Most versatile bridge camera ?

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Borats Baby

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Rikki
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I currently own a Panasonic DMC-FZ50 and am very pleased with it.

It offers 12x optical zoom, image stablisation, 10.1 megapixel sensor and a good macro function.

I titled this thread "most versatile" rather than "best" because I realise lots of people will say the "best" is 'whatever feels best for you' etc etc, which I agree is probably true.

But what I want to know is, Is there anything out there with say, better optics, better macro function, more zoom without losing light or whatever, etc etc....

ie: Can I get a better bridge camera than the Panny ? :D

I've decided I dont want an SLR as the sheer versatility of bridge cameras outways anything for me. I cant be changing lenses all the time to get different shots.....

So, can anyone help ?
 
your post kinda contradicts itself as you start off singing its praises and its merits, to then ask for a camera which is better than it but do not want a DSLR.

Personally I would stick with what you have got :)
 
It is defiantly NOT the Kodak ZD710. It is the one I have and it is not very good :( Kodak overloaded the sensor by giving in 10x Optical zoom. It cant handle indoors, it cant handle shadows, it cant handle slow shutter speeds, it blows highlights, if the sky is clear it blows that too!! So all in all it has its faults :D
 
i currently have the fuji S6500fd which is very good, i mainly bought it because of the newer superCCD chip and i couldnt afford the panasonic FZ50 or the sony DSC with carl zeiss optics

I am happy withthe fuji though and it has served me pretty well, but i dont think it is as good as the FZ50
 
thepharcyde said:
your post kinda contradicts itself as you start off singing its praises and its merits, to then ask for a camera which is better than it but do not want a DSLR.

Personally I would stick with what you have got :)
Click to expand...

Not really,

You can sing somethings praises all you like, it doesn't mean theres nothing better out there..

Thanks for the info on the Fuji insane, thats one I can knock off the list.
 
The Fuji FinePix S100FS is supposed to be a good camera.
 
I've got a Fujifilm S9600 as well and very pleased with it - in a similar position to yourself at the moment as I've been thinking of going the DSLR route still a bit unsure what the best option is!

It depends on your budget really - I've been looking at the Fujifilm S100FS and this looks a brilliant camera.

After seeing this camera and loving the S9600 so much, I tempted to make this my next camera instead of a DSLR. I'm in no rush though so I'm going to wait a bit longer and hopefully have a lend of a DSLR to see how I get on with it and then take it from there!
 
If you want something with a bigger zoom, then you should know the lens is unlikely to be any better than that of your FZ50.
If you want better picture quality technically (less noise, a bit more dynamic range, etc.) then you'll have to go for something with a bigger sensor.
If you want better macros, grab a Raynox like Ajophotog did for his FZ8.
If it's faster focusing speed and camera operation, then you're in for a long search for something that's probably only marginally better at best if it's not a DSLR.

You don't have to be changing lenses all the time on a DSLR if you have a decent zoom lens, btw.
 
l used an FZ7 for 3 years before l got my Canon.

l love it...even now. lts macro is awesome....for its class. lt struggles in low light, but to be honest, l don't use any camera indoors much.

And with e Leica lens, you really can't go wrong.
 
I have used a Canon S3, the S5's predecessor, & I really enjoyed it especially for macro where it had 2 modes, one of which could focus at 0cm!

The articulated screen also helped a lot.
 
I had a fuji s6500fd which on the plus side:

- cost be £160 including cards/case
- sold it a year later for £130
- was massively better than a compact
- good screen.

But:

- the view finder was next to useless
- noise over ISO 400 was pronounced
- low-light ability not very good due to ISO limitation
- no ability to blur backgrounds due to tiny sensor (about 1/40th of FF)

Hope that helps :)
 
Hmm,

Given that it seems optics is paramount, and the FZ50 has a good lens on it, I think I may be stuck in a rut.

I think I want too much. Looks like I'll stick with the panny !!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions etc, but there is no clear cut answer here.

I am going to have to be happy with what I've got... I just though there may have been something better out there.

BB
 
There's always something better out there..... the trick is not to look too often...& definately don't look directly at them:eek:
 
Even though I had recently purchased a Nikon D40 which I'm very happy with, I'm keeping hold of my trusty lil' Fuji S5600. Can't bear to part with it as it does brilliant zooms - saves me changing lens on the D40 on account of that.
As a little side note, if you're a student or you just fancy a knockabout camera to have on you at all times, the best budget camera I've come across is the Fuji A900. It is an amazing little camera with a x4 optical zoom for pocket money prices (less than £70).
 
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