What happened to "superzoom" cameras

[Kodakuser]

Why have superzooms fallen out of popularity? even my cheap £25 (used) Kodak AZ526 can do this

 

[webestang64]

All I know is the ones I dig out of the trash at work won't sell on eBay in "as-is" "parts/repair". They seem to be the "APS" camera of the digital realm.

Interesting take on them here...... Do bridge cameras have a future ? August 2023

 

[DigiFilm]

My wife and daughter went on a trip to S Africa last month. My wife had nothing to take with her, the camera in her phone being crap. I bought her a Kodak Pixpro FZ55, set it up, and told her to point and shoot. She somehow managed to switch the camera from 16MP to 2MP 1080p files. Still, the results weren't bad.

I made this 10 years ago on a Kodak Z612

This is from a Panasonic FZ70

 

[cgw]

Those teensy sensors were an issue. That and the cameras' susceptibility to impact-damaged zoom mechanisms.

 

[DigiFilm]

They’re perfectly fine for every snapshots if you have good light and don’t expect to pixel peep. The vast majority of images these days are viewed on a tiny little phone screen. Most people couldn’t tell the difference between 1/2.3 sensor and anything else.

 

[Jeff15]

Why have superzooms fallen out of popularity? - I had not noticed this ...

 

[ClintLloyd]

With quality APSC bodies and lenses, and even FF options available for good prices these days, I can see how all in ones are sitting on the back bench.

Needless to say, it's money down the drain for most. High demand situations aside, an average camera in the hands of a skilled photographer will take the win 100% of the time over a great camera in the hands of an average photographer. ️

 

[Thiophilos]

I know a couple of local people who use a Nikon P1000 and get prize-winning results with it. This cam goes out to 3000mm (equiv). They pull in the most distant subjects and the pics look fine. So I was not aware they were out of fashion.

 

[Kodakuser]

I know a couple of local people who use a Nikon P1000 and get prize-winning results with it. This cam goes out to 3000mm (equiv). They pull in the most distant subjects and the pics look fine. So I was not aware they were out of fashion.

At one time every manufacturer had several, Kodak had loads, Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Olympus Sony made a steady stream, yes there are a few still available but many are the same model badged and made by Asia Optical, the Kodak AZ series and the rebooted Minolta along with GE are basically the same cameras (they are not bad at all really). There is little or no development in this sector now, the very limited demand is catered for by a handful of models, they have virtually all disapeared now, Sony make a very expensive long zoom fixed lens with a 1" sensor for enthusiasts, but the mass market for such cameras is obviously gone. Manufacturers are only really concentrating now on ILC models, the fixed lens long zoom camera is a thing of the past and evidenced by the fact that they dont fetch much money on the used market either, I have several, average price paid £25 fully working

 

[cgw]

At one time every manufacturer had several, Kodak had loads, Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Olympus Sony made a steady stream, yes there are a few still available but many are the same model badged and made by Asia Optical, the Kodak AZ series and the rebooted Minolta along with GE are basically the same cameras (they are not bad at all really). There is little or no development in this sector now, the very limited demand is catered for by a handful of models, they have virtually all disapeared now, Sony make a very expensive long zoom fixed lens with a 1" sensor for enthusiasts, but the mass market for such cameras is obviously gone. Manufacturers are only really concentrating now on ILC models, the fixed lens long zoom camera is a thing of the past and evidenced by the fact that they dont fetch much money on the used market either, I have several, average price paid £25 fully working

You like 'em. Great! But reality intervened. Slow on the long end, small sensors and oversold versatility were problems. Better gear came along. MILCs and cheap DSLRs buried them. Makers make what sells and these eventually didn't. Enjoy the bargains!

 

[Kodakuser]

You like 'em. Great! But reality intervened. Slow on the long end, small sensors and oversold versatility were problems. Better gear came along. MILCs and cheap DSLRs buried them. Makers make what sells and these eventually didn't. Enjoy the bargains!

Well I was responding to the guy who claimed that they are still popular, as you have said, they have been buried, I agree with what you say except that F5.6 at 1248mm is not really disasterously slow is it ? that means that mid range (say 600mm) you are shooting around F4 and F2.8 at 24mm with OIS and new BSI CMOS sensors that are good up to around ISO800 so that issue is not really much of a problem anymore really. They are not popular anymore for whatever reason, and yes, I am enjoying the bargains
One possibility that occoured to me when I aquired the AZ526 was that it was so much better than older superzooms and could probably be developed furthur, but why would manufacturers give us an all in one superzoom that was really good when that would stop people buying lenses and expensive cameras ?, its possible that the manufacturers have deliberately stopped developing these types of cameras to protect their ILC and lens market maybe ?