Im an avid kayaker and wanted a camera with a long zoom for wildlife pics while kayaking. Price was an object because I knew there was a chance it would eventually end up in the drink and I found the Fujifilm Finepix S9900w. It was relatively inexpensive, about $300 if I remember. It had some great features that some more expensive superzooms didn’t, like an EVF, and it’s 50x zoom gave it a 24-1220mm effective range. I got some great shots with that camera, before I eventually capsized in Juniper Springs and lost it. Since then I’ve tried several others, the Nikon Coolpix took great shots and also had a pretty decent 42x zoom, but eventually enough drips and splashes killed it. Next it was a Nikon 1 AW which I used an adapter for an old Nikkor 70-300 lens. It worked but was cumbersome and unwieldy. Recently I delved into the MFT world with a Lumix G-85. I love it for many reasons and will continue to take it, but still wasn’t getting the reach I wanted. I was pining for my old Fuji and ran across the Finepix S1. A little older and bulkier than the S9900w but a better camera and it’s weathersealed. It is a little big for a pocket and they don’t make it anymore, but I got one in excellent condition on Ebay for under $220.

Hi Chris. Thought I'd try to attach a few examples for you - a couple taken with the Lumix TZ80 and a couple with a Sony HX90v. Sadly I don't seem able to "store original" probably because I only have mobile internet on my phone. They should however still show what can be done with small cameras - P & S as many like to call them! I don't think they're bridge cameras though - my opinion is that bridge means a camera between the small P & S and a DSLR usually looking a bit like the DSLR but not having a removable lens. Naturally they won't fit in any pocket! Cheers JohnR

Dude - as of this morning you have 18 topics in the first two pages in this forum. I suggest you start your own forum, maybe calling it ChrisT's Genuinely Interesting Discussions in Photography - and stop posting your mostly inane topics there. Or even better yet, go out and use the cameras you talk about. If your goal is to improve your skills, staying home and sitting in front of a computer is not going to get you there. Actually taking pictures just might.

This is not intended as a slam, Chris, it's just intended to give others a chance to post real-world questions, and for knowledgeable folks to respond and discuss those questions.

No one really cares about who makes the best bridge, mirrorless, superzoom, hypothetical cameras, what Pentax is in the works, Pink/Orange/Violet casts on camera preview screens, F8, photographic posters, chemistry differences between Kodak Fuji Ilford, what color a camera is, and so on - these questions have a distinct flavor of "survey taking" as if you were writing a book and soliciting opinions, and nearly all of them can be answered either by searching the topics on this forum or using google. And in many cases by actually taking a camera out and using it.

Give it a rest.

This is my morning rant for today.