Johnnyt Loc: keizer Oregon

I am retired and am living in a retirement home. I had to get rid of my Sony DSC RX10 m3. I had all of the bells and whistles. I now have a Nikon b600 point and shoot (phd. press here dummy. Just a joke!) I was wondering. Is it still worth it to try to take good photos? I feel like I have been taken from a great camera to a toy. Does anybody have any suggestions as to what I can do? Also is there a way that i can make the camera screen easier to see because the sun makes it hard to see plus I have essential tremors that make the screen hard to see. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank You. rey much.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

The Nikon B600 is only a toy if you imagine it to be a toy.

Learn exactly what each shooting mode does - specifically, how it will affect the camera settings. Then you will be able to select the best mode for each situation.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Too bad about your RX10 m3, I met and helped a guy with the RX10 mk4 figure out how to use it. Great fixed lens super zoom camera. But I couldn't come up with a reason for paying $1600 for one when I own 5 dslrs, one old super zoom and a pocket camera (wife has one dslr and one super zoom).
That problem with the view screen is why for the last 12+ years if it doesn't have a viewfinder I don't even consider it. I do have a Panasonic DMC-ZS6 I bought from Costco long ago that lives in my shirt pocket for "just in case" (I buy two pocket shirts, one for the camera and one for my notebook and pen.). In bright sunlight I usually keep the lens zoomed fairly wide and sort of aim over the top of the camera. Dim light or even at night that rear screen is just fine, but not in bright daylight.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Can you get another Sony DSC RX10 m3?

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

I often use my P&S bridge camera in my travels - my fancier DSLR often is not fast enough to catch instantaneous opportunities unless set to Auto which then makes it like P&S bridge camera?? Not familiar with your "toy" I glanced at the specs... 60x zoom with stabilization, 16 mp, 4,608 x 3456 max photo pixels, multi focus choices, 7 frame continuous, 6,400 ISO, 19.7" min focus and standard HD video. Biggest negative no true M, A, or S priority settings.

Assume the viewfinder can be made brighter in settings. So to this eye it would seem a true photographer could use for a variety of good photos. Good Luck.

Johnnyt Loc: keizer Oregon

I wish I could! Because of the situation I’m in My money and ways to get out to photograph are few and far between. But thanks for asking!

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I too live in a retirement community. One of the things that pisses me off is that people here take great pictures with crappy cameras. They don't know what a real camera should be and still take great images.

Nikon says the B600 does "what smartphones simply can't. Compact and lightweight, the COOLPIX B600 packs amazing zoom power—up to 60x optical zoom with Lens Shift Vibration Reduction (VR) to keep the shots sharp and steady"

The great wildlife photographers sit still in a blind and wait. Park yourself near some bushes and wait for the birds and squirrels. If you are patient, you will get stunning images.

Mustanger Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon USA

Plus surround yourself with lots of peanuts! Shelled peanuts are less messy & the birds love them....soon you will have them sitting on your shoulder!

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Do you have some way to secure the camera, or do you have a tripod? If you're prone to tremors and are limited to hand-held only, a superzoom is going to be unusable. I suggest you try a bridge camera that has less zoom (24-200 would be generous) and a larger sensor than your current camera (a 1" sensor would be ideal). You should be able to find reasonably priced second hand cameras, and if you look for alternatives to Sony you'll find very capable cameras for much less money than the Sony equivalents.

The Lumix FZ1000 sounds like a good choice. It has a 1" sensor and what sounds like good 5-axis optical image stabilisation (helps with the tremors). It hasn't as much zoom as your Sony but still more than you could realistically use for hand-held shots. It also has a viewfinder as well as a viewscreen. Using a viewfinder gives extra stability because your face becomes a stabilising element . And second hand it's less likely to cost silly money.

I think it's important to have interests and activities after you retire. If getting a good camera means sacrificing something else you should consider making that sacrifice.

ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

Sorry that you no longer have your RX10 but a P&S can create wonderful images. My Coolpix S9600 is my vacation camera and will produce what I consider to be great images for posting and viewing. Best of luck.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

OMG!! What are you saying??

Are you saying that expensive equipment is not all I need for taking good pictures? I need something else? Are you saying... OMG, I can get good pictures without expensive equipment? That is blasphemy !!!

Surely you jest!

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

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I have a RX10iii that I am willing to sell. $425 and includes CPL, battery, charger, and rubber lens hood. It is in good shape . I now have the RX10iv and don't need it. PM If you are interested

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

Lucky you! I'm still saving up, so I can get good pictures! Seems like as soon as I get enough money for the latest mirrorless camera and of course the lenses to go with it, a better and more expensive version comes out! I wonder, will I ever be wealthy enough to make a good photograph?
Ray.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

An economical solution to an OP problem... what a rarity at UHH.