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Shopping for a bridge camera for my father.

flyin-lowe

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My mother told me my father wants a "camera like yours (DSLR)" that is easy to use. He is in his late 60's and I know he will not be able use and not be happy with a SLR. I have been searching google hoping to find a bridge camera that stands out but for the most part each web site has different ones at the top. A friend recommended the SX50HS Canon. I have also seen some good about the Sony HX 300. My father has never been into photography, he has two grandchildren so I am assuming he is wanting to use them for plays, sports events etc. Some would be indoor some would be outdoors. My thoughts are it might be better to get something with a little less zoom if it would preform a little better in low light. As most of you pros know, the number one complaint I hear about peoples cameras is that the pictures are blurry when people are moving. Some people don't know why you can't take pictures of people running around in a dark night club. She is wanting to stay under $500.00. Any input on what to go with would be appreciated.
 
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Thats interesting. The guy I know who has one said it is not that good indoors. However the Sony may not be any better. I still have some more reading to do.
 
My mother told me my father wants a "camera like yours (DSLR)" that is easy to use. He is in his late 60's and I know he will not be able use and not be happy with a SLR. I have been searching google hoping to find a bridge camera that stands out but for the most part each web site has different ones at the top. A friend recommended the SX50HS Canon. I have also seen some good about the Sony HX 300. My father has never been into photography, he has two grandchildren so I am assuming he is wanting to use them for plays, sports events etc. Some would be indoor some would be outdoors. My thoughts are it might be better to get something with a little less zoom if it would preform a little better in low light. As most of you pros know, the number one complaint I hear about peoples cameras is that the pictures are blurry when people are moving. Some people don't know why you can't take pictures of people running around in a dark night club. She is wanting to stay under $500.00. Any input on what to go with would be appreciated.

If he wants to use this for plays, etc, I wouldn't recommend the SX50. I've owned one. It's not a bad little camera, but pound for pound the Panasonic FZ200 is a much better camera overall and will be much better at shooting indoors thanks to it's constant F2.8 zoom. It still won't match a DSLR for lowlight, not even close - but it's a big step up from the SX50 in this regard. The image quality is also better than the SX50, so that would be my recommendation. Just FYI I have owned both and shot both, the Panasonic I think is a much better value for the dollar.
 
Go mirrorless!

Sony nex/3 would be a great option! It has an aspc size sensor so it will do better in low light, and depending on the lens, it's practically pocket sized! Is also supports hd video. It's about $400, the nex 5 is a little over budget, but worth looking into,

Bridge cameras IMO are the "worst of both worlds" size of the dslr and the small sensor of the point and shoots. And more expensive than point and shoots.
 
Go mirrorless!

Sony nex/3 would be a great option! It has an aspc size sensor so it will do better in low light, and depending on the lens, it's practically pocket sized! Is also supports hd video. It's about $400, the nex 5 is a little over budget, but worth looking into,

Bridge cameras IMO are the "worst of both worlds" size of the dslr and the small sensor of the point and shoots. And more expensive than point and shoots.

That might be a very good option. I do know on the Panasonic if you pushed the ISO much past 800 the noise level got extreme quick, so even with the 2.8 it just wasn't very good in lower light conditions - and it's probably one of the best bridge cameras available for low light which, well is kind of sad really - lol
 
My dad has some Fuji bridge that was like £150-£200 and is very good.

He is in his late 60's and I know he will not be able use and not be happy with a SLR.

Tbh, he probably used a (film) SLR for most of his life, so just tell him to work it in the same way he knows and have him send you the card for "developing" ?
 
He's never owned a camera in the 37 years I have been alive. Given the fact that the camera will likely be used outdoor as much as indoor is the better low light ability of the Panasonic worth the difference in zoom capability of the Sony? For your average point and shoot user? I could see the extra zoom of the Sony being nice at baseball games etc.
 
He's never owned a camera in the 37 years I have been alive. Given the fact that the camera will likely be used outdoor as much as indoor is the better low light ability of the Panasonic worth the difference in zoom capability of the Sony? For your average point and shoot user? I could see the extra zoom of the Sony being nice at baseball games etc.

I would say so - really the big difference is image quality. The canon, even with it's really great zoom - well the pictures always came out.. flat I guess for lack of a better term. The color contrast was just never that great IMHO.,

IMG_2089 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Here's a sample of one I took back when I had my SX50 - I mean it isn't horrible per see but the colors just never really came out all that well even after post processing.

This is one taken with the panasonic FZ200:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/101097886@N03/10127005105/in/photostream/

The 1200 mm zoom on the SX50 is pretty impressive, but really you need some skill to take a hand held shot at that distance. The 600 mm zoom on the panasonic is usually more than enough for most situations and it doesn't take much skill to get great shots even at 600 mm.. so yep, I'd probably opt for the panasonic. The lowlight performance is better than the SX50 - but nothing like what you can get with a DSLR of course.
 
I ended up ordering the FZ 200 this afternoon. Hopefully he will put it too good use. In the last month I have gotten myself a new 60D, I bought my wife a used body to replace out XS, and now this. I done my part to help the "camera economy" this season.
 

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