Compact for Safari
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LN Strike Eagle
- UKAR Staff
- Posts: 11307
- Joined: Mon 21 Jul 2008, 4:29 pm
Compact for Safari
Friend of mine is heading on safari this year and is after a compact camera to record the trip. Not looking for a DSLR and has a budget of about £400. Any recommendations?
"You really are an oafish philistine at times!"
Re: Compact for Safari
I was going to recommend the Sony HX-99 as I paid around £400 for mine a couple of years ago but its around £600 now so a bit outside your budget.
My Air History photos https://www.airhistory.net/photographer ... k-Ferguson
Re: Compact for Safari
A bit off topic here but question for Derek. I tried to buy a Sony HX99 last year but couldn’t find for sale in UK. Where did you see it on sale.
Re: Compact for Safari
I got mine from Bristol Cameras for £389 in 2022. It's almost double that now.
My Air History photos https://www.airhistory.net/photographer ... k-Ferguson
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Thoughtful_Flyer
- Posts: 472
- Joined: Fri 12 Sep 2008, 9:32 am
Re: Compact for Safari
Just at the moment the demand (and therefore prices) of higher end compact cameras has gone through the roof!
I have not used the HX99 but I have used a couple of cameras with a similar zoom range. Be aware that the range and compactness is achieved by using a very small sensor.
My Lunix with a similar range (Leica branded lens) gives it best / most useful results in the 100 to 300 mm (35mm full frame equivalent) range. Frankly anything much longer is disappointing and not that easy to use with something that small in your hands.
I would certainly favour something with eye level viewfinder (which I think the HX99 has) but if you use glasses make sure you can comfortably see the corners. I do and struggle with the pop up eye level finder on the Sony RX100 range in that respect. Strangely, although not as good in other ways, the eye level finder on the Lumix is not a problem and doesn't have to be popped up and pulled out unlike the Sony.
I have not used the HX99 but I have used a couple of cameras with a similar zoom range. Be aware that the range and compactness is achieved by using a very small sensor.
My Lunix with a similar range (Leica branded lens) gives it best / most useful results in the 100 to 300 mm (35mm full frame equivalent) range. Frankly anything much longer is disappointing and not that easy to use with something that small in your hands.
I would certainly favour something with eye level viewfinder (which I think the HX99 has) but if you use glasses make sure you can comfortably see the corners. I do and struggle with the pop up eye level finder on the Sony RX100 range in that respect. Strangely, although not as good in other ways, the eye level finder on the Lumix is not a problem and doesn't have to be popped up and pulled out unlike the Sony.