Going...
Gone.
We watched this coot swimming about the lake at Fairburn Ings RSPB reserve last weekend. Actually, the photos are out of sync, the first one was taken once it has surfaced again, you can just see it's got some sort of twig in its beak, it doesn't look worth diving for to me.
We visited Fairburn Ings last weekend as I wanted to try out my new camera. We bought Eleanor a Panasonic DMC-FZ72 for Christmas 2014. I'd read lots of great reviews of it and I know a few bloggers who have this camera too, the 60X zoom is what attracted her to this particular model.
She's been using the camera since then and it produces some great photos. I've already got a Fuji bridge camera and a Nikon DSLR but the one thing I was missing was a good zoom. I looked at a new lens for my Nikon but to get something equivalent to the 60X zoom which the Panasonic has would cost mega bucks so I decided that it made more sense to buy myself the same camera and forget about the lens for the Nikon, especially as I found a good deal on the Panasonic. I used some money which my mum and dad had given me for Christmas.
We didn't stay at Fairburn long as it was very cold, but I did get chance to have a quick try of the zoom on the camera. There didn't seem to be many birds on the lake...
...however, this is what the camera captured on the far side of the lake once I'd zoomed in.
I still haven't got to grips with my DSLR and now I've got another camera's functions to learn. It's all good fun though.
Great photos! The coot looks like it is concentrating very hard before diving. I have a Canon bridge camera, which I think is perfectly adequate for the kind of photography I do. It has an amazing zoom, just like your new camera. Best thing ever. I can't be bothered with faffing with lenses because I am lazy and often the best shots are quick ones.... happy photo taking! x
ReplyDeleteThe lens changing is definitely one of the downsides of the DSLR, as you say, no good if you need to capture something in a hurry. I'm looking forward to getting to grips with the new camera, it should enable me to get better photos of things which are far away with the zoom it's got.
DeleteThat is quite a zoom. I just have a point and click, but frequently wish I had better.
ReplyDeleteIt is. I have a very basic point and click which I carry in my bag all the time but it's not brilliant. I've been wanting a good zoom lens for a long time so I'm looking forward to spending some time seeing exactly what it can do.
DeleteWhat a great camera and lovely shots. We've bought all sorts of cameras in the past but we are both useless at remembering to take them with us! So we use our phones which aren't that brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI carry a camera with me all the time but only because I'm useless with my phone. Actually, the camera on my phone is probably better than the little point and click one that I carry in my bag, I must learn how to use it.
DeleteGood pictures. Lucky you with the camera. I'm still using my very old pocket point and shoot Nikon. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI'm really pleased with it and I'm grateful to my mum and dad for the money they gave me at Christmas, I wouldn't have been able to buy it otherwise.
DeleteLovely pictures, when my hubby worked away one day he came back with my Nikon camera it was nearly £800 but it is worth every penny, love the pictures, I love a day watching the wildlife, we will be having a day at Slimbridge Wetlands Centre some time so I can take some pictures of all the wildlife x
ReplyDeleteI think you need a lot of patience to photograph wildlife, something I haven't got. I like the RSPB reserves though as there's usually lots of things to take photos of so you don't need to hang around long waiting. My DSLR is a Nikon.
DeleteWow that zoom incredible! I purchased a Canon DSLR just last year but I'm still learning how to use it. So far I've only got the hang of close-up photos. I often resort to my (gasp!) phone when taking other types of photos as I'm far more used to it - I do have the Canon manual in my "inbox", however, and will hopefully get to learning a lot more over the coming summer.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'll ever learn all the different things my DSLR can do, or indeed any camera. There's always something new to learn. I really must get to grips with the camera on my phone, it would be more convenient using that than trailing my little point and shoot around with me, which isn't all that good anyway.
DeleteWow that is some zoom! Enjoy the new camera.
ReplyDeleteIt is. It's what's made me buy the camera, just what I need.
DeleteHope that you have fun with your new camera Jo. Eleanor having the same model must have been a most useful factor when it came to making your purchase :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. Eleanor's not frightened to mess about with her camera and I think that's really the best way to learn. I'm very cautious when changing any kind of settings or pressing any buttons but it's good to have Eleanor on hand to ask if I'm doing the right thing.
