Allie

Does anyone have any experience with super zoom cameras, Nikon P900 (24-2000 lens) for example? I have done serious photography when I was younger, and would not hope to compare the quality of the shots to a good DSLR, but I am thinking of a camera that will give me decent travel photos and action photos that I would totally miss with cameras with more limited lens power and without the snap-back tracking feature.

barbie.lewis Loc: Livingston, Texas

Does the Canon SX60 HS qualify as a "superzoom"? If so, I'm using one as a travel camera. The 21-1365 mm (equivalent) zoom is amazing!
Biggest issue, probably with any of the superzooms, is their difficulty focusing and photographing in reduced light when zoomed out. That can be very annoying!
Otherwise, very lightweight, very compact, versatile, and great cameras to use!

nmw1004 Loc: Dresher PA

I have a canon sx-50 which goes up to 1200 mm optical. I love the camera. It's light, easy to use , has enough features to please most users. The electronic view finder is lousy but if use the screen it works fine.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Lots and lots of previous discussion on UHH regarding. You can use the search function at top, if you're interested. Just use short descriptions to get best return.

I have had a Canon SX50 for three and a half years. It's getting harder for me to hold steady (I tend to sway back and forth), but I have LOVED its reach and there are tips for use, or in editing, to get the most bang for your buck regarding image quality (e.g. bright light and low ISO are best).

I just bought the next generation, sx60, for the improved quality of viewfinder. However, I found - as several have mentioned on this site - that image quality isn't quite as good as the 50. But again, I'm usually shooting very long distance, with subjects (such as eagles) filling barely 1/9 of the frame.

Search results on UHH for "P900"

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/search-topic-list?q=p900&sectnum=0&username=

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digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

I bought a nikon P-900 a couple of months back, for my upcoming trip to South Africa. Not as my main machine, but for its 83X lens and potential to reach out and grab things. It is indeed fantastic, I just wish it had the aps-c ip. I've had a blast with it, and have gotten a lot of stuff I'ld have missed with the average point & shoot. RJM

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

I have had an SX50 for a few years & loved it (still do). I recently bought a P900 (for the extra zoom), which is like an SX50/60 on steroids. I love it & it is sharp at 2,000 mm optical zoom (digital zoom is not sharp & I don't use it). I really like mine & I use it a lot. It is quite a large camera (for a bridge camera) & has two possible negatives. It has no hot shoe for an external flash (doesn't bother me) & it doesn't shoot RAW (doesn't bother me either, as I only shoot JPEG Fine).

The P900 is a good performer & I definitely recommend it. Earl.

Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

I have a Nikon P900.

Generally I love the camera but then I bought it mostly for travel and as a walk around camera when I don't want to use my big heavy SLRs. The lens performs incredibly well and the images seem as good as many of my DSLR ones.

There is one caution and one complaint.

The caution is that the camera has a lengthy learning curve. When you zoom the lens all the way out it's almost impossible to not shake the camera. It does have an image stabilizer but with that zoom range it could use three. You can master it but it does take practice, that or a tripod.

As to the complaint, to charge the battery you have to plug the camera into the outlet. That's incredibly dumb since that means you can't use the camera over the charging period and you also can't charge two batteries at once. Nikon claims to have a stand alone charger, it's listed in their product lines, but I had one on back order for over a year and it never showed up so I gave up. I basically have to charge two batteries using the camera. I guess that's good for NIkon, they maximize profits by not including the charger, and they make an extra buck on a charger if one ever shoes up. It's us who suffer.

One other thing ... it's a sophisticated camera but it is also a Popint and Shoot. That means the body is not bristling with a lot of controls that save you going into a menu. I have learned how to set the camera quickly over time, the menu structure isn't that bad. But of course when you're used to all the controls on a DSLR, this one is a bit light.

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

[quote=Bugfan]I have a Nikon P900.

The caution is that the camera has a lengthy learning curve. When you zoom the lens all the way out it's almost impossible to not shake the camera. It does have an image stabilizer but with that zoom range it could use three. You can master it but it does take practice, that or a tripod.

