Best bridge camera for ride photos

[gilana]

I've been searching through the posts but not finding anything recent on this topic. Anyone have any recommendations on the best bridge camera for use at Disney, particularly when it comes to night shots and ride photos? My husband is looking for a new camera, and we don't think a DSLR is the right way to go for us, so we're hoping that a bridge camera might be better than our current point-and-shoot (Canon Elph L110 HS).

We're currently looking at the Nikon Coolpix P600. If anyone has tried that camera in the parks, I'd love to hear your experiences and see your photos! Or if there's another camera you love (or hate), that would be great to hear about as well. Thanks!

 

[mom2rtk]

Which rides are you talking about? Some of the dark rides even challenge a DSLR with a fast lens.

 

[havoc315]

I've been searching through the posts but not finding anything recent on this topic. Anyone have any recommendations on the best bridge camera for use at Disney, particularly when it comes to night shots and ride photos? My husband is looking for a new camera, and we don't think a DSLR is the right way to go for us, so we're hoping that a bridge camera might be better than our current point-and-shoot (Canon Elph L110 HS).

We're currently looking at the Nikon Coolpix P600. If anyone has tried that camera in the parks, I'd love to hear your experiences and see your photos! Or if there's another camera you love (or hate), that would be great to hear about as well. Thanks!

What type of night shots? And what type of ride photos?
If you are talking about dark rides, then there really is no bridge camera up to the task. There are some enthusiast compacts like the RX100 that can do dark rides. It's big brother bridge camera cousin, the RX10 could also do some passable dark ride photos. Canon's version would be the G3x, and other GX cameras. Nikon is releasing a similar lineup, but it hasn't been released yet. There is the Panasonic FZ1000. So there are a handful of proper cameras.

Low light photos require a wide aperture lens and a large sensor. 95% of bridge cameras use small aperture lenses and very small sensors. So it's just these handful of premium bridge cameras that have a somewhat larger sensor and a somewhat better lens.

 

[KVH]

The Nikon P900 might be a really good choice. I have the Panasonic FZ200 I use for grab shots. The cool thing about it is the constant f/2.8 through the whole zoom length (rare feature, FZ300 has it tho). There are no bridge cameras with an f/2.0 lens. Ride photos need a wide, fast lens.

So, at this point, you proly need to figure out how much you want to spend based on features you need.

 

[gilana]

Thanks for the input. Budget is definitely a major concern, which sadly knocks out most of the really good cameras. So we'll probably just go with the best we can afford, and at least it will be a step up from what we have now. Maybe in a few years when the current top-of-the-line cameras start going on clearance...

 

[havoc315]

Thanks for the input. Budget is definitely a major concern, which sadly knocks out most of the really good cameras. So we'll probably just go with the best we can afford, and at least it will be a step up from what we have now. Maybe in a few years when the current top-of-the-line cameras start going on clearance...

The RX100 has been out of several years now, and it can be found at clearance type pricing. It was $650 when new, now you can get it for $500 from Amazon, or gray market for $400 to $450.

 

[KVH]

Well, dependent on your budget you can get a new Canon T5i with an 18-55 lens new from B&H or Amazon for 599. If you buy direct from Canon and don't mind the "refurbished" label, the same deal is 479 (yes, I have a refurbished 70d which came to me like new in the box). The T5i will do better than almost any bridge camera. Refurb deals can be found here. They have a 1 year warranty too.

 

[havoc315]

Well, dependent on your budget you can get a new Canon T5i with an 18-55 lens new from B&H or Amazon for 599. If you buy direct from Canon and don't mind the "refurbished" label, the same deal is 479 (yes, I have a refurbished 70d which came to me like new in the box). The T5i will do better than almost any bridge camera. Refurb deals can be found here. They have a 1 year warranty too.

The T5i has the potential to be superior to any bridge camera, if you upgrade the lens. With the kit lens, then enthusiast 1" sensor compacts and bridge cameras are a bit better, if they have a fast lens.

 

[David Daniels]

I would check out the Panasonic LX100. It's a compact body with a Microc4/3rds sensor. It's a great 1,2 punch as it also records 4K video. It's a standard 24-72 zoom but at 24 it's a blazing fast 1.7. At 72 it's still a 2.8. They're still coming in around $600 but remember the popular Sonys only have that 1" sensor, this has almost twice the size sensor yet still in a compact body and in the same price range.