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Bridge Camera to SLR

Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2016 5:31 pm
by james143611
Hello all,

Having used my Fuji HS10 for sometime now, I'm looking at stepping up a notch, not too far though mind! I wouldn't mind either upgrading to a better bridge from the HS10 if there is a more advanced version (I don't know how the HS20 fares mind) or trying a DSLR, but is there any DSLR's out there that are good for stepping into the DSLR market?

I don't have thousands to spare, not like some of these £900 camera's, I could save and budget up to around £300-£400 though.

I've only got into aviation and photography a couple of years ago, so I'm not up to scratch on what DSLR's are like, and not sure if there is such thing as a beginners DSLR so to speak?


Any help would be much appreciated though :)

Re: Bridge Camera to SLR

Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2016 8:26 pm
by mach one
I have never really used a bridge camera but a good friend of mine uses a panasonic bridge all the time and gets some good results

some of the shots that you have posted are very good and you should be proud of them, one of your latest sets from bristol shot through the fence, that is somthing i wouldn't be able with a DSLR as i do not have a lens that will fit through the fence, one of your other sets that comes to mind is your shots from Brussels Airport again some very good shots

the trouble with the Step up to DSLR it can be very expensive and often the cheaper entry level kit will not give that much better results than you are getting now, nothing wrong with the entry level DSLR,s but often the entry level lenses are what lets the side down, a cheap 70-300mm lens can sometimes give disappointing results

if you want to move up to DSLR then would you consider second hand as you can get some very good quality secondhand kit for not much money, late last year i sold a Canon 50D which when new cost north of £800 five years on it sold for £180.00 with a very low shutter count of only 15926 and the canon 50D shutter is good for 100,000 plus clicks, so it was a very good camera for not a great deal of money also some good second hand lenses to be had like the lens below

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-70-300m ... SwG-1WtoE7

a good second hand 50D and a lens like the one above would be a good starting point then you would need to add a short zoom lens as well so already you would be pushing your top budget and some more

Re: Bridge Camera to SLR

Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2016 10:28 pm
by gosman767
Just for balance I've just downgraded from a dslr, mainly due to age and lugging a heavy camera (Canon 40D) and selection of lenses,
I chopped it all in for a Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 and I'm very impressed, my wife already had a FZ200 but the FZ1000 beats it in all
respects except zoom, the sensor is bigger, it has much more manual functionality eg back button focusing which I like. Probably
pushing your budget new but worth looking second hand, most of my photograhy is wildlife but I've just started a bit of aviation (I
should have started a long time ago as I work at EMA :-) )
HTH
Dave

Re: Bridge Camera to SLR

Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2016 11:37 pm
by mach one
The Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 is a very nice bridge camera and is one that is often recommended in what digital camera magazine

it is a camera i looked at for the reasons you mentioned above, when we go on spotting trips to europe it is normally hand luggage only so the DSLR gets left at home and at present i take a canon SX220 compact camera but it just doesn't cut it when it comes to flying aircraft so i thought the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 would be a good camera to take on our trips to europe to give a good image quality and fantastic zoom range