what camera to buy? Howdy: I am trying to find a bridge camera for my wife that costs from one to three hundred dollars. It can be refurbished, as opposed to brand new. She wants a...

Custer

Howdy: I am trying to find a bridge camera for my wife that costs from one to three hundred dollars. It can be refurbished, as opposed to brand new. She wants a superzoom with 25x or more, simple point and shoot model, and very importantly, an optical viewfinder (she hates having to use a camera's monitor to compose and shoot.) Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

BebuLamar

How about an eye level electronic viewfinder? I don't know of any bridge camera that has 25x zoom and an optical viewfinder.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Custer wrote:

Howdy: I am trying to find a bridge camera for my wife that costs from one to three hundred dollars. It can be refurbished, as opposed to brand new. She wants a superzoom with 25x or more, simple point and shoot model, and very importantly, an optical viewfinder (she hates having to use a camera's monitor to compose and shoot.) Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

New no optical but electronic viewfinder, 65X Zoom. $ 500 New

Welcome to the forum.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1435399-REG/canon_3071c001_powershot_sx70_hs_digital.html/specs

hj Loc: Florida

I guess I'm not as technology savvy ..... as I have always tended to think both optical and electronic viewfinders are considered the same as opposed to the LED screen. In other words the little squint hole to avoid a washed out screen :-) . Is it possible that's what the OP meant? Look for a good condition Panasonic Lumix ZS50 which I think is 30X and has the viewfinder and the LED screen. Love mine. They are selling on eBay for around $150 on average.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

Canon USA site sells Canon Factory Refurbished cameras. Other cameras to look at that are very good are by Sony HX300, HX200 and Panasonic DC-ZS70. There are others, check Roberts Camera, KEH, and others for used. Check Best Buy for open box.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Custer wrote:

Howdy: I am trying to find a bridge camera for my wife that costs from one to three hundred dollars. It can be refurbished, as opposed to brand new. She wants a superzoom with 25x or more, simple point and shoot model, and very importantly, an optical viewfinder (she hates having to use a camera's monitor to compose and shoot.) Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

You can get a superzoom Bridge camera for less than $300. I recommend a used Panasonic FZ70, or a new FZ80. These cameras have the 16 megapixels 1/2.3" sensor. They both shoot JPEG and RAW. I've seen the FZ70 at a Best Buy Store. It has a viewfinder and a 3" LCD screen. And a hot shoe for a flash unit. The menu is as challenging as the Sony menu, but can be learned in time. Happy hunting. There are other options to choose from. These are just my recommendations. The FZ70 is discontinued. The FZ80 is current and the successor to the FZ70. Both have a focal range to 1200mm.

Custer

Okay. Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

drharveys Loc: Holly Springs, NC

hj wrote:

I guess I'm not as technology savvy ..... as I have always tended to think both optical and electronic viewfinders are considered the same as opposed to the LED screen. In other words the little squint hole to avoid a washed out screen :-) . Is it possible that's what the OP meant? Look for a good condition Panasonic Lumix ZS50 which I think is 30X and has the viewfinder and the LED screen. Love mine. They are selling on eBay for around $150 on average.

I bought the ZS50 used from a local online yard sale for $50, looks brand-new (lucky) so I could have this camera in the car instead of missing shots when the DSLR was home. It's got a learning curve for menus, but lots of auto/intelligent settings. Reviewed when it first came out- see dpreview.com.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I’d say Panasonic LUMIX FZxx or 1000.

hj Loc: Florida

mizzee wrote:

I’d say Panasonic LUMIX FZxx or 1000.

OP said wife wants at least 25X and the Lumix FZ1000 is only 16X. Also for consideration is the physical size she might want. The Lumix FZ series is rather large, almost DSLR size and not pocketable. If she wants a small camera to fit in the pocket or purse I again would recommend the ZS50 or ZS 70 which are much smaller yet still have 30X zoom. Great cameras.

lsaguy Loc: Udall, KS, USA

Look at the variety of bridge cameras that Fuji builds. You can find them with and without a viewfinder. Check Amazon for Fuji Finepix.

Here's a nice one used at KEH: https://www.keh.com/shop/fuji-s3280-black-digital-camera-camera-only-14-m-p-672773.html

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Try going to a store and see them all and then find one that you like in your hand. That's the camera that you will use.

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

Custer wrote:

Howdy: I am trying to find a bridge camera for my wife that costs from one to three hundred dollars. It can be refurbished, as opposed to brand new. She wants a superzoom with 25x or more, simple point and shoot model, and very importantly, an optical viewfinder (she hates having to use a camera's monitor to compose and shoot.) Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Sony HX99, can shoot raw, has a pop up viewfinder, has a 24-750 mm ZEISS lens. I use this camera and make 20X30 image popping prints with it.

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

Custer wrote:

Howdy: I am trying to find a bridge camera for my wife that costs from one to three hundred dollars. It can be refurbished, as opposed to brand new. She wants a superzoom with 25x or more, simple point and shoot model, and very importantly, an optical viewfinder (she hates having to use a camera's monitor to compose and shoot.) Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

PANASONIC LUMIX DC-ZS70, 20.3 Megapixel,

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Custer wrote:

Howdy: I am trying to find a bridge camera for my wife that costs from one to three hundred dollars. It can be refurbished, as opposed to brand new. She wants a superzoom with 25x or more, simple point and shoot model, and very importantly, an optical viewfinder (she hates having to use a camera's monitor to compose and shoot.) Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Custer, get out your wallet fast because deals like what you're wanting go quickly at this time of year. I personally have the Canon 530HS bridge, refurbished from Canon, and it performs wonderfully. Here is the link to get it:
https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/powershot-sx530-hs-refurbished

They have some in stock but at $169.99 they'll go fast.