FZ1000 alternatives...

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ivandobski

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Right, I've pretty much decided I'm going to buy myself an FZ1000 bridge camera but for the same budget, £600 max, what other combinations should I be looking at which offers similar range and image quality?

Second hand considered, if not essential to get dslr set up and I've a preference for Pentax but not averse to other brands. Main use would be landscape, general outdoor sports and wildlife, a vague intention to do portraits and generally messing about with shallow dof. I'd be looking for something with a hinged LCD as well.

I'm quite tempted by an older dslr and a couple of primes but I'd struggle to get any range doing it this way.

Basically, I want the moon on a stick!
 
Just a quick thought on messing about with shallow DoF.

I think that one of the cheapest ways of doing this is with a mirrorless camera and old manual focus lenses (mirrorless because IMO they're much better than DSLR's for manual focus) or alternatively an older DSLR and something like an 85mm f1.8.
 
I did have a Pentax kx with the manual focus 50mm f1.7 which was great but needed everything setting manually as well as focus which was a bit of a pain although it did give good sharp images.

In retrospect I should have kept that camera!
 
I have used my FZ1000 on holidays to save carting lenses around and im reasonably happy with it. However to get any form of shallow depth of field you rely on the zoom and a good degree of background separation from your subject with most 1" sensor cameras.

It is a great camera. However, as Alan suggest MFT would be an excellent option.
 
I very much like the FZ1000; However, you could squeeze a Canon 700D and 18-135 (or possibly a bigger zoom too?) which gives you everything off the FZ1000 plus a bit more; excellent touch screen, and obviously the benefits of an SLR - bigger sensor and faster continuous AF. TBH, you could probably use the 135 and even if you cropped it, it would give better results than the FZ1000. I love the FZ1000, but i has its limits; Check the prices, as the new 750D has wifi and a few more features that make it this years model. Only thing you will be loosing out on is 4k video - but do you even want that? A brand new Fiat panda is excellent off road for what it is, but an 8 year old range rover is far superior; Kinda trying to portray, that it is excellent - for its class.. Hope this may help!
 
I'd much rather have 4k video than wi-fi, nfc etc so the FZ wins in that respect. I do suspect the dslr route, prob 2nd hand body at least, might be better in the long term. I'm not sure about the 4/3 / mft systems yet but wouldn't be against the idea per-se.

Woof woof - why would mirrorless be better for manual focus?
 
Without checking the specific bridge camera you are referring to. They usually don't go very wide and the small sensor low dynamic range isn't best suited for landscape use. I think a DSLR and a wide angle lens would be a better option with your budget.
 
rjbell said:
Without checking the specific bridge camera you are referring to. They usually don't go very wide and the small sensor low dynamic range isn't best suited for landscape use. I think a DSLR and a wide angle lens would be a better option with your budget.
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Checking first avoids giving misleading information. The FZ1000 has a 24-400mm equivalent zoom and a 1" sensor. The dynamic range isn't as good as m43 or APS-C, of course, but the same sensor in the Sony RX10 can produce some remarkable results and I doubt the FZ1000 is very different.
 
Snapsh0t said:
Checking first avoids giving misleading information. The FZ1000 has a 24-400mm equivalent zoom and a 1" sensor. The dynamic range isn't as good as m43 or APS-C, of course, but the same sensor in the Sony RX10 can produce some remarkable results and I doubt the FZ1000 is very different.
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not sure it's misleading the point still stands. You can go a lot wider and have better dynamic range for £600. But I take your point.

I suggest to the op to check flickr for images he would like to achieve and check the focal length.
 
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ivandobski said:
I'd much rather have 4k video than wi-fi, nfc etc so the FZ wins in that respect. I do suspect the dslr route, prob 2nd hand body at least, might be better in the long term. I'm not sure about the 4/3 / mft systems yet but wouldn't be against the idea per-se.

Woof woof - why would mirrorless be better for manual focus?
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The FZ1000 has wifi too by the way... As I said, the FZ is a cracker, perhaps I'm talking from knowing whats achievable the DSLR route etc, so sorry if I'm confusing matters much..!
 
No it's good to hear. I do think a dslr would be "best" but I think for my use a good bridge camera will be more use.
 
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