Railfan Technology > DSLR or Bridge Cameras?

Was looking at one of the newer offerings from Nikon the 
other day, a bridge style camera with a permanently installed 
long to short focal length lens.

Give my own pretense to record in JPEG and realizing as i age 
physically, perhaps some form of lighter in weight all in one digital photographic
device might be more practical. Find my mobility is rapidly declining due to 
physical issues, beyond my control. No relief in sight for the physical issues.

Have found borrowed-from-friends smaller so-called point and shoot,
mirror less cameras are often
physically way too small to handle comfortably.

Don't share images with others; and if I did would probably do only
4" x 6" colour prints at best.

Presently using Nikon D750/24-105mm zoom/70-200mm f4.0 /20mm f.2.8 hardware.
Maybe 25 images a month, if that; for me it is not as the days of old 
with Kodachrome film and colour slides. Then same urgency to record digital railway
imagery is not as evident.
And too, I don't own a smart phone, too costly in terms of mobile connectivity here in Canada,
and the phone is often smaller than many so-called point and shoots.

Thoughts?

Bryce Lee
Burlington, Ontario

My first digital camera was a D40.  I still have it and use it has a travel camera.  I love it.  It is only 5 MP, but is still perfectly capable of producing good 11x14 prints so long as I don't crop severely.  To put that into perspective I normally use a D90 and just bought a D7100.  I suspect any of the digital cameras can produce the kind of limited results you seem to need. A full frame D750 is clearly overkill.  DX sensor cameras are smaller and the lenses much lighter. I suspect the critical issue for you is how much optical telephoto you want (the electronic telephoto is just cropping the sensor).  I would go with whatever has the amount of telephoto you want combined with what feels good in your hands and is easy to use.  I can get great pix with my iPhone but it does not have any real telephoto capability.   A "bridge" camera might well do it.  But any of the DX sensor cameras will feel light compared to what you are using, and still give you some of the control you are used to with your D750.  Since "downsizing" my gear, my photography has greatly improved.  Less is more.

JBWX

Bryce ...

Do some research on the the Fujifilm Fine Pixs S1 camera ... it has an amazing zoom lens from 24mm to 1200mm plus it
is ruggedized ... I do own one and have been using it for over two years ... mine is the 12megapixel version ... now available
as a 16 megapixel camera.  The lens is incredible offering fantastic zoom capability and the digital options cover a wide
range of environments. ... I'm attaching a couple of images I have taken recently ... these are "stock off the camera" and NOT tweaked
by any imagery program ...

1) the UP 844 leaving Cheyenne on its recent , WY to Memphis, TN excursion and
2) a BNSF coal train at the Elkhorn Creek Road grade crossing north of Glendo, WY

Both of these images were shot as jpeg's

Odyssey
Evergreen, CO



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/16 23:23 by Odyssey.

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It sounds like a bridge-style camera is just the ticket. Very versatile options are available with big zoom ranges and great 'fast' lenses with very good image quality. Nikon, Canon, Panasonic, Fuji....start with a look on 'DPReview' website - very objective and informative. I think they even have a 'group' review of long zoom enthusiast cameras/bridge cameras which will say which ones they rate highest.
My Dad's in his 70's now and made this choice to go 'bridge' recently - he's very happy with his Panasonic.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/04/16 00:20 by exhaustED.

Go to www.dpreview.com. There are many 'Round up" type guides.  Depending on what you want to spend, you can get a fixed zoom cam w/24-70 that is not buch bigger than a deck of cards and a nice sensor and  controls.   Get free ship and no sales tax from either B&H photo or Adorama.  Both are reliable-used them for yearrs.

jbwest Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My first digital camera was a D40.  I still have
> it and use it has a travel camera.  I love it.
>  It is only 5 MP, but is still perfectly capable
> of producing good 11x14 prints so long as I don't
> crop severely.  To put that into perspective I
> normally use a D90 and just bought a D7100.  I
> suspect any of the digital cameras can produce the
> kind of limited results you seem to need. A full
> frame D750 is clearly overkill.  DX sensor
> cameras are smaller and the lenses much lighter. I
> suspect the critical issue for you is how much
> optical telephoto you want (the electronic
> telephoto is just cropping the sensor).  I would
> go with whatever has the amount of telephoto you
> want combined with what feels good in your hands
> and is easy to use.  I can get great pix with my
> iPhone but it does not have any real telephoto
> capability.   A "bridge" camera might well do it.
>  But any of the DX sensor cameras will feel light
> compared to what you are using, and still give you
> some of the control you are used to with your
> D750.  Since "downsizing" my gear, my photography
> has greatly improved.  Less is more.
>
> JBWX

Less is more, shall add that comment when I look again.
Tx

Odyssey Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bryce ...
>
> Do some research on the the Fujifilm Fine Pixs S1
> camera ... it has an amazing zoom lens from 24mm
> to 1200mm plus it
> is ruggedized ... I do own one and have been
> using it for over two years ... mine is
> the 12megapixel version ... now available
> as a 16 megapixel camera.  The lens is incredible
> offering fantastic zoom capability and the digital
> options cover a wide
> range of environments. 
> Odyssey
> Evergreen, CO
Had thought of the Fuji, however two disadvantges not noted:
my hands are enormous, at age 70  can still pick up a full inflated
basketball with ease, and am in Canada, that particular Fuji is not available here;
and if imported from elsewhere, the monetary exchange rate (and related
duties and taxes) is stupid;

Good thought though.

NormSchultze Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Go to www.dpreview.com. There are many 'Round up"
> type guides.  Depending on what you want to
> spend, you can get a fixed zoom cam w/24-70 that
> is not much bigger than a deck of cards and a nice
> sensor and  controls.   Get free ship and no
> sales tax from either B&H photo or Adorama.  Both
> are reliable-used them for years.

Am in Canada and have purchased in the far distant
past film from B&H (as it seems to be the only place
where you don't have to buy C$1000.00 worth of film to 
get five rolls) These days the exchange rate between the US and Canadian dollar
is enough to make a grown man cry; and our government still taxes the goods, regardless.. 
with B&H the shipping is free however the cost of shipping of goods once here is still taxed.
 

Panasonic FZ1000?