MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

My spouse and I are heading for a trip to the Arctic (Greenland, Iceland, Norway) in September, and I am having major angst about what camera(s) and equipment to take with me.
I have a Nikon D5200 with a 55-300 zoom that I will take, but that lens will probably not be long enough. We will be out on the water in Zodiaks probably quite a distance from the life on shore. I do not want to miss any great photo ops. I considered a bridge camera but decided to try something else first.
Sooo - I got myself a Sony Cybershot HX50V. Great little point and shoot with lots of tweaking available that goes out to around 720 mm - perfect or so I thought. BIG problem is - no viewfinder. I took it out to our local bird observatory (right on the Altantic Ocean) and lost so many shots of birds in flight due to no viewfinder. No matter what I do, I cannot view what I need to on the LCD - turned it up as bright as it will go, tried a hood - no good.
Now I seem to be back to a bridge camera to get the viewfinder, but still keep the equipment I need to keep very accessible and on my body. When I first started this research, I got it down to the Canon SX50HS and the Nikon Coolpix P600. I have no allegiance to either brand, so let's not go down that road.
I am leaning toward the Canon ONLY because I want to be able to put filters on the lens. I was told by a tech at a big camera shop in NYC that the Nikon would accept filters but not a hood. This is definitely not so. I actually looked at one and what appear to be threads on the lens are not. The store I was in had the correct size filter so I tried it out. It does not screw on. The Canon will take a filter but and adaptor is needed - no problem there. And the Canon will take a hood. Just cannot use the hood with a filter on. Good grief! I really don't know if I will really need a hood and a filter at the same time. Keep in mind, there will be lots of light reflected off the snow and the water. My readings indicate that an ND filter and/or a polarizing filter will be needed.
I don't want to lug around lots of equipment; but I don't want to miss good shots, either. Also, I am new to DSLR photography and am trying to learn my way around the menus, etc. and I do not PP at this time.
Thoughts, comments? The view finder in combination with a long zoom are the critical considerations.
All input is welcome. My brain is fried and my head is spinning. Thanks.

LaurenT Loc: Northern California

I have a Canon 70D with several lenses. My husband has the Canon SX-50 HD. He is able to get much closer, and better shots with his Canon SX-50 than I am. The quality of my photos are better, but with his 1200mm zoom, I can't compare when shooting distance. I don't think you would be unhappy with the Canon SX-50 HD. Just get it early enough to learn the controls, I find them extremely confusing compared to mine.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Two things immediately come to mind. First is why are you out on the ocean in Zodiacs if there is no plan to go ashore? I may be missing something but to go on presumably an expensive trip only to bob around on the water off shore doesn't make sense.

Having said that have you considered the Panasonic FZ200 camera? It is similar to the Canon SX50 but has a Leica 2.8 lens? Zoom is out to 600mm.

Dennis

NUCMED

i recently upgraded from a Nikon CoolpixP100 to the P600. I love this camera. I have been able to get amazing pictures and once you learn how to navigate through your options, it is easy to change things. Love the zoom without having to carry a large lens everywhere. i shoot with other cameras and use the P600 for traveling. My only complaint is there is not a field guide specific for that model.

LaurenT Loc: Northern California

There isn't a field guide for the Canon SX-50 HD either. Had to print out all 278 pages of the manual.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Thanks for your reply. You are not missing anything. I was not clear enough, obviously. We will be going on shore, but will be approaching in Zodiaks. We know from the forums for our trip that there will be photo ops from the Zodiaks that require long optical zooms.
I am open to all suggestions. Does the Panasonic you suggested have a viewfinder and accept filters and/or a hood with or without the requirement of an adaptor?
Thanks again, and sorry for my lack of clarity.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

thanks to NUCMED and LaurenT. Is the manual available in PDF? I have all of my manuals loaded in iBooks on my iPad.

stableduck Loc: Chugiak, Alaska

I am not familiar with the Nikon, my wife did have an older Nikon that zoomed to about 400mm and currently have a Canon SX50.
I think both are good cameras.
but have you thought about bobbing around in the zodiac and trying to zoom to 1200mm? it would be a challenge to keep the subject in the view finder, not to mention keeping it the view finder long enough to focus.

amehta Loc: Boston

How about getting a long lens for the D5200, like the Sigma 150-500mm and Tamron 150-600mm?

The Canon SX50 has about a 4.3-215mm lens with a 6.2x4.6mm sensor. The D5200/Tamron combo is a 23.5x15.6mm sensor (13x larger) with a 150-600mm lens (2.8x longer).

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Thanks stableduck,
I have thought about bobbing around. I plan to just take my chances and keep clicking off shots or using the burst function.
That worked very well out on a small boat in Alaska.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

amehta,
I thought about it and decided against it. I do not want to have to carry that much equipment with me.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

NUCMED and LaurenT -
found and downloaded the manual.

amehta Loc: Boston

Yes, we each have to decide where photography fits in the priorities for a trip. I hope you get the results you want with the bridge camera.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

amehta,
Thanks again. I am actually considering the possibility of one of those lenses for future trips. Right now, I have to get past this one and the next one (the Galapagos in Spring 2015).

amehta Loc: Boston

A Galapagos trip with a bridge camera instead of the Tamron 150-600mm? Hmmm...