Best camera for personal use hunting

Looking for best all around camera that I can use to take pictures and videos around 100 yards and still be fairly clear.
I enjoy recording the shoots if I can. Tried using my phone but it’s not getting the quality I like.

Any input would be greatly appreciated

I think for the point and shoot size cameras the Sony RX100s are hard to beat for picture quality. Not sure the quality for a 100+ yard video. Might need something with more zoom from a DSLR but then you go up in size and weight.

Your price range is obviously important-. I like the Nixon Coolpix line of camera.
Lots of options in a fairly wide price point. Wireless transfer of pics is great
in whatever you choose.

I have two Canon DLSRs and a Panasonic Lumix FZ80 bridge camera. The Panasonic has all the functions of the DLSRs (20mm to 1200mm optically stabilized lens) and settings range from manual to automatic and anywhere in between. It has 4K video capture performance and WiFi for transferring pics and movies. When I leave the house now the DLSRs stay home and the Panasonic is my working camera.

I got mine for $250 on Amazon.

Panasonic

Canon SX60 HS

Great point and shoot auto focus camera. You can zoom 200+ yards and get excellent photos.

I will probably end up with a Nikon P900 after seeing a lot of pics on here that have been taken. Great zoom for longer distances. I have a DSLR but just don't have the time to learn all the ins and outs of using one effectively.

The Nikon P900 is a bridge camera. My Panasonic came with a 400 page owner's manual. It has a wider range of features than my Canon DLSRs. Don't expect the Nikon to be as simple as just a point and shoot if you want to get your money's worth. You will still need a very good tripod when zoomed out.

check the photo section on this forum...
cant remember who, but thar b some AWESOME
in thar... PM them for prices & info...
i carried a cannon, Walmart special roughly $100.00 in phanny pack, yes phanny pack...
Do know on lower end cameras, cannon was better pics, like with phones, just up graded mine, for better camera quality, look for the pic's size think it per inch more more pic's better quality...

I was hoping to be around $300-$500, zoom is a large factor I would like. Around 100 yards would be great to video and take pictures

Im not a camera expert in the slightest but my friend has a Nikon p900 and I just got a p1000. I don't think the 900 is but $600. You don't know me but trust me it is sooooooo amazing the reach of the zoom you will be doing yourself a big disservice if you don't even consider it. I hate to go against what anybody says on here cause of my inexperience but it seems very close to point and shoot simplicity cause all I do is put on auto and snap.

Hwyman would disagree I think. Doesn't he use a p1000 and his last one was a p900? I could be wrong though.

2Beez, im not sure what part you think hwyman will disagree with but I will say im almost certain you are correct on his 900 then 1000 experience. Hopefully he will chime in and from what I know he is very knowledgeable.

We had no disagreement. Choctaw said it was not point and shoot and Hwyman does not use a tripod His pics in the photo forum speak for themselves

I guess I just shake too much because when I use extended glass I use a tripod. The point I was trying to make is the bridge cameras are fantastic and they can be so much more than point and shoot if you choose to spend the time to learn. They will eventually put a lot of the DLSRs out of business.

Even a DLSR can be a point and shoot camera. They all have auto settings.

Once again im a rookie with any camera and im not sure about common photography terminology so I should probably stay off here. But to clarify when i say "point and shoot" i am meaning there doesn't have to be any prior adjustments made before shooting. The various adjustments are all there so if you don't use them then you may not be getting your moneys worth but i thought most cameras had the adjustments but now im thinking im just ignorant on that. I shake like crazy and try to use a tripod or something for almost any camera. The 900 and 1000 when zoomed out even a good tripod is never enough.
Take my opinion for what its worth and maybe not much but the "super zoom" cams are likely intended to be a specialty item cause they zoom further than i dreamed was available. For the general public the use of that zoom would hardly ever be needed. However, on a hunting forum i would think that most of us see wildlife at great distances so the huge zoom would be hard not to consider and impossible for me to pass up. You can also send stills or video with wifi to your friends from you stand. One last thing is that im pretty sure the extended zoom capability has a tradeoff if anyone is looking for a "pro" level pic quality but for my hunting purposes the quality seems very good. As usual, just my 2cents.

I'm not aware of any camera, from the simplest to the most complex that won't allow the user to simply point and shoot. All cameras come with fully automatic features. I agree, Freerange. An extended zoom camera will never give one pro-quality long range photos but most people are unwilling or unable to drop the major coin to purchase the glass necessary. Most of us are just amateurs though and the pictures a bridge camera are capable of are more than adequate for the most part.

Hard to disagree with him. While I rarely use a tripod I try to brace the camera as much as possible brace it on a tree, truck, truck window or any other way offering a chance to brace the camera. When he says bridge camera he absolutely right but they have their purpose also. I don't have time to change lenses, just like hunting you get just a moment to catch the picture and the P series Nikon's excel in that department. I can go from macro to full zoom and never take my eye off the target.

your pix are always awesome! what camera do you use..and dont say a phone..lol

Yes, these cameras are incredible. As I stated above, I rarely use my DLSRs anymore. It is nice to leave the house without a gadget bag full of lenses.

