Barbara D Loc: Norfolk, VA

Hello photographer friends! I am purchasing a new camera to take on my trip to Africa in a couple of months.

I am looking for a point and shoot bridge camera. I don't want to have to deal with trying to change lenses and keeping sensors clean while riding in dusty conditions. Bringing 2 camera bodies (one with short lens the other with long) is out of the question.

I have a top dollar range of around $750. So far, the Nikon Coolpix B700 to be in the lead of cameras I've looked at. My husband has one and likes it. He is not as heavily into photography as I am, and I was wondering if someone might suggest a better choice for me.

Here is the link for the B700, if any of you care to take a look:

https://www.bestbuy.com/…/nikon-coolpix-b700-20-…/4997101.p…

Thanks for any words of wisdom you hay have to offer!

deer2ker Loc: Nashville, TN

I'm a Nikon fan to be sure but I have also been looking at some bridge cameras to take on a trip to Costa Rica - I am leaning towards the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000. In your price range and the ability to shoot in Raw! It has some great reviews as well. I am no expert for sure so I'm hoping some others will give their opinions.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I just bought a bridge camera, the Nikon B700 and I am very pleased with it. I'm considering buying the circular polarizer that comes with an attaching clamp made for the B700 (about $40 on Amazon). I was very impressed with the 1440mm telephoto reach and the fact I can set the controls manually. I'm also impressed with the 4K video. I believe you can shoot in 4K for about 7 minutes per clip. The only downside I have discovered on this camera is that it won't reduce the aperture past f8. There are occasions when f11 or even f16 can produce some very nice softer images. The only other complaint is the in camera panorama won't work for me. But I prefer to take my panorama shots individually, and let Photoshop merge the overlapping shots. I have an FX dslr, three DX dslrs and a CX dslr. I like the way the B700 focuses and handles, the reach and the 4K video. It does shoot raw, but you have to convert the raw images with the free Nikon Capture NX-D software. However after some testing I prefer the jpg images to the raw images on this camera. I did quite a bit of research on super zoom bridge cameras and felt it was the best choice for me.

Barbara D Loc: Norfolk, VA

I'm not familiar with the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000, and just Googled it. It's apparently being replaced by the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500. I looked at the specs for both Panasonics, and it seems like they have a lot of "pros" that are not terribly important to me.

I do know one person with the Nikon B700, maybe I can borrow it to try it out. I know another person who bought the Nikon P900, and he regrets not getting the B700.

I'm not committed to any one camera brand at the moment. My DSLR is a Canon. But I've been comparing the Canon bridge cameras to others, and have yet to find one in my price range that is worth taking a closer look at. By posting here and getting suggestions, I'm hoping to expand my options. :)

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

New:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1009156-REG/sony_dscrx10_b_cyber_shot_dsc_rx10_digital_camera.html?ap=y&c3api=1876%2C%7Bcreative%7D%2C%7Bkeyword%7D&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzafGm7_s2AIVB5FpCh0tdgkEEAQYAiABEgL_ivD_BwE

Used:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/used/1009156/sony_dscrx10_b_cyber_shot_dsc_rx10_digital_camera.html

deer2ker Loc: Nashville, TN

Now there you go! Great price and great camera although I think that she was wanting a longer reach.

Barbara D Loc: Norfolk, VA

I wouldn't mind a longer zoom range, but I think the B700 is the longest I've seen. Again, I was just wondering if there was something better.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Longer isn’t necessarily better...just sayin’. :-)

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I've done some testing and the full 1440mm zoom on the B700 is about equal to cropping a picture taken with a 400mm lens on my D7000. Remember a camera or a lens is a tool, different tools are better for some things and not so good for others. The B700 for example can't take macros as well as a dslr with a macro lens. It has a limited aperture range of f3.3 to f8, so it will not be as good as a dslr in low light without a flash, or as good as a fast prime lens for shallow depth of field. When you say better, you need to figure out "better for what?" No camera or lens is best for everything. What's the most important factors to you in a bridge camera? They all have strengths and weaknesses.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

How about the P900? More zoom for under your price limit.
https://smile.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-Starter-Cleaning-protector/dp/B01I23IW0Q/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1516707347&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=nikon+p900&psc=1

dalekohl

Panasonic fz300 would be my choice and it is weather resistant. It also beats the nikon b700 at Camera Decision in comparison testing. Fz 1000 would be my second choice because it had a larger sensor.

rayr

The Lumix FZ1000 with a 1 inch sensor is a great bridge camera and shoots RAW images and 4K video. I bought one last year just for the 4K video.

wteffey Loc: Ocala, FL USA

I recently switched from a DSLR to the Panasonic FZ1000. While I think I miss the "feel" of a DSLR, the FZ1000 has a number of advantages. It is about the same size so holding it is easy, it goes to f2.8 zoomed all the way back, and is still fairly fast zoomed in to 400mm. The electronic view finder, which I use 100%, is big and bright, and the electronic zoom feels a lot like a manual zoom. The 1" sensor gives results that rival a DSLR most of the time, especially when starting with RAW. On the other hand, it is not weather (and dust) sealed, mine delivers a weird circular bokeh on occasion (similar to a mirror lens) and many DSLR users look down on it (if you would care)

rayr

Try shooting some slow motion video with your FZ1000, fantastic. Also I have a friend that shoots with a FZ1000 and shoots video and saves video frames and gets some beautiful jpeg images of wildlife.