Lighter Camera, longer zoom (Page 2): Love my Olympus Mark 5 II which I pair with a 75-300 zoom — a 150-600 equivalent. It did superbly with my snowy owl pic.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Love my Olympus Mark 5 II which I pair with a 75-300 zoom — a 150-600 equivalent. It did superbly with my snowy owl pic.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

The RX10MIV is really in a class if it’s own for bridge cameras. My “dry land” cameras are my Z7 and D500, but I got the Sony for kayaking and besides the 1” sensor what sets it apart are the amazing lens that gives you f/4 at 600mm equivalent and the focus tracking. It uses the same autofocus as their A9 and is the only bridge camera I’ve found that can consistently track BIF.

leftj Loc: Texas

mizzee wrote:

Love my Olympus Mark 5 II which I pair with a 75-300 zoom — a 150-600 equivalent. It did superbly with my snowy owl pic.

Well let's see it.

ashriverguy Loc: Rural Minnesota

I shoot the Panasonic LUMIX FZ 2500 and like it a lot. It has a 480mm Leica zoom vs Sony's 600mm Zeiss but it’s not weather proof like the Sony. But, it does have a full articulating touch screen and shoots better video and it’s half the price. I bought mine at National Camera near Minneapolis and they let me shoot both cameras just outside their store and helped me compare the photos. I’m a birder and the photos I get are VERY good.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Use a tripod for the guaranteed best results with long lenses. Weight won’t really matter except for getting it from here to there.

markwilliam1

bsprague wrote:

"This will probably be the last camera I purchase...."

Then buy the RX10 IV. My wife loves hers and it probably is her last camera too!

All the other cameras suggested so far have smaller sensors.

There is No comparison of other bridge cameras to the Sony RX10M4. It in a class all by itself and worth Every Penny! I’m also a proud owner.

magpix Loc: St. Michaels, MD

leftj wrote:

She said she wanted 600mm zoom.

The full frame equivalence of the Fuji 70-300 is 105-450. This news lens works with the inexpensive Fuji 1.4X and 2X teleconverters giving it an effective range of 630mm to 900mm. I would recommend the 1.4X. The point of her post was, I thought, to reduce size and weight. Check out the reviews for both the compact XS-10 body and 70-300mm lens.

leftj Loc: Texas

magpix wrote:

The full frame equivalence of the Fuji 70-300 is 105-450. This news lens works with the inexpensive Fuji 1.4X and 2X teleconverters giving it an effective range of 630mm to 900mm. I would recommend the 1.4X. The point of her post was, I thought, to reduce size and weight. Check out the reviews for both the compact XS-10 body and 70-300mm lens.

You lose some resolution when using the teleconverters.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Tina 2 wrote:

I currently shoot with a Nikon 7100 with an 18-300 zoom which I plan to keep. However, it is heavy and I want to buy a lighter weight camera with a longer zoom, 600mm would be good. Good picture quality is important. I've been looking at the Sony RX10 IV, however it is pretty pricey. Are there other cameras I should be looking at? Any recommendations/suggestions would be appreciated. This will probably be the last camera I purchase, so I'd like it to check off all, or most the boxes. Thanks.

While the Sony RX10 IV is pricey I would definitely buy that camera if I was in the market for a new camera. I regularly go photographing with friends, each of whom has that exact camera. Their photos are incredible. I grant you it is also on them and not just the camera that makes their photos so great but they are all birders (I am not but shoot other things with my Nikon) and they have incredible reach with the Sony and incredibly sharp photos. It is just a great camera and worth the price if you want to buy one camera and use it for everything. It is also lightweight.

Dennis

markwilliam1

dennis2146 wrote:

While the Sony RX10 IV is pricey I would definitel... (show quote)

👍👍

ashriverguy Loc: Rural Minnesota

"After the cost is forgotten, the quality remains"

georgeretired Loc: Manitoba Canada

I too have a canon SX but the older SX50. Have a "black strap" shoulder harness and I'm set over having the weight of the larger canon and lens tracking through the fields and forests.

tdozier3 Loc: Northern Illinois

Tina 2 wrote:

I currently shoot with a Nikon 7100 with an 18-300 zoom which I plan to keep. However, it is heavy and I want to buy a lighter weight camera with a longer zoom, 600mm would be good. Good picture quality is important. I've been looking at the Sony RX10 IV, however it is pretty pricey. Are there other cameras I should be looking at? Any recommendations/suggestions would be appreciated. This will probably be the last camera I purchase, so I'd like it to check off all, or most the boxes. Thanks.

I have a D7500 that I use a Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary and use it handheld with no problems. It's a fantastic lens

Cameralark Loc: Torrington, CT

The RX10M4 is wonderful. It does everything very well. Lens is great.
600mm at f4 is hard to beat. FPS mid is more than enough. Customizations and memories are abundant. Good Macro also. This camera can do everything. It is worth every penny. The shortcoming is battery life. Always carry extras.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Tina 2 wrote:

I currently shoot with a Nikon 7100 with an 18-300 zoom which I plan to keep. However, it is heavy and I want to buy a lighter weight camera with a longer zoom, 600mm would be good. Good picture quality is important. I've been looking at the Sony RX10 IV, however it is pretty pricey. Are there other cameras I should be looking at? Any recommendations/suggestions would be appreciated. This will probably be the last camera I purchase, so I'd like it to check off all, or most the boxes. Thanks.

Since you are looking at a "stand alone" all-in-one Sony RX10 IV camera, you might as well look at Olympus and Panasonic upper end cameras. The Olympus 300mm f4 Pro IS, 600mm in 35mm angle of view, is under 2.3 pounds with tripod mount, closer to 2 without, and under 10". Add a Panasonic or Olympus body you are still under 12" and under 5 pounds (definitely under 4 with the right body). Adding in a 1.4X or 2X teleconverter adds about 1" and a few more ounces and produces 840mm and 1200mm in 35mm angle of view. All handholdable if desired. This offers a good secondary system versus an all-in-one camera. This allows one to change their secondary system as their wants and needs change versus having to buy a new all-in-one camera to meet those changes in wants and needs.