Low cost camera with sharp long distance zoom: From my window I can see a small island in the bay. I bought the Phone Scope which is supposed to attach my iPhone Pro Max to my...

MJG Loc: Bonita Springs, FL

From my window I can see a small island in the bay. I bought the Phone Scope which is supposed to attach my iPhone Pro Max to my telescope - too unsteady. So I’m looking for a camera that will zoom in on the island and take sharp photos of the wildlife which is not visible without a strong telescope.
Any suggestions for a low cost camera for taking sharp distant images?

sholland98 Loc: Benbrook, Texas

What’s your budget?

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

MJG wrote:

From my window I can see a small island in the bay. I bought the Phone Scope which is supposed to attach my iPhone Pro Max to my telescope - too unsteady. So I’m looking for a camera that will zoom in on the island and take sharp photos of the wildlife which is not visible without a strong telescope.
Any suggestions for a low cost camera for taking sharp distant images?

Define please low cost for me. Thanks

MJG Loc: Bonita Springs, FL

Maybe $200.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Have you considered an phone adapter for a tripod?
I have one that holds my phone.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

MJG wrote:

From my window I can see a small island in the bay. I bought the Phone Scope which is supposed to attach my iPhone Pro Max to my telescope - too unsteady. So I’m looking for a camera that will zoom in on the island and take sharp photos of the wildlife which is not visible without a strong telescope.
Any suggestions for a low cost camera for taking sharp distant images?

How about Focal Length 4.3 to 357mm (35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 24 to 2000mm)
Optical Zoom 83x

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1551798-REG/nikon_coolpix_p950_digital_camera.html/specs

Blew your budget sorry.

MJG Loc: Bonita Springs, FL

My iPhone 11 Pro Max, 10x Zoom I believe, takes a fuzzy shot of the island but no focus on the birds sitting there. I can only see them through the telescope.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

MJG wrote:

My iPhone 11 Pro Max, 10x Zoom I believe, takes a fuzzy shot of the island but no focus on the birds sitting there. I can only see them through the telescope.

Ah.

repleo Loc: Boston

MJG wrote:

From my window I can see a small island in the bay. I bought the Phone Scope which is supposed to attach my iPhone Pro Max to my telescope - too unsteady. So I’m looking for a camera that will zoom in on the island and take sharp photos of the wildlife which is not visible without a strong telescope.
Any suggestions for a low cost camera for taking sharp distant images?

I think that a cheap long zoom that would come even close to a telescope would be a total waste of money. The Sony RX10 or Nikon P1000 might meet your needs but they are way outside your budget.

MJG Loc: Bonita Springs, FL

Yes. Too expensive unfortunately but it looked pretty good.

MJG Loc: Bonita Springs, FL

Yes, I agree they’d be too expensive for me, an amateur photographer.

sholland98 Loc: Benbrook, Texas

Gonna be really tough to get there with that budget. Maybe a garage sale by someone that didn’t know what they had was worth.

Tom Moore Loc: Ojai, CA

I vote for a Canon SX50 or SX60. I've used both of them a lot. They have optical zoom out to 1200 or 1300mm equivalent. Great images from small sensors.
I think you should be able to find them affordably priced

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

MJG wrote:

From my window I can see a small island in the bay. I bought the Phone Scope which is supposed to attach my iPhone Pro Max to my telescope - too unsteady. So I’m looking for a camera that will zoom in on the island and take sharp photos of the wildlife which is not visible without a strong telescope.
Any suggestions for a low cost camera for taking sharp distant images?

A long zoom won't get you what you want. Most of the image degradation is due to atmospheric conditions - haze, mist, fog, heat shimmer, etc. You could spend $20,000 on a lens and full frame camera and not be at all satisfied. Good luck with your quest . . .

MJG Loc: Bonita Springs, FL

Thanks, Gene. I’m afraid you may be right. Just not possible. This seemed my best possibility but it still probably won’t catch the eagles and pelicans sitting out there:
Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera, 18.1 Megapixel Video Camera, 60X Zoom DC VARIO 20-1200mm Lens, F2.8-5.9 Aperture, Power O.I.S. Stabilization, Touch Enabled 3-Inch LCD, Wi-Fi, DC-FZ80K (Black)