Bridge Camera: Hi all.. happy summer. I have a question. Can anyone recommend a good bridge camera to hike to base camp at Mt Everest with? It needs to be light but get good quality...

Kalina54 Loc: Flagstaff, AZ

Hi all.. happy summer. I have a question. Can anyone recommend a good bridge camera to hike to base camp at Mt Everest with? It needs to be light but get good quality images. I have used a Panasonic Lumix previously and was not really impressed with the image quality. Maybe I am asking too much from a camera. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, K

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Usually recommended as the 'best' fixed lens 'bridge' camera is the Sony RX10IV. It weighs 2.4 pounds and is the most expensive of the 'bridge' cameras. It uses a sensor larger than the others in the 'bridge' group.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I would also recommend the Sony RX100vii. it has an excellent 24-200mm equiv Zeiss lens it is smaller and lighter than the RX10iv. I own both of them and produce excellent images.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

bsprague wrote:

Usually recommended as the 'best' fixed lens 'bridge' camera is the Sony RX10IV. It weighs 2.4 pounds and is the most expensive of the 'bridge' cameras. It uses a sensor larger than the others in the 'bridge' group.

bwa

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

ORpilot wrote:

I would also recommend the Sony RX100vii. it has an excellent 24-200mm equiv Zeiss lens it is smaller and lighter than the RX10iv. I own both of them and produce excellent images.

You made me smile! I have RX100VII and my wife has a RX10IV. It is a always a contest for sure!

If the OP had asked for the best camera to take, I would have suggested the same as you. But, the request was for a 'bridge' camera.

(Your online name suggest you are a pilot in Prineville. What do you fly?)

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

bsprague wrote:

Usually recommended as the 'best' fixed lens 'bridge' camera is the Sony RX10IV. It weighs 2.4 pounds and is the most expensive of the 'bridge' cameras. It uses a sensor larger than the others in the 'bridge' group.

I second that choice. I purchased one in 2017 for a Danube River Cruise. It's a fabulous camera. I sold my Canon equipment and have never regretted the choice.

Mark

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

After the RX10IV, one might consider the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300. It has a smaller sensor so the everything is lighter and smaller. It weighs 1.5 pounds. It is also a lot cheaper yet still weather sealed. However, the OP wrote that their previous experience with a Lumix was not "sharp" enough.

One online magazine writes, "We recommend this camera to outdoor photographers who want a more affordable (but still weather-protected) alternative to the Sony RX10 IV with just as much zoom range. The Type 1/2.3 sensor stacks up well with many other fixed-lens bridge models, while the F2.8 optics helps in overcast conditions."

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

bsprague wrote:

You made me smile! I have RX100VII and my wife has a RX10IV. It is a always a contest for sure!

If the OP had asked for the best camera to take, I would have suggested the same as you. But, the request was for a 'bridge' camera.

(Your online name suggest you are a pilot in Prineville. What do you fly?)

Unfortunately I don't fly anymore. I sold my vintage 1956 Cessna 172 when I retired. But, I'm always eggar to go for a ride. I owned a C140, C172, Stinson Voyager, Piper Clipper, PA28, Bellanca Viking, and flew B-52 in the AirForce

R.G. Loc: Scotland

If you think that you don't need the 600mm equiv. reach of the RX10 iii and beyond and if you think that 200mm is enough for you, consider the RX10 mark II which is lighter and probably cheaper than the more recent models.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

ORpilot wrote:

Unfortunately I don't fly anymore. I sold my vintage 1956 Cessna 172 when I retired. But, I'm always eggar to go for a ride. I owned a C140, C172, Stinson Voyager, Piper Clipper, PA28, Bellanca Viking, and flew B-52 in the AirForce

I know it is off topic so I will quit with this post. I flew P-3s in the Navy, including time at Utapao, the B-52 base. I never owned an airplane but was a salesman for Glasair and later Cessna with a territory from Oregon to Alaska. My last paid gig was as a float plane instructor.

Back to the topic... We used a Besler Topcon with a 135mm lens to take pictures of ships while flying in the Navy. I used a Nikkormat for air to air marketing images for Glasair.

During my Cessna years, I used a Sony RX100 (first version) a lot and would recommend it for the Mt Everest base camp trip.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

What model Lumix did you have?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I did 800 miles on the AT a few years ago, with the Canon PowerShot G9XII immediately available from my shorts pocket, shooting in RAW at 20MP.

Kalina54 Loc: Flagstaff, AZ

Kalina54 wrote:

Hi all.. happy summer. I have a question. Can anyone recommend a good bridge camera to hike to base camp at Mt Everest with? It needs to be light but get good quality images. I have used a Panasonic Lumix previously and was not really impressed with the image quality. Maybe I am asking too much from a camera. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, K

Thank you

Kalina54 Loc: Flagstaff, AZ

bsprague wrote:

Usually recommended as the 'best' fixed lens 'bridge' camera is the Sony RX10IV. It weighs 2.4 pounds and is the most expensive of the 'bridge' cameras. It uses a sensor larger than the others in the 'bridge' group.

Thank you

Laramie Loc: Tempe

I would recommend Canon's G1X Mk III. It has a shorter zoom, but has an APS-C sensor.