will cost probably a lot more but if you find a good deal on a superzoom camera those are neat because at the max zoom range you can get some shots that not many other cameras can take (and certainly not phones)
I got a used sx60 hs for like $200 a couple years ago, compared to my phone (oneplus 12) it’s decent at macro, great at high zoom, but worse at basically anything else. of course if you want that look then it’s good for that too lol.
Also keep in mind that those all have pretty small sensor sizes (actually apparently the sx60 hs has exactly the same sensor size as this camera) so you need the area to be pretty bright for max zoom to be usable, and fast subjects are pretty hard.
curated photo dump:
TV
captive birds
wild birds (i really don’t know why that hawk let us get so close to it…)
full zoom
macro (it can actually focus on the lens, if you ever want to do that)
If you want a new one, a Kodak AstroZoom might be the shit superzoom camera you’re looking for. Not very light-sensitive, zero connectivity except MicroUSB for charging (thankfully, can be used while charging) and card reader mode, 20 MP but as sharp as 2 MP at 42x optical zoom. No real video or audio codecs (MJPEG at 1080p30 with companded PCM audio, at a bitrate that would only make sense at H.264/H.265 and yet struggling with some Class-10/UHS-I cards). Buggy firmware (timelapse options are 10, 30, 60 and the default -16384 s, no EV control in Auto mode, macro and burst always disabled after restart), slow autofocus that can only be locked by holding the shutter halfway down throughout the video, sensor from a midrange phone, and processor comparable to 2008 models. Only 5 full-res shots per second (or 30 in 1080p or 120 in VGA, mirroring its video “capabilities”, no 25, 24 or 23.976 support). Bonus, it’s neither compact nor upgradable with a better lens so worse of both worlds.
I mean, I have a basic 2013 compact that would beat it in everything but apparent cred, quality at 20x+ zoom, mode selection and the ability to be used while charging (without a DIY solution) if it didn’t have age-related problems like worn battery and dust in lens. It can even be remotely controlled over Wi-Fi, impressive for the time!
will cost probably a lot more but if you find a good deal on a superzoom camera those are neat because at the max zoom range you can get some shots that not many other cameras can take (and certainly not phones)
I got a used sx60 hs for like $200 a couple years ago, compared to my phone (oneplus 12) it’s decent at macro, great at high zoom, but worse at basically anything else. of course if you want that look then it’s good for that too lol.
Also keep in mind that those all have pretty small sensor sizes (actually apparently the sx60 hs has exactly the same sensor size as this camera) so you need the area to be pretty bright for max zoom to be usable, and fast subjects are pretty hard.
curated photo dump:
TV
captive birds
wild birds (i really don’t know why that hawk let us get so close to it…)
full zoom
macro (it can actually focus on the lens, if you ever want to do that)
top of the london eye
random helicopter
can get some nice bokeh
full zoom range across the thames
doesn’t have that 2000’s aesthetic quality, it’s giving more 2010, sorry hard pass
Well yea, this one came out in 2014
Probably would look relatively similar to this camera when using a regular amount of zoom?
I’m sure there are a lot of earlier ones as well tho
If you want a new one, a Kodak AstroZoom might be the shit superzoom camera you’re looking for. Not very light-sensitive, zero connectivity except MicroUSB for charging (thankfully, can be used while charging) and card reader mode, 20 MP but as sharp as 2 MP at 42x optical zoom. No real video or audio codecs (MJPEG at 1080p30 with companded PCM audio, at a bitrate that would only make sense at H.264/H.265 and yet struggling with some Class-10/UHS-I cards). Buggy firmware (timelapse options are 10, 30, 60 and the default -16384 s, no EV control in Auto mode, macro and burst always disabled after restart), slow autofocus that can only be locked by holding the shutter halfway down throughout the video, sensor from a midrange phone, and processor comparable to 2008 models. Only 5 full-res shots per second (or 30 in 1080p or 120 in VGA, mirroring its video “capabilities”, no 25, 24 or 23.976 support). Bonus, it’s neither compact nor upgradable with a better lens so worse of both worlds.
I mean, I have a basic 2013 compact that would beat it in everything but apparent cred, quality at 20x+ zoom, mode selection and the ability to be used while charging (without a DIY solution) if it didn’t have age-related problems like worn battery and dust in lens. It can even be remotely controlled over Wi-Fi, impressive for the time!