Back in the 35mm days, I went with a Canon camara and carried around 3 lenses along with the 35-80 that was usually on the camera. I carried rolls of film a flash and extra batteries. It was a pain, but I figured that it was worth it because I probably would never be to those countries again, or see what I was seeing.

Once digital cameras because affordable with really good features, I stuck with Canon and bought their SX10, and then when the SX30 came out, bought that and now I've been using the SX50 for about five years with great results. The SX70 is their newest, bestest model that I'm aware of. I don't believe one brand is significantly better then the others, and Nikon and the other quality name brands are all going to be comparable, so it doesn't really matter what brand you go with.

What I do think is important is that it's a All In One type camera. No changing lenses, or having to carry anything else with you. My battery is rechargeable and good for about 400 pictures. My SD card can hold thousands of pictures. I forget exactly, but my record is 2,600 when I went on a Cruise to ten different countries in the Mediterranean. When in South Africa on Safari, both my PH and I had Swarvoski binoculars. We used my camera as a spotting scope since it has a 50X optical zoom and after spotting the animals with out binoculars, we evaluated them with my camera. It has a flash built in, so there really is no reason to carry anything else with you.

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerS...;qid=1558970737&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Here are a few pictures that I've taken with it.

Im glad this thread is continuing. Ive chimed in several times but I cant repeat enough about these cameras. I was clueless that anything soooo different actually existed that im begging everyone to look into. I used to see those huge and bulky 400mm lens on the sidelines of sporting events and thought that must be the farthest anything would zoom and I knew they were bulky and likely expensive. I had a 300mm lens that required switching to different lenses as Choctaw said. These "bridge" cameras(I only know about Nikons) have just the one lens that zooms in and out. The 1000 is much bigger and bulkier than the 900 but the 900 is not much bigger than any everyday camera. The 1000s zoom magnifies 125 times!!! Think 10power binos then multiply times 12!!! Three times more powerful than most spotting scopes(which it could double as). When I learned all this I likely felt like the Indians did when they put down theirs bows and picked up a rifle. You don't know what you don't know. I know im going on and on but I feel like that first Indian that picked up that rifle and im sure he told the rest of the tribe about it. I understand if its outa your budget or if youre a pro but otherwise I say "buy once, cry once." As usual, my 2cents.

The new point and shoot cameras area amazing with the quality you can get. They are much lighter than a DSLR/lens combo also usually. My camera and 500mm lens weighs in at just under 12 lbs. I have to use a tripod or some sort of sandbag or window rest to support it in the blind. I rarely ever change any the 500mm lens. I also take photos out to 3/4 of a mile with my 20.2 MP camera and the 500mm lens. I just crop any photo that when it is over 100 yards most of the time, to get the size or effect I want. I can crop to get the same effect you get with the zoom lens on the P900 or P1000. You can do the same with those cameras to get even better quality pics...take photos without as much zoom. The main factor I would look at is the type of zoom and then the speed of the lens. The P1000 has an F2.8 lens which is why it takes really great photos. My Canon lens is F4.0. I had a friend tell me one time he would take a Canon 400mm F2.8 lens over my 500mm F4.0 lens any day. He said he could take photos at the same distance and just crop them and still have as good or even better quality of photo as I did. I have learned to use the camera in manual settings more and more, which greatly improves the quality of the pics. Each type of camera has its place. I take my camera/lens/tripod to the blind with me everytime I go. The P1000 is a lot less weight(3.2 lbs vs 12 lbs) and not near as bulky. I have learned a long time ago that I kept seeing things that I said to myself.."I wished I had my camera". Now I never say that much anymore. You see some amazing things just sitting in a blind sometimes.

STX, your pictures are amazing. And the your subjects are even more amazing. Im not sure where anyone could find as many great pics of great Texas deer. Along with the pics the knowledge you contribute on this forum is top notch and much appreciated. And then theres that pesky fly...…

stxranchman, you've probably stated before, but what camera (the 12 pounder with the 500mm lens) are you using? Brand and model???

Thanks. I am still learning to use my camera/lenses in the correct way. There are a lot of really well managed ranches in Texas that have really great deer. I just happen to get on a quite a few from time to time and take some photos.

I use either a Canon 7D or Canon 50D for photos. The lens is a Canon 500mm f4.0 L IS USM lens. Those cameras are both 10+ yrs old and not made anymore. The lens is 11 yrs old also. There are approaching the end of their life span soon. The newer equipment today is hands down better than what I have, but it comes with a much greater price tag also.

And expensive equipment will not compensate for the photographer's lack of ability or being able to "see" the shot. You sure don't suffer from lack of ability with your always amazing photographs.