As to the complaint, to charge the battery you have to plug the camera into the outlet. That's incredibly dumb since that means you can't use the camera over the charging period and you also can't charge two batteries at once. Nikon claims to have a stand alone charger, it's listed in their product lines, but I had one on back order for over a year and it never showed up so I gave up. I basically have to charge two batteries using the camera. I guess that's good for NIkon, they maximize profits by not including the charger, and they make an extra buck on a charger if one ever shoes up. It's us who suffer.



Hi Bugfan. Just like to mention two things. I use mine mainly for birds (many of which I have posted) in the 800-2,000 mm range. At first, I used my vehicle or a tree as support & got reasonable results. Then I started using a monopod & my results instantly went from reasonable to excellent, with almost every shot being clear & sharp. The P900 doesn't weigh much, so even a relatively light monopod would suffice. It is just as quick as hand holding & I use it all the time now for long shots with the P900.

Secondly, I bought a third party battery pack on ebay, containing two batteries & a wall charger. The pack was only about $25 & it works fine. I now have 3 batteries & a charger. Earl.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

Also check out the Sony HX400. It's $150.00 less than the P900. You give up zoom range (1200 vs 2000). They both have a digital zoom capability in addition. The P900 goes out to 332X; the HX400 to 100X. The moon almost filled the frame at full digital zoom. The sensor is 20mp vs 16mp. It has a hot shoe that the P900 lacks. I purchased an external charger & a non-Sony spare battery that works as well as the Sony battery. Took it to Disneyland in September rather than lug my Alpha 850, lenses, & flash. Got excellent photos. Very happy with the camera.

usnpilot Loc: Ft Myers Fl

I to have the HX 400 and second everything you said. I love the 25mm wide angle also, and the Zeis lens.

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Are you considering the P900 because you're wow-ed by its 83x lens? You said you "have done serious photography" in the past and you also mentioned knowing that a bridge camera doesn't have the quality of a DSLR. Ok, so what is it that's most important to you in your photos, reach or quality? If it's quality, then you should be giving much SERIOUS consideration to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000. It really is Ok to think outside the Nikon/Canon bubble. The Panasonic is at the top of almost every review of the crop of bridge cameras out there right now. But, for me, the one bridge camera I've had that performed flawlessly and produced VERY good photos was the Fuji S200 EXR from about 9 years ago. The thing was built like a tank and incorporated Fuji's award-winning VELVIA and PROVIA color for beautiful, sharp photos. So, again, there are some really good cameras out there beyond the Nikons and Canons.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Here are some links to comparisons and "winners."

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-superzoom-camera/
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2015-superzoom-camera-roundup
http://cameras.reviewed.com/best-right-now/best-superzoom-cameras

llamb Loc: Northeast Ohio

I've had a P900 for a year and a half. I like it and it accompanies me all the time. We have a pond in our back yard that attracts many waterfowl, insects and critters. I sit on a glider and can get intimate shots of even the most skittish without scaring them. I also photograph submissions for a national student art contest, indoors with an inexpensive CFL lighting kit. My daughter distributes the results via email to the other judges. I have only received favorable feedback from all involved.

I also use it to video some of my daughter's presentations in auditoriums, parks and lecture halls. I am amazed at its low-light capabilities. Its audio in large auditoriums is so-so: I wish it had a jack for an external MIC.

50 years ago I worked on towers and the P900 allows me inspect the goings-on of all latest and greatest hardware (I don't recognize a thing!)

It has fantastic battery life!

It is not as heavy as it looks. I have no trouble holding it steady.

I really enjoy it despite its lessor liked feature: its confusing menu system (I've had Canon, Olympic and other Nikon cameras and am a retired software/hardware computer tech so I have a lifetime of working with menuing systems.)

It is a fun camera.

~Lee

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

As your travel camera I think you will be pleased with either the P900 or the SX 60. I have both and have been very pleased.

Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

[quote=DOOK]


Hi Dook ...

Thanks for the feedback. I too have now got a light but solid tripod and ball head that solves a lot of my shake problems. That tripod also converts to a monopod which is a bit help too.

As to the charger ... can you possibly give me the name and model number of that charger? I'd love to get one, it sounds like the answer to my dreams.

Thanks!