Any love for Bridge Cameras?

[crapxxxx]

I'm thinking about the Panasonic Lumix FZ80/82. Anyone have any experience with it, or similar bridge's.
I like the idea of the HUGE zoom, upto 4k video and reasonably small size. Yea I know that bridge cameras are a bit of an overblown compact. Smaller sensor and never be as good as DSLR or mirrorless. All that stuff, I get it.
But truth be told I won't be submitting stuff to National Geographic. It's just for my pleasure, the usual social media circle and maybe even the odd shot or clip on assorted forums to bore everyone.
Discuss.

[AnTyx]

I've borrowed a Sony RX10 for a weekend. It was nice, I can certainly see the appeal, but you quickly run into the limitations of compromise... you keep wanting more of the direct control of a DSLR or mirrorless (and the big-sensor benefits) if you're carrying something that size. A mirrorless with a long zoom lens is not physically larger - just more expensive and cumbersome to change back to wide-angle mode.

So, there's a place for bridge cameras, but you have to REALLY care about zoom. If you're into e.g. architecture photography and want to take close-ups of details high up on a building from the street - it's great.

[crapxxxx]

Cheers both of you. I have decided to go with the Panasonic. Here in the UK its price has just been reduced, so even more of a bargain. I would love to go for a RX10, but just can't justify the cost against how often it would be used.

[Warin]

I use a Panasonic Fz200 ... if you want to get photos of wildlife you need a long zoom with a fast lens .. this gives you 600mm at F2.7 which is reasonable. Given size, weigh, controls and price I am happy with it.

What it lacks is timed repeat exposures and those can be had from a remote trigger off ebay. Full control over exposures, aperture, focus, time, ASA, exposure bracketing, HDR.

[crapxxxx]

Originally Posted by Warin

I use a Panasonic Fz200 ... if you want to get photos of wildlife you need a long zoom with a fast lens .. this gives you 600mm at F2.7 which is reasonable. Given size, weigh, controls and price I am happy with it.

What it lacks is timed repeat exposures and those can be had from a remote trigger off ebay. Full control over exposures, aperture, focus, time, ASA, exposure bracketing, HDR.

Looks like the FZ330 is the current version of your camera. Nice, but I struggled to justify the extra cost. I did end up buying an FZ82 this week, and been really impressed with what it can do so far. I don't have the fold-out screen of the 330, which is a shame, but i'll live without it. On paper the 330 has some better spec/options, but for me they get offset by the better pixel count and longer zoom that I have.