Need help choosing between three bridge cameras? How important RAW is?

Question

I've been searching for a bridge camera for a week now and I can't make up my mind. I need it for an upcoming trip to london and also I need it to capture close up photos and HD videos of fish in aquariums (i do that very frequently). Moreover I am a gadget guy so I would love my camera to be "fun". My budget is about £220 and I found some very good offers on amazon.

The one I am mostly interested in and also the cheapest is the Fujifilm HS30EXR which offers the most DSLR-inspired features (manual focus ring, manual zoom, compatible with filters and comes with lens hood) though I read some reviews saying that there is some noise in the pictures. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-FinePix-HS30EXR-EXR-CMOS-Tiltable/dp/B006Q8VA2W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362150220&sr=8-1

My second option is the Nikon P510. I think the fuji is equal. I don't care about the extreme zoom it of 42X it offers or the stupid GPS. Some say that it is less noisy but sometimes it has trouble focusing. Also it is 20 pounds more.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-COOLPIX-P510-Compact-Digital/dp/B0071L3M56/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1362149976&sr=8-2

Third is the Panasonic FZ62 at the same price with the Nikon which lacks the tiltable LCD, reviews also refer to some noise, *only* 24X zoom and has 1/2000s shutter speed while the other two 1/4000.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Lumix-FZ62-Bridge-Camera/dp/B008N8NXYG/ref=pd_cp_ph_0

I even looked into the more expensive and the Lumix FZ150 but I am not sure if it is worth the 45 pounds more than the Fuji. It has a 12MP only sensor which is noise free but IMO at this price 12MP is a very small number and 24X zoom. I can not afford it right now but I will save up if it is a MUCH better camera.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DMC-FZ150-Compact-Camera-Recording/dp/B005LTRD5U/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1362155093&sr=1-1

By the way, only the Fuji and the FZ-150 support RAW. How important is it?

You can see, I am an amateur. This will be my first camera, I was always using the best camera phones but not a real camera (except the cheap compacts). So do you think that any of these cameras is a bad one or is significantly inferior to the others or they are pretty much equal?

Answer 1

As an amateur, you can stop worrying about RAW. Normal JPEG photos will give you very good images and you will get more on the memory card.

If those cameras are the only three you have in mind, then I would opt for the

Nikon first

Fuji second and then

the Panasonic.

Answer 2

RAW photos are only needed when you intend to do some serious post-processing. There are limits to what you can do with a JPG, and the RAW format goes beyond that limitation.



Essentially, JPGs are compressed files, and work OK if you take them as is, but when you start editing them, the information in the file is lacking. On the other hand, RAW files contain all of the data necessary to make significant editing changes.



Unfortunately though, each camera manufacturer has it's own proprietary raw file format - with some manufacturers having several different formats - depending on brand. And there may or may not be much support for FUJI raw files from the good editors, so you may find that you cannot take advantage of editing RAW files.



So if you like to edit photos - you will want to use RAW. If not, there is no need for RAW. So if you need to use RAW, compatibility with your favorite 3rd party processing software is one thing you will want to ascertain before buying such a camera.



Personally, I dislike bridge cameras due to those ridiculous high power zooms. But you at least are staying away from those 40x cameras.

Answer 3

RAW is seldom necessary at the amateur level unless you join a camera club and need to present your photos in a competition.

You said: " I was always using the best camera phones"

Now this is important because the next level of image quality is not so much a top spec bridge camera as a DSLR.

For £80 more than your £220 you could have a Sony A37 and this will make a much better job of your aquarium videos.



If I had to choose one of those you listed then the Nikon P510 would get my vote.