DeleteGreat shots of the coot diving. An impressive zoom lens!
ReplyDeleteI haven't had much of a chance to use my new camera and zoom facility. I'm mostly doing point and shoot on my walks (hurrying in the cold weather)!
I don't blame you. I've had my new camera for about a month now but I've only taken it out with me on this one occasion, I just haven't had chance yet to really get to grips with it. I'm sure we'll both learn lots more about our new cameras once the better weather's here.
DeleteAs well as costing mega bucks I bet an equivalent lens for the Nikon would weigh a ton. Also you have to faff around changing lenses. The FZ72 has a good wide angle too. On it's widest setting you can get up really close to flowers etc and take good macro images - especially if you crop the image to focus on fine details. Have you found the through glass setting on SCN?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it would. I've been really impressed with the photos which Eleanor's taken on her camera, she told me about the through glass setting so I'm sure she'll be showing me how to find that. It's quite good that she's got to grips with her camera, she can now help me with mine.
DeleteMy big zoom lens cost more than the original camera - it was my wedding anniversary, birthday and Christmas presents all in one! But I love it, and as you have discovered, it lets you take photos of things you wouldn't be able to get close to.
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised, the cameras aren't all that badly priced but the different lenses can add up to a huge amount of money. I'm looking forward to having a play around with my new camera and seeing just what it can do.
DeleteI have the Panasonic DMC-FZ72 as well, but I still prefer my trusty Olympus E450, though I admit that I use the x60 zoom for most of my non-close-up photos, e.g. ones of wildlife.
ReplyDeleteThat's really why I wanted a good zoom too. It's the one thing that's missing on my DSLR but it would have cost a fortune to buy such a good lens for it, buying this camera was more economical.
DeleteHope you enjoy your new camera! It seems to be taking wonderful photos so far!! xx
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I will, I'm looking forward to getting out and about with it and learning what it can do.
DeleteHow lovely to get a new camera, but learning all about a different brand can be a pain. I've still not learnt enough about mine (a Samsung), which I bought half price with an extra lens, bag and DVD, then happened upon a big sale at JB HiFi and picked up my larger lens, so I've been lucky and wouldn't have it for all if not for the bargain prices. It seems to work well. Love the photos of the coot and it can be amazing at what you can see with the zoom. Have a good week, happy snapping and take care.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't learnt all I want to about my DSLR and now I have a new one to learn all about too. You were lucky to happen on a sale so that you could get another lens, I have a longer lens for my DSLR but nothing near what the Panasonic can do so I'm looking forward to putting it through its paces.
DeleteLovely photos, Jo. Isn't it amazing that we can zoom in and see things we didn't know were there? :o)
ReplyDeleteIt's brilliant. I can't believe the detail it captures too, you wouldn't think it would be able to when you're stood so far away.
DeleteThe OH bought me a new Canon DSLR for Christmas, I cant make head nor tail of the inch thick instruction book!
ReplyDeleteThere's certainly a lot of information to digest in those manuals. I think the best way of learning is by trial and error really, though I'm always a little nervous of pressing anything if I don't know what it does or changing settings.
DeleteA fab camera - I've had my Lumix FZ47 for a few years purchased on a super special. I must say I have enver used the extra lense on it either. We bought a good bunch of them for the kids to use at school too.
ReplyDeleteI think it's definitely worth buying a good camera, they last a long time if they're looked after correctly. I think this will be the last one I purchase for a long time now.
DeleteThat is a good zoom! Handy that you and Eleanor have the same now, so she can work how to use it and help you out too. Mine is a bridge camera and I play about with the manual settings but I'm glad it has the auto settings on it too xx
ReplyDeleteI'm very thankful for the auto settings when I'm in a rush and want to capture something quickly. I like messing about with the manual settings when I've got more time on my hands, I'm learning slowly but I'm sure I'll get there in the end.
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I love that and great pictures too.
Have fun using and exploring the camera.
Hope Daniels feeling a bit better now... but you still have celebrations to look forward to - and you can use your camera!
All the best Jan
Daniel's feeling much better now, thank you for asking. He's very busy at the moment as he's got his final year project to hand in at uni within the next fortnight so we're postponing the celebrations until after then.
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