High Zoom Digitals

[Vespula]

Are they any good?

I want to take pictures of birds (leave it) at long distance.

I really can't be arsed with DSLR or digiscoping, and anyway my scope is only 20X

The Olympus SP-590UZ Compact Digital Camera has 26x zoom, should I get one?

[Dogsey]

Vespula said:

Are they any good?

I want to take pictures of birds (leave it) at long distance.

I really can't be arsed with DSLR or digiscoping, and anyway my scope is only 20X

The Olympus SP-590UZ Compact Digital Camera has 26x zoom, should I get one?

From what I can see online it looks like your camera has the equivalent of a 26-676mm zoom lens, so it certainly should allow you to get close. However no compact camera is ever going to rival a DSLR for quality - for example the following photo was shot at 300mm at around 15' on my Canon 40D (10Mp), but due to the size of the sensor and the diameter (and quality) of the lens I'd wager that a crop of half the frame blown back up to full size (effectively giving me 600mm) would still be better quality than a photo at 600mm on the Olympus.



(Mind you, that body and lens has just cost me around £1200).

[Vespula]

Thanks Dogsey. I don't have £1200 so I guess it's a case of a compromise of cost versus quality.

Shots like that Robin is just what I'd like to take.

I wouldn't have a scooby how to use a DSLR anyway

[jimmy306]

Hi Vespula, I have one of the high zoom "bridge" cameras, and do mostly bird and wildlife photography, and while not comparable to a a DSLR with long lens you can get some good shots with them. My camera is a panasonic lumix DMC FZ28 and has a focal length equivalent to 486mm and i feel i have taken some okay photo's with it. This type of camera is great as an entry into photogrpahy, most will allow full manual control and cost a fraction of what an DSLR set up would cost, while you may not get magazine quality shots you can get good results.

As an aside, i have seen some photo's taken with the camera you mention there and it suffered form quite bad chromatic abberation (purple fringing) and i wouldnt say the image quality was as good as my camera produces. I feel 26x zoom is pushing the boat out a little and you may be better off loosing a little focal length (18x or 20X) but maintaing better image quality. (my opinion of course) Below are some example of shots i have taken with my bridge camera, maybe not the best i have taken (other then the robin which i love) but the only ones i can link to from this comp.

Edited by jimmy306 on Sunday 17th January 14:39

Edited by jimmy306 on Monday 18th January 08:47

[Vespula]

Outstanding pictures Jimmy.

Thanks for the advice.

jimmy306 said:

Hi Vespula, I have one of the high zoom "bridge" cameras, and do mostly bird and wildlife photography, and while not comparable to a a DSLR with long lens you can get some good shots with them. My camera is a panasonic lumix DMC FZ28 and has a focal length equivalent to 486mm and i feel i have taken some okay photo's with it. This type of camera is great as an entry into photogrpahy, most will allow full manual control and cost a fraction of what an DSLR set up would cost, while you may not get magazine quality shots you can get good results.

As an aside, i have seen some photo's taken with the camera you mention there and it suffered form quite bad chromatic abberation (purple fringing) and i wouldnt say the image quality was as good as my camera produces. I feel 26x zoom is pushing the boat out a little and you may be better off loosing a little focal length (18x or 20X) but maintaing better image quality. (my opinion of course) Below are some example of shots i have taken with my bridge camera, maybe not the best i have taken (other then the robin which i love) but the only ones i can link to from this comp.

Edited by jimmy306 on Sunday 17th January 12:38

Edited by jimmy306 on Sunday 17th January 14:39

[jimmy306]

Thanks Vespula, I have quite a bit of knowledge about bridge camera's and their advantages/disadvantages as i researched them heavily myself before i bought mine, i also work in a photography shop so if you have any questions feel free to ask or pm me.

Cheers, James