Upgrade from Compact Zoom to Bridge?

[NotBernard65]

I have a Panasonic TZ80 camera (so 30x zoom) and am considering upgrading to a bridge camera. The cameras I’m considering are the Panasonic FZ82 / FZ330 and the Canon SX70 (UK location).

My use case is for carrying when out walking/hiking for wildlife/bird capture, scenic/landscape etc, just for personal/family consumption.

My musings so far are:

• What are the benefits of the FZ330 over my TZ80 (having similar zoom levels).
• I’m leaning towards the FZ82 / SX70 (significant zoom upgrade) but the lack of environmental protection is a negative.

Any thoughts/advice appreciated.

 

[nx4737]

Skip the bridge camera, just get an entry level mirrorless, the size and weight will be near enough comparable, so will the price, but you'll be getting a lot more camera for the money.

I went down the Compact - Bridge - DSLR route years ago and the bridge camera, looking back, was a pointless step, I may as well have just skipped it and put the money towards the DSLR.

 

[NotBernard65]

Skip the bridge camera, just get an entry level mirrorless, the size and weight will be near enough comparable, so will the price, but you'll be getting a lot more camera for the money.

I went down the Compact - Bridge - DSLR route years ago and the bridge camera, looking back, was a pointless step, I may as well have just skipped it and put the money towards the DSLR.

Thanks for the reply. I assume I wouldn’t get anywhere near the zoom capabilities for similar money though? Also don’t want to cart/carry multiple lenses.

 

[woof woof]

Thanks for the reply. I assume I wouldn’t get anywhere near the zoom capabilities for similar money though? Also don’t want to cart/carry multiple lenses.

No, you likely wouldn't.

I don't know if a 1" compact camera could suit you. I bought a Panasonic TZ100 which had a 25-250mm zoom lens. The image quality is better than you'd get from a small sensor compact or even from a small sensor bridge camera but 250mm is nothing for birds and similar subjects. One advantage is that it's small and genuinely coat pocketable if not really trouser pocket pocketable.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

I use both a TZ70 and a FZ82, while my wife uses a TZ80, so I can compare them from personal experience...



The obvious difference is the size, as the image above illustrates. Next to the TZ series, the FZ82 is big.

The major similarity is in the sensor, which is the same size in both cameras and is probably identical because they're both 18MP. They both use motorised zooms and for my money the lenses aren't that different in performance up to 30x zoom.

However, the FZ82 carries on to 60x zoom, which is equivalent to a 1400mm lens on a full frame camera, meaning you can nearly fill the frame with a picture of the full moon, just don't expect the same quality as you'd get from a good telescope...

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The FZ82 also goes to the equivalent of a 20mm wide angle, which is unusual on small camera, especially at this price...



The F82 seems to focus somewhat closer than the TZ70, which makes it especially useful for close-ups...



Toughness comes down to "it depends". I've used the FZ82 in wet weather but I was careful to keep it well covered...



The FZ82 can cope with wildlife but a lot will depend on your expectations. This camera will definitely benefit from the use of a monopod, which will, on the other hand, double as a walking stick...



If you're prepared to work within its limitations, this camera is a bargain. If you're the obsessive type, then you might want to look to a rather more expensive and much heavier device.

Overall, my opinion after a year's use is that the price is just unbeatable for what it gives you.

 

[Sangoma]

For the same zoom, the compact is more useful than the 82.
For longer zooms, the 82 can be useful, but noise levels are high so cropping can result in a poor image

The mood is a good example of the advantage of the 82, and also of its shortcomings.
It looks impressive, until you look closely.

The maximum optical zoom of the 82 is 1200eq, but a picture taken of the moon with that, and one taken with a G9 and an 800eq lens is huge

I find the 82 is good for touristy shots where you want to get closer without walking, and the wide angle is useful for similar uses.

However, the compact is a better camera with more useful features, so the 82 really offers nothing extra except the zoom

 

[NotBernard65]

@AndrewFlannigan, thanks for the comprehensive reply, it's really appreciated. So would you consider the FZ82 used in its wide to 50% zoom range any better than the TZ80 i.e. the only real benefit of the FZ82 being more zoom?

