Alternative to D7100 & super-zoom

The_Traveler · Aug 30, 2014

The wife of My good friend (non photographer) is a prolific snapshooter and has been using a 6 year old Canon T3 and two lenses.
She would like to switch to a newer body with a single do it all lens. ( yes, I know) and I would suggest a D 7100 and a 18-200 or 300.

Is there a Canon equivalent that anyone would recommend?

( budget is not really an issue but ~2000 dollars would make my friend happy.)
They travel a lot and weight is an issue.

rudimaes · Aug 31, 2014

If you want a good allround camera with a do it all lens look at the Panasonic FZ1000. A bridge with a fast F2.8-F4, 25-400mm equiv. Leica zoomlens.
This camera gets good pro- and user reviews.
Or a mirrorless like the Sony A6000 with a 18-200mm zoom (27-300mm equiv.). This is a very fast MILC.
Rudi

Ido · Aug 31, 2014

If only one lens will be used, there is absolutely zero reason to buy an interchangeable-lens camera. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 that rudimaes suggested is a great choice, and so is the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10, which covers a range that's equivalent to 24-200mm on 35mm frame (like 16-135mm on APS-C), and has a constant aperture of f/2.8. It has the same sensor size and resolution -- presumably the exact same sensor -- as the aforementioned Lumix.

Choosing between the two is extremely tough. Imaging Resource has a nice comparative review of them (Sony RX10 vs Panasonic FZ1000), but it too is pretty much inconclusive, due to the RX10's $300 price drop, making their price difference just $100 in favor of the FZ1000, so price is no longer a differentiating factor.

jaomul · Aug 31, 2014

The 70d is the nikons nearest competitor, but the 60d can be got very cheap now, is almost as good except for video (the 70d does have a fancier autofocus system but 60d no slouch)

The latest sigma 18-200mm OS gets good reviews, there is However a lot of superzooms that get good reviews now including the tamron 18-270 vc model