Nikon bridge camera dilemma?

Question

Okay, I want to take up Photography as a hobby, not something serious. But the thing is, I don't know Nikon bridge camera to buy. Either the Coolpix L810 or the P520. Which one would you reccomend? Preferably a Nikon. Something for a beginner maybe?

-Thanks!xo

Answer 1

I wouldn't recommend either to my worst enemy - the L810 is a dog turd, and the P520 is way over-priced for a bridge camera.



If you want a camera that works, take a look at the Fujifilm S4250 (the same price as the L810, using the same AA batteries, but it has a viewfinder and manual controls like the P520) or SL300 (does much the same job as the P520 at half the price).



Nikon make decent DSLRs, but their EVIL Nikon 1 is among the worst in its class, and they rely on a regular supply of cretins with more money than sense to shift their worthless, or over-priced, bridge cameras.

Answer 2

I would prefer p520, but i think it is too expensive compare to other competitors camera. And for L810 it more like a compact camera that looks like a bridge camera, not worth either for the kind of these camera.

Answer 3

Another vote for Fujifilm here. Bridge cameras are awful things ayway, but if you really must buy one then get one with a decent viewfinder. There's no point in having a bulky camera if you get no benefit from it.



If you just want a long zoom and no viewfinder get a Fujifilm F770EXR or F660EXR or one of the Panasonic TZ range. They would give you better pictures than either of those Nikons and fit into a pocket.



You don't need a 30x or longer zoom. Very long zooms distort too much, have too small apertures and you can't hand hold them at the longest zoom except in very bright sunlight. You rarely need to zoom that much anyway. They really are quite pointless 99.9% of the time.

Answer 4

Agree with Andrew. Notice the thumbs down ratings from people that hate it when they read the truth.



both cameras are not worth the money. they both use very tiny image sensors, so fancy features, extra controls and so called large aperture lenses won't fix that. They are overpriced for what they deliver.



If you are going to spend considerably more money on a compact over say a cheap 99 dollar one, do it right and get a compact-ish camera with a truly large image sensor. That means nothing smaller than one inch, like a Nikon J1 or J2 or S1 (avoid the J3 and V2) V1 is ok if it's less than 500.



slightly larger sensor than that, any micro four thirds like the Olympus E PM2, Panasonic makes them too. And even larger than that, APS-C size, like a Sony NEX 3N, usually about 499.



Bottom line, keep saving or just go cheap. I hate 'bridge cameras' and I don't even like the term, I wish photographers and people in the industry would stop using the term. I call them rip off cameras. Camera companies love to sell them because the profit margins are big.

Answer 5

The P520 is the top of the line bridge camera for Nikon. It has auto & manual settings.

Answer 6

The advantage of the P520 is that it has PSAM (manual exposure) controls, while the L810 is an entry level camera without hardly any controls at all.



Nikon's L series cameras are entry level compact cameras. Their P cameras are performance oriented compact cameras.

Answer 7

What made bridge cameras great was the long zoom. Now advanced point and shoots have the same. I'd get a Nikon S9300. Nice and compact, hi definition video, cheap third party batteries. Lovely!

Answer 8

If you are looking for this class of camera and it has to be a Nikon then go for the P-series option. Nikon has completely dropped the ball with it's L-series - just so a search in Y!A for all the issues people have with them!