Low cost camera with sharp long distance zoom (Page 2): Because of your budget, your best bet will probably be look at used low cost mega zoom cameras, like the Nikon P series or Canon...

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Because of your budget, your best bet will probably be look at used low cost mega zoom cameras, like the Nikon P series or Canon mega zoom's (i forget the series number of the Canon). Good luck.

Buildrt Loc: Sarasota Fl

I have an older Nikon P520 I occasional use, I think you might find a used one within your budget.

Kiriakos

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?

Lumix ZS50 with 30X zoom lens, extremely pocketable at $300 is not bad.

https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Lumix-ZS50-Camera-Black/dp/B00RBG687A/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=lumix+zs50&qid=1604831447&sr=8-2

Or the Lumix ZS70 at $310 with higher resolution and 4K video

https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Digital-DC-ZS70K-Megapixel-VARIO-ELMAR-dp-B071R6JRZZ/dp/B071R6JRZZ/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

ZS 50 camera, unedited, handheld, 30X shot, of the Mystras Byzantine Castlle near Sparta , Greece, at 1,9 miles straight line. Hand tremor that of a 75 years old carcass.

(Download)

editorsteve

Garage sale is not crazy. I have a T adaptor that hooks my Pentax K1 to my 50-year-old Swift 1000mm 3" refractor (f/13.3). Very solid. If your spotting scope can take a T mount adaptor ($12) or if you can buy a cheap telescope at garage sale (very common item...with tripod, usually) then a cheap old dslr and the proper T to mate them, total cost of $200 is possible. I'm on the ocean just north of Boston. Steady atmosphere on many days...

Gspeed Loc: Rhinebeck, NY

Kiriakos wrote:

Lumix ZS50 with 30X zoom lens, extremely pocketabl... (show quote)

Wow!

hcmcdole

Use your phone to shoot through the telescope. Try an adapter for your telescope to your phone.

https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-81035-Smartphone-Adapter-Discoveries/dp/B07J2GGFQB/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=smartphone+adapter+for+a+telescope&qid=1604839254&sr=8-5

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

Gene51 wrote:

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 . . .

On rare days the air might cooperate to give you acceptable pictures if you are careful with a more suitable camera and lens. Gene51 is correct, as usual. A long lens won’t get you any closer. It can only give you more magnification of what you see from where you are. On certain days you might even work the atmospheric effects into the composition.

agillot

it does not matter what you use , at a large magnification , you need a very stable tripod .then the quality of the picture will depend on the equipment used .try a tripod on your I phone just to see .how far is that island ? .

AGO

Buy a boat and get closer to the island.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There are no junk cameras being sold under brand names today, so you have to shop by price and features.

Compact with long zoom -
https://www.t3.com/features/best-compact-cameras
https://www.techradar.com/news/best-travel-camera
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-superzoom-camera/
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/top-10-best-pocket-zoom---travel-zoom-cameras-2016-19720
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2016-roundup-consumer-long-zoom-compacts

Compact $300 -
https://www.consumerreports.org/point-shoot-digital-cameras/best-digital-cameras-under-300-dollars/
https://photophique.com/best-cameras-under-300/
https://www.photoworkout.com/best-compact-cameras-under-300-dollars/
https://www.adorama.com/alc/the-best-point-and-shoot-cameras-under-300

Compact $500 -
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-point-and-shoot-under-500/
http://www.bestproducts.com/tech/gadgets/g706/point-and-shoot-digital-cameras/

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

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?

No current zoom lens can match a telescope. If that's what needed to see wildlife on the island you should invest in a boat instead.

brooklyn-camera I Loc: Brooklyn, NY

I think that you should see if you can save more funds and apply it to a point and shoot model. Give B&H or Adorama a look for an idea of the price range that you are in. Good luck and hope you get what will help to get the photos you want.

Bigmike1 Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.

I keep seeing advertisements flashed on Facebook for a zoom lens that attaches to an iPhone and zooms in on objects great distances away with incredible clarity. Maybe that is what you are looking for.

steve Loc: Iowa

I believe you cannot find any camera for $200 that will satisfy your needs. Not even close.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

hcmcdole wrote:

Use your phone to shoot through the telescope. Try an adapter for your telescope to your phone.

https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-81035-Smartphone-Adapter-Discoveries/dp/B07J2GGFQB/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=smartphone+adapter+for+a+telescope&qid=1604839254&sr=8-5

I was at Yellowstone in a "bear jamb". I was shooting with an 800mm (equivalent field of view) lens. The guy next to me had his phone attached to a spotting scope. He said, "Did you see the eagle?". I did not and my cameras was not going to get much either. The eagle filled his phone screen. It was in a tree watching the bear eat its dinner!

This scope is under $100 and comes with a phone holder. If the OP can't make it work, it is returnable under the Amazon holiday policies until January 31.

https://www.amazon.com/Gosky-20-60x60-Spotting-Carrying-Adapter/dp/B07CG54ZXH/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=spotting+scopes&qid=1604845311&sr=8-5