I had seen it on sale at Future Shop (owned by Best Buy) and it was reservable in store so I had made a reservation online.
I posted a couple of weeks ago that I was looking at either the Canon SX50 or the Nikon P510.
We ended up buying the newer model of the Nikon P510...it's called the P520!
42x zoom lens for getting great shots of elephants and lions!
Got it for $319.95 plus tax. Total of $352...this is the best price I have seen, even comparing with prices in the United States.
Why did I choose the Nikon P520 over the Canon SX50? Price. Everything I have read says that the two cameras are very similar and the best price I could find on the Canon was $389 PLUS tax.
It's got all the bells and whistles, but the main thing I was looking for was the ability to manually change the lens aperture and the shutter speed or any combination of the two to get the picture I'm looking for. Sure, it still has the "point and shoot" automatic setting, but I wanted to be able to take the time to do things that our little compact won't allow me to do. Oh, it even has GPS and will tag your pictures with the GPS co-ordinates of where you took your shots. This is a pretty new feature for cameras, but there are not many software applications where you can actually use the feature yet...but they're coming. A few years from now, every camera sold will have this feature.
I obviously haven't had the time to play with it yet, but from first impressions, I'm not thrilled. Having said that, I would probably have to spend a lot more than $350 to be "thrilled" with ANY camera. And of course I don't want to be carrying around a ton of camera gear either so this is probably as good as it gets.
For general landscape shots, I don't think this will take any better shots than our little $150 Olympus pocket camera. For example...
Little $150 camera.
Bigger $350 camera.
Two different shots of course, but you get the idea. I'll have to do some side by side comparison shots to really get a better feel for any differences. It's only special situations where the more expensive camera will be able to show it's ability. I firmly feel that for anybody who buys a camera like this and only uses it on it's "AUTO" setting, you might as well not spend the money. A $150 camera will do the same job for most people.
I suspect the differences will shine through when you do a little enhancing of your photos. For example, take a shot at the same settings with both cameras and open them up in an application like Picasa (free) or Lightroom ($) and blow them up at least 2X (100%) and look at the differences in sharpness.
ReplyDeleteNikon has a couple of free programs on their site. One of them is Nikon View NX2. You might want to have a look at it. http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Imaging-Software/NVNX2/ViewNX-2.html
The camera probably has some internal settings that will control contrast, etc. They might be hidden in the menu system so do some research.
Thanks Croft, we are already noticing a difference especially using the zoom. We will certainly be looking at that Nikon website and once Kevin has had more time to play with it the more we will see the differences.
DeleteCompare the zoom on both and I think you'll like the new one better.
ReplyDeleteIt does take some tweaking to get it set up like you want but I bet you'll love it. If not maybe you can return it and buy the Canon. I really like mine.
Yes, the zoom is much better on this new one. Kevin is finding the more that he plays with the new camera the more he is liking it.
DeleteGood luck with your new camera, always fun figuring them out. Me I just like the convenience of my point and shoot, got rid of all my big cameras.
ReplyDeleteWe like the convenience of our point and shoot one too but there are times where we want to capture a photo that needs more than just the point and shoot and I think we will be finding lots of these kinds of shots in Africa.
DeleteI like my little Canon point and shoot, for most things it does just fine. We have a big Pentax SLR camera and It will do anything, even the dishes, if I can just find out the proper setting.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, it is heavy and bulky and spends most of its life in the cabinet. I want to take pictures, not bulk up from weight lifting... ;c)
The little point and shoots are great as you say for many normal situations but I think Africa deserves a better camera because we know there are going to be some fantastic scenery and animals.
Delete42 times zoom....wow! can't wait to see the shots on that lens! Thanks for sharing your opinions on the two cameras, always great to read what people think....would rather read a blogger's opinion than an anonymous review...
ReplyDeleteI am sure that we will hear more about the camera and what it is capable of from Kevin in the future and we'll have pictures to prove it.
DeletePractice...and experimenting! I still don't know everything my camera can do yet!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Gay and Joe. we will have lots of time to practice before we head to Africa.
DeleteGreat purchase! Looking forward to lotsa pix!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
I am sure you will see lots of pictures!
DeleteWell, I've certainly enjoyed all your pictures to date; so, with this newer and more souped up camera you're photos should be really great. And it's just in time for practice before the upcoming Namibia adventure. Great price too. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteThat's the idea Mary-Pat.
DeleteI got my new canon on closeout for $79.00 and its just fine for me. Sam thinks I should get a better one, but as you said, I am one of the point and shoot. dont have a clue about photography so why waste the money.
ReplyDeleteYep, you are right, it would be a waste of money if you don't know how to use the features. I am the same way, just give me the point and shoot and I am happy.
DeleteI totally agree with you on this subject. My brother-in-law spent two grand on a Canon camera some years back and for everyday photos to post online it was hard to tell the difference between
ReplyDeletemy point and shoot and his five lb. monster. Big difference in macro mode but who cares about pics of bugs and such? Some more expensive point and shoots let you make manual adjustments for shutter speed and aperture settings.
Cheers
You are right John. That is part of the reason that Kevin didn't go ahead and get and SLR, we don't want to be carrying around all that heavy equipment. I am sure that this new camera will take the quality of picture that will satisfy us at much less in cost than an SLR.
DeleteI think you'll enjoy this camera. I think Canon and Nikon are both great brands and you couldn't go wrong with either one. I have a Canon DSLR but I used a Nikon at work and both are great cameras. This will be such a good camera for your trip.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments on the two different cameras as you say they are both good cameras but Kevin liked the look and feel of the Nikon one better.
Delete