Buying advice (bridge digital)

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Majick

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I want to get my wife a new camera for her birthday. She loves taking pictures and I would like to get her something that is an upgrade from our normal "point and shoot".

I have identified the following two cameras that fit my budget:
Canon powershot sx40
Nikon P510 (at the moment I am leaning towards this one)

Does anyone here have experience/opinions/recommendations regarding these two cameras? Or any other camera I could consider (around the same price point)?

I noticed the previous thread regarding sx50 vs P510 but the sx50 is just a tad too expensive.
 
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I just bought my first bridge camera last week and its quiet an upgrade from the point-n-shoot.

I bought the Nikon L310 and really happy with it for the price. But if I was going to spend the money of a P510, I would just go SLR. Rather go to a professional camera store as the prices are the same (or better) than the Makros of this world.

As its for the wife, also look at ease of use for her. Women don't like features, they just want to hit the on button and take a photo. This also influenced my decision as the L310 is very basic. You might want to take her with.

I found this site to help me a lot and prevented me from buying a model that would not have met my needs:
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/nikon-coolpix-p510-digital-compact-camera-review-18761
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Women don't like features, they just want to hit the on button and take a photo.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that generalization of women and their camera use.:wtf:

@ OP, if your wife is going to be the primary user of the camera I would take her with you to purchase a camera just to let her pick out what will be right for her.

Don't discount Makro, they tend to have very good deals on camera bundles that can save you a lot of money in the long run but know what you want before you go in to pick it up.
 
My advice.... AVOID SLR AT ALL COSTS - you and your wife will be disappointed. Unless she is planning on doing model shoots and doing large format printing for newspapers and also lugging around a large camera bag!
The reason: You wil need extra costly lenses for zoom, or close-ups. There is also the lens changes, keeping the sensor clean and lots of fiddly settings - like cbrunsdonza mentioned in his fairly sexist post above.

The modern "point and shoot" cameras are not point and shoot anymore and include a host of pro features.
Have a look at DP Review - before you buy... www.dpreview.com
Do a bit of research first. With your wife liking to take fotos, I am sure she is well on her way to understanding most of the terminology of photography.

Everything of the best...
 
What I would suggest, is going for the Canon sx40. It is an outstanding little camera. It has been top of the charts on numerous photographers radar.

I would go with psynapt1k's advice, and avoid an SLR. It becomes bulky for some people just to carry around and take a few shots. It get's left behind, and the phone's camera becomes the main tool.

If she does progress, she will have more knowledge of the next purchase due to some of the manual settings the camera has. But to be 100% honest, most of the bridge camera's will have the functionality and features you are after. I would say Nikon's overall picture quality is slightly better than Canon's, but I hate the brand, so I will not suggest it. lol.

Tell her to snap up as many photos as possible, and enjoy it!
 
Personally I would pay the extra for - say - a Nikon D3100, which is roughly the same size as a P510.

If your wife is one of those generalised above :) there is an 'Auto' setting which will turn the camera into a point-and-shoot.

However - and only if you so choose - you have the option of using other lenses e.g. a telephoto for visiting the Kruger etc.

The point here is that you have the option, whereas a fixed lens means that you are stuck with no options available.

If you do purchase a second lens:

  • Most - if not all - SLR camera bags provide storage for more than one lens.
  • Switching lenses becomes totally automatic.
  • The ability to (for example) 'get close in' by using a telephoto lens normally results in more exciting photographs.
BTW, there is very little wrong with Nikon - except [at times] their snotty attitude. My trusty Nikon F1 - granted not used much of late - was purchased in 1966 ... :)
 
Thanks to all of you for the advice!

I looked at SLR initially but I think it is a bit overkill for our needs.

When I compare the features of the two cameras it seems the Nikon come out on top:
16 MP vs 12 MP
3" screen vs 2.7" (higher quality in the nikon as well but can't rotate as much as the canon)
42x zoom vs 35x

But does any of that make any noticeable difference? The canon is actually R500 cheaper at kalahari.

I have read positive reviews online of both cameras.

EDIT: I just contacted takealot and it seems the sx40 comes with a bag and memory card so I am starting to think that might be a better deal

EDIT 2: It seems the battery life of the sx40 is a lot better (my wife takes a LOT of photos while travelling, I had to get an extra battery for our other camera).
 
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Well, to be honest, the MP are not going to make much of a difference unless you printing bigger than normal. The screen, while only 0.3 inches bigger, makes a difference. The Zoom, at that magnification, could distort the image, but I don't have any personal use to base this on.

If you add the memory card +-R100 for 4Gb, plus R100 for a bag, the Canon is still a saving of R300.

But, the Nikon's screen resolutions is far superior, an has the capabilities of in camera HDR and panorama.

I would go the Nikon route.
 
I own the Canon SX40, it takes great photos and videos. If you decide to get the Canon I would recommend you get the SX50 because specs are a bit better.
 
im just having a look at the fuji s4000 ..looks decent and the nikon L810 was ok ..but for 2k its nice

im having the same issues ..buying for my SO who says she will take my P&S rather and i can have the bridge
 
In the end I purchased the SX40. The deal breaker for me was the better battery life (according to reviews/comparisons I read online). The SX50 seems awesome but it was just a bit too expensive.

Thanks for all the replies.
 
Last Sx I had was the Sx30 and it was awesome. Decided not to upgrade to the Sx40 cause for me AA batteries is a crucial requirement. When it comes to bridge cameras I prefer Canon, my first bridge was the legendary S1 IS.
 
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