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A longer zoom - the Nikon Coolpix 5700
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Our 30th Wedding Anniversary cruise in 2003
on the Norwegian coastal voyage suggested that a longer zoom than the
Nikon Coolpix 990 was required. OK, so you can get a telephoto
add-on for the 990 but it unbalances the camera and would have to be taken
on and off. We bought a "shared" 5700,
although it seemed to stay with David most of the time!
35 - 280mm f/2.8 - f/4.2 zoom, 5MP
Nikon
Coolpix 5700 review (now sold on) |
Image Stabilisation - the Panasonic FZ20 & FZ5
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Cecilia's forthcoming retirement treat trip to
Antarctica suggested an even longer zoom than the 5700 for snapping those
penguins, and she was lucky
to have image stabilisation as a new option to help reduce camera shake in
that cold and windy environment.
36 - 432mm f/2.8 zoom, 5MP
Panasonic
Lumix FZ20 review |
Hand-held moon shot [well, braced against a window ledge]
from the FZ20. Spot metering and exposure compensation applied.
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Once I saw the capabilities of Cecilia's
camera, I knew I had to have one to improve on the long zoom performance
of the Nikon 5700. Having image stabilisation at its maximum 432mm
focal length does make a real difference. I ended up getting the
slightly lower specification FZ5 which had just been released, as the only
limits were the slightly slower lens (f/3.3 at longest zoom rather than
f/2.8) and no flash hot-shoe or manual focus, but it is quite a bit smaller and lighter.
36 - 432mm f/2.8-3.3 zoom, 5MP
Panasonic
Lumix FZ5 review |
Hand-held moon shot [well, braced against a window ledge]
from the FZ5. Spot metering and exposure compensation applied.
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Wide-angle - the Nikon Coolpix 8400
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David decided that, after looking at his
Prague pictures taken the 5700, that a wider angle than the 35mm would
have been welcome, although not with the bulky and cumbersome wide-angle
adapter offered for that camera! Unfortunately the Nikon 8400 does
not offer image stabilisation, so he can already see the next upgrade!
24 - 85mm f/2.6 - f/4.9 zoom, 8MP Nikon
Coolpix 8400 review |
(Photos from the manufacturer's Web sites - yes, I could take
my own but most likely they would not represent the cameras as favourably as the
manufacturer can...) |
