Having a gear crisis

[mikew]

The first thing to say is my Z50 is staying, it's a lovely light camera with the 50-250 on it, my problem is when I go longer like the 100-400. It's handy to blame the lens but my keeper rate is well down so I have to decide, is it me, is it my failing ability with the longer lens or is it the lens itself ?, ime used to getting decent results with longer lenses and i enjoy using them.
I know no one can answer this for me but sometimes its good to get my thoughts written down, in the past I had a Nikon P900, lightweight and a very long zoom taking the crop factor into account, my thinking is let the 100-400 go and get a P900, I only ever post images online never print so the very small sensor is not a problem.

A few P900 examples

[mikew]

[mikew]

[mikew]

Although not bad i can see the difference the sensor size makes but i am trying to decide if i will be happy with the results.

[mikew]

As i sit here looking at my superzoom images, including ones from my previous to the P900 superzoom the P610 the more i think in my present situation the more one would suit me again.

A few P610 images

[mikew]

[mikew]

Working from the mobility scooter most of the time ime missing the stalking and getting closer, my thoughts are within reason a superzoom would make up for it,i know distances have to be kept as short as possible to reduce atmospheric softening

[mikew]

I have also given thought to the 1nch sensor bridge cameras but i think after cropping i would have fewer pixels on the subject.

[Thai-Mike]

Those are awesome. WOW! Have you told me that in January, today I sure would have a P900 or a DXXX. So know I stuck with my beloved z50. Changing soon is no option. I see that participating a forum is not that good for me 🤔

I hope my dear friend Mike that you will find a satisfying gear for you so you can focusing on taking your birds and share with us so we can join your great images.

[mikew]

Those are awesome. WOW! Have you told me that in January, today I sure would have a P900 or a DXXX. So know I stuck with my beloved z50. Changing soon is no option. I see that participating a forum is not that good for me 🤔

I hope my dear friend Mike that you will find a satisfying gear for you so you can focusing on taking your birds and share with us so we can join your great images.

Thanks Mike, i dont see me changing my Z50 i like it too much, i should be able to cover the cost of a P900 with just the 100-400.

[Rodbender]

mikew I don't envey you trying to pick a new camera. I had the same problem when I choose mine. So many to choose from and not enough info regards those you have never had the chance to use. I can see why you are thinking P900 as it is a Nikon and you have used one. I did a comparison with the P900 which a friend has and my Panasonic FZ330. I feel I made the right choice due to the constant F2.8 aperture the zoom has. Cameras are a personal thing and only you can say what is right for you. Here is an image I took at about 45 yards pushing the lens to 1200mm. Hand held from my scooter. Do consider the Panasonic range as the Lieca designed lenses are very good. Plus Panasonic can shoot RAW.

[mikew]

mikew I don't envey you trying to pick a new camera. I had the same problem when I choose mine. So many to choose from and not enough info regards those you have never had the chance to use. I can see why you are thinking P900 as it is a Nikon and you have used one. I did a comparison with the P900 which a friend has and my Panasonic FZ330. I feel I made the right choice due to the constant F2.8 aperture the zoom has. Cameras are a personal thing and only you can say what is right for you. Here is an image I took at about 45 yards pushing the lens to 1200mm. Hand held from my scooter. Do consider the Panasonic range as the Lieca designed lenses are very good. Plus Panasonic can shoot RAW.

Thanks for the input Ron, Panasonic is a make i like.

[Ian]

Sorry for not respondong - Julia and I had a dose of a virus unrelated to the one in the headlines (probably Norovirus - Julia a schoolteacher...)

Back to normal now.

There is a bit of highlight loss on some of the P900 shots.

Have you thought about some kind of additional support to stead the camera?

Ian

[Ian]

Ron - the FZ330 is a nice camera and Panasonic know how to make excellent bridge cameras. However, that bokeh is quite unsettling. I thought it was 600mm optical (FF equivalent)?

Ian

[mikew]

Sorry for not respondong - Julia and I had a dose of a virus unrelated to the one in the headlines (probably Norovirus - Julia a schoolteacher...)

Back to normal now.

There is a bit of highlight loss on some of the P900 shots.

Have you thought about some kind of additional support to stead the camera?

Ian

Thanks for the input, decided to put everything on hold gear wise as the places i go could have restricted access with the virus situation.