Bridge camera decisions: An oldster here...I gave up my old Canon AE-1 decades ago for a simple point and shoot digital, and my iPhone. However, I am looking for a better, but still...

Meadowlark124

An oldster here...I gave up my old Canon AE-1 decades ago for a simple point and shoot digital, and my iPhone. However, I am looking for a better, but still easy to use camera for both photographing birds, and for capturing those fleeting moments when my grandsons are being adorable. I am considering a bridge camera rather than a DSLR, and am trying to decide between the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000/2500, or the Canon XS60. Recommendations? Thanks.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

The two Panasonics you listed both get great reviews. Of those two if you are going to do a lot of video the 2500 is supposedly better. If you shoot mostly stills the FZ1000 is more highly recommended.

allan catt Loc: gillingham,kent,uk

Panasonic,I've had mine for about 5 years great camera,the newer ones have more zoom than mine,great cameras.i also have 2 point and shoots,and my wife also has pany.point and shoot.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Meadowlark124 wrote:

An oldster here...I gave up my old Canon AE-1 decades ago for a simple point and shoot digital, and my iPhone. However, I am looking for a better, but still easy to use camera for both photographing birds, and for capturing those fleeting moments when my grandsons are being adorable. I am considering a bridge camera rather than a DSLR, and am trying to decide between the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000/2500, or the Canon XS60. Recommendations? Thanks.

The Panasonic FZ1000. Best priced with good features. And is the one I would choose. The FZ2500 was a competitor to Sony's RX10iii. Now, that the Sony RX10iv is released, there is no longer any competition. The Canon SX60 is your best bargain, pricewise. It has the longest focal range at 1365mm. And is a favorite of uhh members. It succeeded the SX50, which has been discontinued. Get the SX60 over the SX50. If you choose Canon. Good luck.

Lee Roman Loc: Lavalette, West Virginia

I bought the Panasonic FZ2500 last year at Bestbuy! Never been sorry if it! This Past Saturday, I took 336 pictures at our big local Park of our Pastor’s 4 Children, ages 12, 9, 7 and one year old. Three girls and one cute little boy and they were magazine perfect!! I placed them in different settings around the large Oak trees, 2 different bridges crossing a Creek - one of them a beautiful Stone one, in piles of leaves on the ground and they were outstanding enough for large blowups!! The flip out tilting screen is very handy for those low shots close to the Ground! Go for it!

georgiapeach2 Loc: Georgia the Peach State

I have both Panasonic FZ 1000 and the FZ 2500. Both cameras are nice. For better image quality my choice is
the 1000 for better video I use the 2500.

What I like best about a bridge camera is the focal length and the fact I don't have carry but one camera on the road.

Marilia Loc: Dallas, TX

Love my Canon SX60! I have had the SX10 and still have my SX40 that I use kayaking or the beach.
I have the SX60 to complement my T5i DSLR and I use it mostly for the great reach of the zoom lens. Here is a picture I just took of my granddaughter in a waterpolo game, I was seated in the bleachers a good distance away...

JPL

Meadowlark124 wrote:

An oldster here...I gave up my old Canon AE-1 decades ago for a simple point and shoot digital, and my iPhone. However, I am looking for a better, but still easy to use camera for both photographing birds, and for capturing those fleeting moments when my grandsons are being adorable. I am considering a bridge camera rather than a DSLR, and am trying to decide between the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000/2500, or the Canon XS60. Recommendations? Thanks.

My advice, get one of the Panasonic. They have bigger sensors and better image quality and better video capabilities.

jimfullwood Loc: Sarasota, but Ex pat from UK

Had the FZ1000 since it was launched, it is a great camera and really good in low light.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Meadowlark124 wrote:

An oldster here...I gave up my old Canon AE-1 decades ago for a simple point and shoot digital, and my iPhone. However, I am looking for a better, but still easy to use camera for both photographing birds, and for capturing those fleeting moments when my grandsons are being adorable. I am considering a bridge camera rather than a DSLR, and am trying to decide between the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000/2500, or the Canon XS60. Recommendations? Thanks.

Some comparison sites -

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

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Both Panasonics are fine cameras in their own right. But with only a 6x optical zoom on one and a 20x on the other, and as you mentioned Birding, I would look carefully at the SX60 if I were you. You might find the 60x zoom more useful? I have the SX60 and am happy with it.

Here is a comparison for your convenience: http://cameradecision.com/compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ2500-vs-Canon-PowerShot-SX60-HS

Have fun with whatever your final decision is.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Not that this should be your sole criteria, but the SX60 is available on the Canon refurb site currently for $380. I personally shoot Canon for practically everything except vacations when I bring a Sony a6000. I also own a SX60 and a SX50 before it. As an occasional bridge camera user, I'm a fanboy of the Canon SX series. I can't speak for the Panasonic models you are considering, but there is evidence/reports where people have had customer support and other service issues with Panasonic. I have nothing but good things to say about Canon customer service. It's one of the reasons I use Canon. True, it's only important if you have a need, but good customer service sure is nice when ........

A couple quick reads, but there are more out there. Do a search on dpreview for more.
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/cameras/panasonic.html
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/cameras/canon.html
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.panasonic.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.canon.com

Meadowlark124

Thanks to all for your thoughtful replies. Online reviews/comparisons are great, but your real-life user experiences are invaluable.

sidpearce

Panasonic FZ1000 is the way to go as along with a Sony bridge it has the largest sensor of all the bridge cameras. You will get a file size of approximately 59mb which allows you to crop the image by almost 50% and still get a 20 x 16 inch print

DK Loc: SD

47greyfox wrote:

Not that this should be your sole criteria, but th... (show quote)

Me too, same route exactly and i've loved them all and Canon service. They replaced my SX50 when it croaked just days before warranty was up and I'm still using the replacement camera years later.