 

[SimonH]

I’ve had a TZ30 and a TZ60 and a FZ330. The TZ's are fine as a pocket camera - in fact I reckon I got better images from the TZ30 than the TZ60.

However…..

The FZ330 is a great camera despite its diminutive sensor. It benefits from good light because of that sensor, but used carefully it takes great photos - I’ve got a 90cm x 30cm print on my bedroom wall which is lovely. Won’t stand up to pixel peeping, but if you want a camera that is relatively lightweight and smallish, takes decent shots, with a long zoom, and is weather resistant I can’t praise it highly enough.

If you want better IQ then go for a small mirrorless but you’ll up your budget, and likely need more than 1 lens (eventually).

Feel free to look though my Flickr pages for images shot with the FZ330. I won’t win any awards, but they made me happy…..

Full disclosure, I’ve just sold my 330 as I bought an FZ2000 last year and it wasn’t getting much use as a consequence.

 

[steve_lyt]

The fz82 will produce acceptable images, but it also has some interesting features like post focusing , where you can select the focus point after the image has been taken. But the images taken under challenging light may not match a mirrorless camera.

 

[ancient_mariner]

A couple of things to think about:

What sort of pictures do you usually take with your camera - are they at the extreme telephoto end or just 'normal' pictures around the middle/wide end of the zoom?

How important is quality to you 1 - do you want something that will deliver great image quality or would you be happy with phone-level pictures only with a bit more reach at the long end?

How important is quality to you 2 - will you ever want to print some of these (possibly for the wall?) or will they just stay on the hard drive?


We own a variety of different formats and sizes of cameras, and a few years ago moved my wife from a TZ9 superzoom compact to an Olympus E-M10. The new camera was a little bigger than her TZ9 and smaller than the FZ82 AF showed for comparison, but the quality was very much better and it's very rare that she wants a greater zoom range than the 12-42 pancake zoom that came with the camera, although if she ever does then we have a longer telephoto too.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

i.e. the only real benefit of the FZ82 being more zoom?

In essence, yes.

For me, the advantage of being able to go from ultrawide to ultralong in one unit is its reason for existing and not to be underestimated. The incidental advantages, for me, are the better ergonomics - it's far more comfortable to hold than any TZ I've used.

However, different people have different needs in their cameras, which is the main reason there are so many different types. My advice is not to let anyone tell you what you need. They can only tell you what they like; you must decide on that basis what's best for you.

 

[Sangoma]

The quality you want is important as has been said.

I use a TZ60 when travelling, and I am extremely happy with the quality for that purpose, I have a print on the wall that is 5' wide and looks fine (not that the picture is anything special, I wanted something to cover the bare wall when the projector screen was retracted, and it has to be flush with the wall).
I also have a TZ70, thought it would have less noise than the TZ60 due to less resolution, but in reality is is not as good.

The TZ60 gives better results than a recent iphone or an s22.

I bought the 82 thinking it would be useful, but only find it useful on a bright day, will probably take it with me on my next visit to a sunny place, and leave it with family there, as it hardly gets used. Noise is its biggest problem, which becomes obvious on anything but the slightest crop.

For a step up in quality, but still fairly small it could be a GX7 (16MP) or GX9 (20MP) with a 14-140 lens. Overall size very roughly the same as the 82, but less bulky, and hugely better quality.
Of course that needs to be paid for

In your needs, the bird/wildlife is probably going to be the hardest one to meet.
I wouldn't think a compact would meet it, and I don't think overall the 82 would meet it. It may do sometimes, but at others the results will be very disappointing. I don't think any small sensor camera would meet it fully if you want any level of quality. Of course people have taken some good photos with them, as people have with most types of camera, but as it is on your needs list, it would need to be consistent to met your need.

There are some bridge cameras that would meet your needs, but they are in the same or higher price range than a M43 camera, I have never owned anything like that, and the choices then would be a whole new topic

A very good point was made here

My advice is not to let anyone tell you what you need. They can only tell you what they like; you must decide on that basis what's best for you.

I like Panasonic, right from my old TZ1 through to my G9s, for several and varied reasons, and can only talk about what I have or had.

 

[NotBernard65]

Thank you all for your comments. I will enter my pondering-phase and be sure to loop back here with my decision