I need a new camera..it's been 6 years or more since I purchased one. I'm not a good photographer and struggle with SLR cameras. If you were going to pick just one camera for safari with zoom and ease of use the most important features..which one would get the nod?

small and something that fits in my pocket would be a big plus as well...respond like you're talking to a guy who doesn't understand ANYTHING about cameras...

If it must be pocket size then Panasonic ZS60
If you can go bigger then Nikon P900.
Both great for your needs.

The Panasonic ZS100 gets good reviews

http://www.imaging-resource.co...panasonic-zs100A.HTM

I see that when I look at zoom..sometimes they say optical or digital. Can someone explain what the difference is and what I should be looking for.

I have used all three cameras mentioned above, and without any hesitation, I would pick the Panasonic ZS60.

If you look at the photos in my hunt report on the AFRICAN hunting forum, most are taken by this camera.

The ZS100 takes does not have the zoom range if the ZS60.

And the Nikon P900 is great at extreme zoom , has an83X optical zoom,
But the photo quality is nowhere near as good as the Panasonic.

I have never used any of the cameras above, and certainly don't have a horse in this race, but here's one comparison of the two Panasonic models.

http://cameradecision.com/comp...onic-Lumix-DMC-ZS100

They both have their strong points. Saeed is probably a very reliable source on both of these cameras, if only because he has used them in real world conditions.

Thanks everyone...

I think I'll go with Saeed's Panasonic ZS60 recommendation. His pics looks really good and I think this should be enough zoom to work for my needs.

I figure anyone who's spent as many days on the ground in Africa as Saeed probably knows what works..

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I have used all three cameras mentioned above, and without any hesitation, I would pick the Panasonic ZS60.

If you look at the photos in my hunt report on the AFRICAN hunting forum, most are taken by this camera.

The ZS100 takes does not have the zoom range if the ZS60.

And the Nikon P900 is great at extreme zoom , has an83X optical zoom,
But the photo quality is nowhere near as good as the Panasonic.

I was really disappointed with the Nikon P900. While the 83X zoom was cool, the picture quality was the pits. Color balance and sharpness was unimpressive. Mine found another home. I am back to being a Cannon guy with the T6i and a EF 100-400. Hate the weight, but love the picture quality.

Like Wink, I have no horse in this race either. I also have no experience with the Panasonic camera's, but we have seen enough of Saeed's lovely photography to know that they work fine. About three or four years back, I felt the need to get a quality camera that was simple to operate, and small and compact enough to carry around when weight and bulk nixed my carrying my bigger and much bulkier Nikon gear.

After diligent research, I chose the Nikon Coolpix P7100. I have never regretted doing so. Attached are some photos that I've taken with it. If the need arose, I would't hesitate getting another.

Here's a couple more that my wife took in South Africa a couple months ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Opus1:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I have used all three cameras mentioned above, and without any hesitation, I would pick the Panasonic ZS60.

If you look at the photos in my hunt report on the AFRICAN hunting forum, most are taken by this camera.

The ZS100 takes does not have the zoom range if the ZS60.

And the Nikon P900 is great at extreme zoom , has an83X optical zoom,
But the photo quality is nowhere near as good as the Panasonic.

I was really disappointed with the Nikon P900. While the 83X zoom was cool, the picture quality was the pits. Color balance and sharpness was unimpressive. Mine found another home. I am back to being a Cannon guy with the T6i and a EF 100-400. Hate the weight, but love the picture quality.

You are right.

The colour balance of the Nikon P900 is bloody awful.

But, it really shine as an ultra zoom, and one can correct the photos in Photoshop.