My husband likes to take pictures of wild life.Is the 8x zoom any good for this? Thanks!
1372331
The zoom certainly helps. Makes your image appear to be eight times closer. However, say for example you are shooting a bird 100 ft. away. He still will be a long way off, for example he will not cover the whole screen. Most people shooting wildlife use lens with basically 200x. If you are shooting a deer for example at 100 feet with a 8x he will pretty well fill the screen. If you could get within say 20-30 feet your 8x would work fairly well.
2170406
As long as you're not doing fast or low-light action, this is a fantastic outdoor telephoto - a real image-quality champ. It works quite well with the Canon 1.4X tele extender, too. (I don't have a 2X so I can't say with that one.) For fast action or action in low light, save up and get the 70-200mm 2.8 (II not I; the new version is super sharp, the old version a bit lacking). And start pumping iron ;) If you're doing birds a lot, this may not have the reach you need. In that case the 100-400mm is better - not quite the same image quality but pretty good nonetheless. If you're doing a lot of portraits, the 70-200mm 2.8 II will give you better background blur. Or go cheap with the 135mm f2.0 or the 200mm f2.8 for portraits.
150435
With current technologies big zoom range requires a tiny sensor and mediocre optics. There is plenty of such junk on the market. This camera is for people who prioritize quality over zoom range. Also because of the higher quality output the picture is often usable after significant cropping. So in the end it is more or less comparable to 4x zoom on most other compacts.
2227306
we have the hs30exr and are very pleased. the 720 mm manual zoom is terrific, battery life great and up to 11 frames /sec is good for shooting action shots. i don't think the cool pix offers these features.
1893810
It's hard to say, the 7X gives a wider field of view, the 10X a more detailed view...if it's across a distance, for example 50 yd + shots are common then I'd want the 10X. Personally I wish I'd gotten the zoom model myself, the optics are good so I don't think image quality would suffer to a very great extent.
588408
I don't know why they dropped the MP . I really like the bigger zoom , but the lack of MP is a big disadvantage . I also take my older version with me on photo shoots because of the better MP. My idea was to get a better camera for distant wildlife shots , but now I have to carry 2 cameras . It's a good camera , but would be much better with greater MP .
2169340
I have owned my 100-400 for 5 months now and I love it. I photograph wildlife and our Grandsons sporting events and use it 100% of the time. I must say that 95% of those pictures are taken using 400, however, it was nice to be able to zoom out for the 5%. The only time that I change a lens is for indoor use. So far it has been easy to use and produces very good quality photos. The only drawback at this point is that it is a little heavy so I purchased a shoulder strap to take the weight off my neck. My opinion is that if I had it to do over (purchase or not) that yes I would invest the money and purchase again. I have owned my 100-400 for 5 months now and I love it. I photograph wildlife and our Grandsons sporting events and use it 100% of the time. I must say that 95% of those pictures are taken using 400, however, it was nice to be able to zoom out for the 5%. The only time that I change a lens is for indoor use. So far it has been easy to use and produces very good quality photos. The only drawback at this point is that it is a little heavy so I purchased a shoulder strap to take the weight off my neck. My opinion is that if I had it to do over (purchase or not) that yes I would invest the... » Read More I have owned my 100-400 for 5 months now and I love it. I photograph wildlife and our Grandsons sporting events and use it 100% of the time. I must say that 95% of those pictures are taken using 400, however, it was nice to be able to zoom out for the 5%. The only time that I change a lens is for indoor use. So far it has been easy to use and produces very good quality photos. The only drawback at this point is that it is a little heavy so I purchased a shoulder strap to take the weight off my neck. My opinion is that if I had it to do over (purchase or not) that yes I would invest the money and purchase again. « Show Less
1225470
Hi Erica- I like this camera a lot. I mostly usethe camera for shootingthe interior of rooms. The wide feature of the lense is excelent, I have not used the zoom to shoot distance.
62786
I've mainly used it for wildlife. Used it extensively on a safari. Autofocus isn't perfect. But if your target isn't moving manual focus works very well with focus assist on my GH2. I've made very nice pictures at the long end holding the camera, but you'll need to be in good sunlight. Any kind of longer exposure will absolutely need a tripod. But in this price range it is a pretty capable long telephoto lens.
1677182
You see it while shooting. The lens optically zooms 12x, the intelligent zoom, or 25x, looks just as good. I think the 40x is nearly as good if you need the shot, but it will look like a digital zoom if you viewing in hi-def. The next one up is kind of a novelty. With a tripod, it is easy to identify people and objects at 100x, but it is certainly not hi-def. the cinema mode only works in 12x
556761
Absolutely. But not if you need a big zoom. Best picture taking point and shoot I've ever owned, and it's not close. Particularly in low light and action shots with plenty of light.
703791
100% the zoom is always powered and very fast, no matter which lens you choose. The manual lens handling is way better than the powered version, but it doubles the size of the system. If you like full control over what you are doing stay away from the powered lens... it's awkward...
2236586
Sacha, its got a decent zoom for such a tiny camera, but at full zoom ranges the images can get grainy. However for medium zoom, regular and macro, the image quality is really great. I like it as a point and shoot.
927465
This is not a bad lens at all. It is certainly not the fastest or sharpest, but a very sharp and fast zoom with this range would be very expensive and bulky. I use it for bird photography with decent results. I would not get same results with any available point and shoot camera.
1044694
The zoom is great, although it does blurry at full zoom, ie. I zoomed in on an eagle across our lake good 1/8 of a mile but I know it is the eagle would not hang it on the wall. Fast motion have limited experience some blurry others fine.
120624
Thank you very much, ALT, I really appreciate your feedback. Yesterday I ordered the Fuji S1000fd instead. For $231 the 10MP and 12X optical zoom was just unbeatable. Now I've got to find out if I can use filters on it, too. Thank you!
194956
..this camera has very nice Zoom, i use it at work all the time.. as with any cam or scope the longer the focal length the smaller the field of view, and, the harder it is to keep the subject in that FOV.. btw this cam also does Macro images very well, for a point and shoot cam im happy with it.. the Android OS just makes it that much better..