h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Personally, my cameras are somewhere in the middle. Even my pocket cameras have optical zoom. I don't see the point of digital zoom, as it doesn't increase the amount of pixels. (you just cut out a bit from the unzoomed picture)

The one I use most is a 20-1200mm equivalent bridge camera, privately and professionally. Although not as good as the DSLRs it is much more affordable. Main issue is to get enough light. On the other hand, I can make 1200mm superzoom pictures without a tripod due to the light weight, where people with DSLR get the cramps or carry far too much weight up the mountain. With the 20mm macro, I can get as close as 10mm from my subject. I regularly use the camera instead of a microscope.

When choosing a camera (and comparing) it is good to know that the X-zoom factor does not give an absolute magnification, but just the difference between the smallest and largest focal length of that specific camera. It is better to look at equivalent focal length.

Hello Caiman raptor elk, thanks for the comment. That is interesting a camera taking the place of a microscope, now that's worth a try.

And I never need to take binoculars with me on holiday. Once during a mountaineering camp I found my fellow climbers who were 2km away and 500m higher up the mountain by taking pictures and zooming in on my screen. They were invisible to the naked eye. (and we had some unusual pictures as a result)

I've done similar - just because of poor vision.

Thats a good lens, and thats a shot I would like to see

Sounds like my new camera is similar to yours, Caiman raptor elk

I really appreciate the lightness of the camera and the 20-1200mm equivalent lens is very good indeed. I do have a pair of binoculars for easy scanning when I'm looking for birds, but it is very refreshing to have the ability to take photos of the birds I spot, rather than being limited to taking photos of the landscape and saying, "there was a cattle egret (or whatever) there, honest!"

I haven't done much macro photography lately, but that is a feature I need to explore more on this new camera as I do like looking at small details of things like insects and mosses