What Camera - Bridge or Advanced Compact?

[duncan mackie]

Thanks all. I'm not hearing that much advantage of bridge over compact - other than, as ger says, in respect of zoom lenses. But for travel photography when I might not want to be carrying much about, the convenience of being able to stick a compact in my pocket, or onto my belt under a shirt, seems to be winning out over additional zoom.

I'd ask my brother as he has got some nice DSLR stuff - but to be honest I think he falls into the 'got all the gear but no idea' category

Go for the Lumix. The relevant technology does keep moving on.

I've a pretty comprehensive m43 system, which is designed for travelling/exploring but I generally use a Pany compact and or smart phone (I can operate mine in most manual modes &#129300.

On storage there are so many considerations....no perfect solution although multiple cards uploaded (and retained) to a secondary storage unit then uploaded to cloud as and when available is about the best. The arguments about retaining a single large card (so you don't have to open the camera and change cards at all) is also strong. Whatever you do you should test it all before you go and get used to it! Reading the manual on the flight over is never quite the same thing!

Enjoy your trip.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Go for the Lumix. The relevant technology does keep moving on.

I've a pretty comprehensive m43 system, which is designed for travelling/exploring but I generally use a Pany compact and or smart phone (I can operate mine in most manual modes &#129300.

On storage there are so many considerations....no perfect solution although multiple cards uploaded (and retained) to a secondary storage unit then uploaded to cloud as and when available is about the best. The arguments about retaining a single large card (so you don't have to open the camera and change cards at all) is also strong. Whatever you do you should test it all before you go and get used to it! Reading the manual on the flight over is never quite the same thing!

Enjoy your trip.

cheers Duncan - I will most certainly familiarise myself with it before I go. My limited experience of being creative with my current compact has proven that it can be fiddly and not immediately obvious (especially as you don't seem to get a manual these days but have to go on-line to get it)

 

[CliveW]

Another vote for Lumix. I'm on my second one now (DMC-TZ20) and I think it's great especially for travelling. I did have an issue with dust on the sensor and contacted Panasonic to see if it could be repaired, but was advised that it was not financially viable. With nothing to lose, a good hard thump on the base of the camera with the heel of my hand soon shifted it and I've never had any more bother.

The only downside I have with compact digital cameras is using the viewing screen in bright sunlight but I understand that some of the new ones have a view finder.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Another vote for Lumix. I'm on my second one now (DMC-TZ20) and I think it's great especially for travelling. I did have an issue with dust on the sensor and contacted Panasonic to see if it could be repaired, but was advised that it was not financially viable. With nothing to lose, a good hard thump on the base of the camera with the heel of my hand soon shifted it and I've never had any more bother.

The only downside I have with compact digital cameras is using the viewing screen in bright sunlight but I understand that some of the new ones have a view finder.

My current camera is a Pana DMC-TZ25 but it has dust on the sensor and a sticky shutter. I've taken it apart (following guidelines in a YouTube video) and it was pretty straightforward - unfortunately I think I damaged one of the flat ribbon cables when reconnecting - it was dead fiddly - and I've knacked it I fear. So a new purchase for my failed efforts seems what I have to do. Anyway - I can award myself a new camera as a birthday present not received 3 weeks ago.