Certainly agree on the equipment not compensating for lack of ability by photographer and I have very little ability. However, Im optimistic about learning since I spend so much time afield in a great area and I rarely kill anything so I should be getting lots of practice with the camera. Come Fall yall should be seeing lots of pics from my P1000.

The fun part about owning any digital camera is experimenting with what works the best for you. Just have fun with it. I probably don't like a 3/4 of the pictures I take because they, well, suck. But I'm happy with those that I do like. Some of these are my favorites and many people would say they, well, suck. lol I don't get paid for taking photographs though so that's okay.

Check out this review. I have the P1000 & recommend it.

https://youtu.be/GTriM0c1Zsk

Rusty breech.....





Seriously....very nice pics. I really like the swirls of smoke....they're all really good...

Sir, that's fried-on gun oil...or something like that.

Dodgerock, Thanks for the video. Just glanced at a little of it for now. It seems at a laymans level instead of real high tech which is what I need. Im trying to talk all my friends into getting something like the p900 or p1000 so im hopeful that review will help me explain/sell it to them. Of course maybe ill learn I shouldn't have bought the 1000. Whenever I get time to watch a 30 minute video maybe ill find out. Without putting much thought into it it seems like the one Pitch and Eddie and maybe someone else mentioned may be similar but not as much zoom(overkill for some) but cheaper and I guess smaller.

right on

I posted these photos back in December. Should give you a good idea of what a deer photo at about 120 yds looks like. Nikon P1000. Camera is completely silent too.

https://texashuntingforum.com/forum...342/young-buck-named-stripes#Post7391342

I shot this buck with an entry level Sony DSLT A58 a fews years ago with a 55-300mm lens at about 35 yds. IQ is better with larger sensor camera and closer target. Wouldn't be very good at 100 yds. Was in a pop-up blind and the shutter button sound made him skittish.



Close-up shot of a barn swallow shot today at less than 10 yards with the Nikon P1000. IQ definitely improves closer you get.

stxranchman: So many of your pictures are magazine quality and I think most of them could make an outside cover. Beautiful pictures.

p1000 almost a grand..cost enters the equation..im going with the panasonic lumix fz80



for about $300 on amazon

Really Great Pictures... Do you know Wyman Meinzer ?

I know Meinzer but I doubt as good as some of our guys on here are that they are anywhere near his league. Hes World class and home grown.

I reread my post about Wyman Meinzer and I may not of made sense. I was trying to say that I know him by reputation well and that he is extremely good at outdoor photography and as far as I know hes considered the best in Texas. What I meant about some of our guys on forum that post pics are that they are very good but not like him.

Really nice pics stxranchman! I especially like the one saved in this post. I also use a cannon - 5D mkIII. Probably more camera than a snap-shooter would need but if wanting to get into serious photography, a dslr and interchangeable lenses is the way to go. The mirrorless cameras are looking real good but I doubt I will change from the camera I have and like now unless it gets damaged or stolen. That being said, I now basically just use only 1 or 2 lenses out of the 5 I've got.

A couple of pictures to show the opposite side of the zoom capabilities - from far to near.

HWYMAN what camera is that on those closeups?

Nikon P-1000

If this was for me....yes I know him. Met him back in the mid 90's and spent 3 days with him watching his photography skills at work. I have about 9 or 10 of his photo books. I would love to go to one of his field trips in the Trans Pecos to learn from him.

I met him in the 90s as well. Maybe 91 he put on a presentation at the Safari Club show in Dallas. Extremely talented and has lived an interesting life for sure. Also saw him in Abilene at the TBGA a few years back when he gave a presentation on trapping. I guess so few in attendance were able to relate to trapping it seemed to me most weren't interested. I don't know if he was aware of that but if so I assume hes used to people not understanding his way of life. Last year he was a special guest at the TWA Annual Convention. I have 3 or 4 of his books and knew he had a few more but I didn't realize it was 9 or 10- I need to go shopping.

He had his daily diary/log book from day to day life, trapping and calling predators with the day, weather, ranch, animal killed and yardage he made the shot on the rifle kills. We spent 3 days talking about his trapping days and where/how he lived. Very interesting to hear him tell about the lifestyle he chose. I was able to see him again down in Goliad County and the local WMA coop meeting when he gave a photography photo presentation. His wife was with him and they had a booth with his books. He had a 3 book series I bought on 3 large ranches....Wagonhound Land and Livestock- The Spirit of Wyoming, The 6666 - A Portrait of a Texas Ranch and Under One Fence - The Waggoner Ranch Legacy. I bought 4 other new ones he had out since I last bought any. I think I have 4 of his first ones he had photos in.

Wyman was my dads roommate when they were at Tech. Dad graduated from Munday and Wyman from Benjamin. My dad still tells the stories about how hed camp out in the snow in a sleeping bag for days just to get a shot. Really cool dude

https://shop.panasonic.com/cameras-...as/DC-ZS70.html#start=1&cgid=cameras

Have owned/operated several from this line over the years. Never been disappointed yet.