I am looking for help/advice in choosing a new camera. At present I have a
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012UZMUU/ 8.1 Mega pixels, 5 X optical zoom, 30mm wide angle Carl Zeiss lens, smart zoom feature, image stabilization for shaky hands, burst mode allows me to shoot up to 100 shots at .62 second intervals, a video mode which I enjoy having and you can read the rest in the details in the link.
What I really enjoy about this camera:
1) Image stabilization because I can have shaky hands and it's saved my shot many times. I really need this feature.
2) Carl Zeiss lens - I know these lenses are touted to be just about the best and have read that can make all the difference in the world in the quality of the image.
3) The burst mode - I simply could not have a camera that does not have a good burst feature. I would love a faster burst feature.
4) It's easy to use & change the settings on
5) I love that I can view what I've shot right away on the LCD screen display without having to load the photos to my computer first.
6) The video capability
7) It's lightweight and small
What is frustrating me with this camera:
1) Not nearly enough zoom capability
2) I would like to have more macro capability
Budget maximum is $250
What I know about cameras, their inner workings & photography you could fit into a thimble. I am not really interested in learning ALL about apertures & this, that & the other. In other words, I'm not really into delving deeply into "photography world" and getting better & better & more & more expensive cameras with a lot of different lenses for them and lugging around tons of equipment. I don't want to become obsessive about photography. I will leave that to others. However, I will make the disclaimer that I may end up there someday. You never know where life will lead you and never say never is a good credo as life has taught me many times.
My needs and what I would like in a new camera:
Everything I have in this camera only more & better.
No, seriously, I would like to be able to take photos of the Red Shouldered Hawks up in the 80' high oaks and not have it come out looking like a gnat and that with my max. zoom. I would like it to be a shot that with cropping & editing will come out nice. I am teething for a camera with some real distance capability. I would like to shoot the hummingbirds on the feeder 15' out my kitchen window and have them come out clear. The same with the birds in the birdbath approx. 25' out said kitchen window.
I would love any additional close up capability. I have finally learned how to take pretty good close ups with my present camera but I would like greater capability.
I am more or less a point & shoot girl but am not obtuse to considering a "bridge" camera. However, I doubt with the budget I have that I will get much in the bridge category.
I am not against a camera that is larger. I have never put my present camera in my pocket with the exception of wintertime when I have a jacket on with pockets to put it into. I never usually have any pockets to put a camera in & I would NOT put my Sony in my back jeans pocket -- the rear end is for sitting on not for putting cameras in the pocket not to mention there isn't enough room in my back jeans pockets for much of anything to fit. However, I do not want a big , clunky camera that is heavy.
I read this thread in the photography forum:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012UZMUU/
It was an interesting read and I came away with some fair knowledge from it.
Asa's pick was this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HGE3CWG/
I can probably find that camera a little cheaper than the link but at any rate it fits into my budget. I like that it has the image stabilization feature. The burst mode on it seems better than what I have now. The ZOOM
. I think the macro focus range of 1 cm is totally cool. I think I'm pretty sold on this camera but wonder what I am missing. I can't believe it's as great as it sounds and I say that only because last year I was hunting & could not find a bridge camera with nearly this much bang for less than around $500. Maybe Asa just hunts better than I do. Admittedly the overload of info. had my head swimming until I could not figure what camera might be a good buy and I certainly can't spend the prices they were asking.
What I don't see on any of the info. is is it Mac compatible? I see it has a USB cable -- no memory card??????
Jack, I'm looking at yours too, flipping back & forth to the thread as I type this up. For anyone itnerested here is Jack's camera online:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00908BMVE/
