry
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-514166-1.html#8700709
that the Panasonic's aperture range is f/2.8 - f/8.

The Canon SX60's widest aperture at full zoom is f/6.5 and that long focal length itself restricts dof signficantly.

The photo below was with the earlier model, sx50, at 215 mm (equiv angle of view 1250 mm) at f6.5. Note shallow dof.

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BebuLamar

Oh yeah! Small aperture is not needed on these tiny camera. I have the cool pix 5000 with the so call 2/3" sensor (it's smaller than 2/3") and the 28-85mm (35mm equivalent) with aperture of f/2.8 to f/8. At f/8 on this tiny camera I have more DOF than on my FX camera at f/32.

BebuLamar

I wonder if any of the 3 cameras mentioned has minimum aperture smaller than f/8? If so to which stop? I don't think these smaller sensor camera can stop down a lot.

hangman45 Loc: Hueytown Alabama

Actually the others list have minimum of F/6.5

photodad34

I have progressed thru the Canon S3, SX1, SX30, SX60 and G3X bridge cameras. By far the best is the G3X, but is the most expensive. It has a good zoom range, but some may find it inconvenient to not have the viewfinder and therefore committed to using the articulated monitor. The SX60 has a greater zoom, but the G3X takes a much better picture to 25X zoom.

BebuLamar

So aperture wise the FZ300 is the best of the bunch.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

It depends on your interpretation of what constitutes a "good photo". Any one of your options can take a "good photo".

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

It also depends on the context in which you take pictures. Linda's picture was taken in sunlight and Dynamic Range is not a major factor. Small sensors struggle at higher ISO levels and deliver limited Dynamic Range. A small sensor would have serious 'noise' issues when used in dim lighting {indoor sports, for example} and would not give desirable pictures when DR is important {Caucasian skin in sunlight when most of scene is darker, for example}

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

The most important piece of equipment in your gear is the 8 inches directly behind your viewfinder!

The difference in great pictures has less to do with the camera than most think. Yes, more expensive, latest model, larger sensor, etc. can allow for capturing quality results under more challenging circumstances, but under normal conditions, other than for pixel peepers, bridge camera results can WOW even the most critical of judges. Show me images perfect in every way except the result of camera quality, and I will then suggest for an equipment up-grade, and only then.
Many of the images posted on this forum over the years, that are taken by very expensive, state of the art equipment, fail to even accomplish the "good snapshot" category.

Keep what you have until it's mastered and you have learned ALL of the basics . . . then let's talk again.

Just my humble (and expert) opinion of course.

shelty Loc: Medford, OR

Don't you worry, I've found that most bridge cameras can give you a picture as good as the most expensive cameras on the market. Come on you expensive camera guys go ahead and hound me. Been there, done that.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I have several dslr's (a FF, a DX and a CX sensor) and bought the coolpix B700 a couple of months ago.
I bought it for the light weight, the telephoto (1440mm eq.) and the 4K video. I got mine used in new condition on ebay for $318 with shipping. All in all, I'm pleased with the camera. The 4K video was an upgrade from my D7000 which shoots 2k (1080P) video.

Equivalent focal lengths with different size sensors are not equal. The D7000 DX with a 400mm lens (600mm eq) gets about the same detail as the Nikon 1 J1 with a 300mm lens (810mm eq) and the B700 with a 310mm lens (1440mm eq.). I have gotten my best moon pics with the B700. I have yet to try it on birds or flowers because of the weather, but I am hopeful as the auto focus is as quick or quicker than my dslr lenses.

The lower the focal length, the lower f stop you can use. The B700 has a focal length range of f3.3 to f8, but in manual you can shoot at full zoom as low as f6.5. The B700 cannot shoot macros as well as a dslr with a 1:1 macro lens. It cannot get an aperture lower than f3.3 like a fast prime on a dslr, or higher than f8, like most dslr lenses can. So there are some compromises with the B700, but it does cover most of what I need in a camera, and does do better than my dslrs in terms of weight, 4K video, and fast focusing at full zoom.

Attached are two crops of a one inch square of a painting on my wall at a distace of about 8-9 ft. shot at full zoom with the b700 (1440mm eq) and the Nikon 1 J1 with a 55-300 mm lens and FT-1 adapter at ful zoom (810mm eq). I reduced the image size of the b700 pic to match the 821x821 pixel size of the Nikon 1 J1 image. From what I can see the Nikon1 J1 has a better color range in the darker areas (better dynamic range), but the B700 gets somewhat sharper details overall. The pics were taken hand held in room light with a floor lamp under the picture.

Nikon Coolpix B700 at full optical zoom.

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Nikon 1 J1 with 55-300 lens at 300mm.

(Download)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I just bought a bridge camera for a trip to Europe this past December. I settled on a Sony RX10M4.

You can see some of the results here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gene_lugo/albums/72157665487054018
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gene_lugo/albums/72157693140571925
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gene_lugo/albums/72157691434760511
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gene_lugo/albums/72157665486900208
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gene_lugo/albums/72157690214837382

The camera did not disappoint, though it was a bit of an adjustment coming from a D800, D810 and a dozen and a half lenses. No way I would part with the big gear, but the little camera did better than I had hoped for.

Paul J. Svetlik Loc: Colorado

Thank you Linda for your input and this excellent image!
I love the composition in the green environment! Bravo!
It is a perfect example what a bridge camera with a superzoom can do.
We can see a picture of this quality on this forum - very, very seldom.
By the way, I am thinking how difficult it would be to make a similar picture with a DSLR and a 600 mm lens?

We know, we won't be able to frame a picture with a sledge hammer, we won't take a bridge camera into a dark coal mine or for scuba diving, right?
We'll take a right tool for the job and won't cry about "low dynamic range" of a small sensor!

The new technology is here and the superzoom bridge cameras are here to stay!

barbie.lewis Loc: Livingston, Texas

I own, use, and am delighted with a Canon SX60hs. An amazing camera! I've used it for travel, birding, the eclipse, moon shots, and even photographing sunspots! (With the proper filter).
The articulated screen is a real blessing. It allows pictures on the down-low where an old lady can't bend so well, and on the up-high when it is hard to see over a fence or the 6-footers in a crowd.
It has many features and manual settings that make it very versatile with opportunity for photographic expression, experimentation, and growth.
Only downside is its lack of automatic focus in low light. You have to go beyond bridge to get that.
But overall a great camera!

johnbee418 Loc: Manchester Conn.

General Imaging (GE) X600. It is fantastic.