Best Bridge (superzoom)?

[Tringa]

The only camera I can comment on is my current one - am FZ28. It is fairly old now - there three newer FZ models - but it is an excellent camera. So if Panasonic have kept up the quality the fz 38, 45 and 100 should be great.

Only concern about the fz100 is that its price would buy a DSLR.


But reviews show there are loads of good bridge camera.

[Mark Burgess]

There’s a good group test here: 'Super Zoom' Camera Group Test (Q2 2010) Review: 5. Fujifilm FinePix HS10: Digital Photography Review

[canny]

Just found this thread, (sorry Words) as there thanks to me, is now 2 threads running on a similar subject.

I wonder why no one anywhere seems to include the Sony bridge cameras in these comparisons? I have an old Cybershot H5 which I love but at 12x is now a bit left behind the latest is 20x I think. Sony havn't produced any new super zoom models for ages which is a bit sad.

[Paul mabbott]

Just a couple of comments Cybershot v Canon from a different perspective. A couple of years back I had to replace my Canon (it was stolen) and had to buy a Sony over which I had little choice. The Sony is mainly plastic whereas the Canon was metal (and had survived several severe shocks) and the Sony battery is a rip-off and takes about 5 hours to recharge. So I wasn't initially too keen!

However, over the years, I've come to consider the Cybershot the better buy: for what I want (mainly close-up, 'macro' use) it does a much better job than the Canon. It is much better on distant zoom: I've got much better (sharper, brighter) distant pictures of (e.g.) birds than I did with the Canon. It is really quite good in bad light conditions and (in contrast to the Canon) you can turn off the default flash and other settings. Even the plastic feel is good - it's much lighter to carry about!

So I'm thinking that Canon is rather overrated and over-priced and it's well worth trying out Sony or other makes.

[canny]

So pleased to hear that Paul, what model do you have and do you use a converter as well?

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by canny

So pleased to hear that Paul, what model do you have and do you use a converter as well?

Haven't needed a converter but I don't do really tiny stuff - this is good enough for things down to 3mm.

I was hoping nobody would ask about the model: I shall need to look up the paperwork! Here it is, I think: Sony H50B Cybershot - magnification is up to 15x. I'm not sure that the model is still available; I wasn't recommending it as such, just suggesting that something like it might be better value than the equivalent Canon.