home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

just a comment most long lens need a fast shutter to reduce camera movement blur

jim in TC Loc: Traverse City, Michigan

I got one of these not too long ago and I am greatly impressed. I haven't tried any prints, large or small, as yet but your experience is certainly encouraging. This little camera seems to do it all! The viewfinder is pretty small, but that it has one at all was a significant selling point for me.

User ID

My Lunix FZ100 has no aprtures beyond f/8 anywho. I assume the FZ200 is similar ?

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Both are old models. The current model is the FZ300. The only real compromise is the 12 MP sensor. My 1st DSLR was 8 MP and did a fine job. I can't speak for the s110. The 5X lens isn't very long by today's standards. If you have tried it and find it adequate for your needs, then

Judy795

I have the FZ 200. It was my first camera. I learned how to shoot in manual mode with it.
If you shoot in RAW which I think this camera does, and edit in LR, your images will be fine. I did not even know what constant f/2.8 meant when I got the camera. Nor did I know much about composition then.
I got the FZ 1000 for my husband to use on trips with the FZ 200 as a backup. I do his editing.

Judy795

The f/8 on the FZ 200 camera is equivalent to f/16 on a DSLR

mffox Loc: Avon, CT

I travelled through Scotland, England and Wales with a tour group carrying the Panasonic FZ200 and was more than satisfied with the camera's performance. Prior to that I took the same river cruise: Rhine/Danube from Amsterdam to Vienna with a Canon sx 50; great for shooting from the boat and on shore, if you can find one.

eric from Maine now Washington State

I think that I can point you in the right direction if you are looking for a small camera with a long zoom that takes decent photos. You would find some challenges such as using the camera with the sun behind you. There's no viewfinder, and the controls are small. The Sony wx350 has been around for quite a while but you can still find new ones in the $300 range and $200 used. It easily fits in a shirt pocket, zooms the equivalent of 25-500mm, and makes close-ups down to 2 inches. The photo quality is amazingly good considering the tiny sensor. I've made many enlargements of extreme closeups to 12" x 16" which show tack-sharp detail. (Keep in mind, however, that cameras with larger sensors will give detail that is missed by compact cameras.) You'll find opinions here that denigrate cameras of this sort, but I can tell you from long experience that I've never had anybody view my photos and criticize the photographic quality. One word of advice for you: whichever camera you choose, try to get it well before your trip so as to become thoroughly familiar with it.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I've used the SX50 & SX60 for a number of "from ship" shootings during Viking river cruises in the same area. You're right, they both can be tricky to find these days. I have noticed them pop up from time to time on KEH, MPB, and EBay. The SX70 hasn't been easy to find as well except through resellers. You can, however, buy it new directly from Canon for $600. Refurbs occasionally come up for about $130 less but you gotta grab them. Think about it for 5 minutes and they may be gone.

LXK0930 Loc: Souh Jersey

Note: I like the s110 because it will fit in the smallest pocket. Lens is f2.0 (variable aperture), supports both raw and jpeg, and has flash (but no viewfinder). I find that it is great for in-town or indoor use.
Paired with the Lumix FZ200 long lens for shooting from the boat, I hope that I have all bases covered.

SlideArtist Loc: Connecticut

I too have physical limitations and have always used the Canon SX series. I started with the SX40 and then advanced to SX50 and SX60. I prefer Canon over Nikon series of superzooms. Love the back that articulates so allows for all angle shots and like the view finder when I need to hold camera steady. (Which you will need to do on the river cruise. ) The price is very reasonable and yes, you loose some sharpness at the extreme optical zooms. With software, soe of that can be improved. I've always wanted to go on that cruise. Approaching 80 so not sure I'll get there. Enjoy your trip!!!

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Like I mentioned before, if your S110 doesn't have the focus issue, you'll be fine.

SlideArtist Loc: Connecticut

As I read on down I noticed that someone mentioned the Sony HX99. I also have this camera although I preferred the older HX80, now out of availability because it used the standard SD memory card while the 99 used the micro chip card requiring the SD adapter. One caution, When lens is fully out I find the balance of the camera a bit awkward and never felt comfortable with the wrist strap. So I attached a lanyard that I place around my neck and it has saved me from dropping the camera on many occasions. No raw shooting but the extra fine jpeg has been great for me. Has a lot of built in special features that I find fun to use (watercolor, illustrative etc.)

trapper1 Loc: Southside Virginia

[quote=billnikon]The Sony HX99.....

It is amazing to see that painting of the famous WW II
VJ-Day photo taken in NYC of the nurse and the sailor. Was that painting in Europe?

Trapper1

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

[quote=trapper1]

New York City