BEST $500 Camera - DSLR vs Mirrorless vs SuperZoom in 2019

The Best $500 Camera in 2019

Table of Contents
DSLRS - Nikon D5300 vs Canon T6 01:30
Why buy a DSLR 02:15
Mirrorless Cameras - Canon M100 vs Panasonic G7 8:20
Point & Shoot Canon SX70HS vs Fuji XF10 21:25
Conclusions 33:18

Purchase Cameras from B&H Photo and support our work.

Fuji XF10: https://bhpho.to/2HOmGkt
Nikon D3500: https://bhpho.to/2HTyphu
Canon PS SX70HS: https://bhpho.to/2HSlcWb
Panasonic Lumix G7: https://bhpho.to/2HSlvjN
Canon EOS M100: https://bhpho.to/2Jh6gzy
Canon Rebel T6: https://bhpho.to/2HRinVr

Sony announces the new RX10m4

The RX10 line is Sony's point and shoot series with a HUGE zoom range. The New RX10mIV adds speed - faster AF, with a better spread and up to 24 frames per second bursts. There is no other camera this size that offers this sensor size and this focal range.I have been impressed by Sony's super zoom offerings - they use their excellent 1" sensor that is in the much loved and more pocketable RX100 series. And while I am usually not a fan of do it all lenses or cameras, the RX10 series offers some of the best quality in a super zoom P&S on the market.  Below you will find a few more specs and slides from this morning's presentation.

• 20.1MP 1" Exmor RS1.0 STACKED CMOS Sensor with DRAMM
• Hybrid AF system w/ 315 points on-sensor Phase Detect
• BIONZ X Image Processor
• Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* f/2.4-4 Zoom Lens (25x zoom lens)
• Continuous shooting up to 24fps with AF
• Anti-Distortion shooting up to 1/32000 sec
• Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization
• 2.36m-Dot OLED Tru-Finder EVF
• 3.0" 1.228m-Dot Tilting Xtra Fine LCD
• 4K video 24/30p, Full HD 1080p at 960 fps with phase detection for better AF
• Built-In Wi-Fi with NFC
• ISO 12800 and 14 fps Continuous Shooting

Shipping in October 2017 - Price $1699.99 PREORDER FROM B&H PHOTO A few additional highlights from the press releaseThe new RX10 IV features Sony’s latest 3.0-type 1.44M dot tiltable LCD screen with Touch Focus and Touch Pad function – another first for the Cyber-shot RX series – for quick and smooth focusing operation, and WhiteMagic™ technology, ensuring that LCD viewing is bright and clear in even the harshest outdoor lighting conditions.“My Menu” functionality has been added, allowing up to 30 frequently used menu items to be custom registered. Menus are color coded for easier recognition and navigation, and a new Movie Settings menu has been introduced to improve the overall video shooting experience.'The RX10M4 is dust and moisture resistantShipping in October 2017 - Price $1699.99 PREORDER FROM B&H PHOTO   

Tamron 16-300 vs Sigma 18-300

Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM Contemporary

vs

Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD MACRO

These two APS-C lenses give you an equivalent range of 28mm to 480mm!!  A huge range and this I am calling this

The battle of convenience. Two Super Zoom lenses face off!

I am generally not a fan of do-it-all lenses. Lenses that cover this much range make sacrifices in quality—sharpness, distortion, chromatic aberration. But when I reviewed the newer Tamron 16-300 a few months ago, I was pleasantly surprised by its performance. Yes, it still has issues, but it held up quite well. And I certainly enjoy the convenience—especially when traveling or hiking—of carrying just one lens that provides a huge range, decent macro capabilities, and image stabilization for handheld video.

Then Sigma released an 18-300, and I have been asked repeatedly to compare these two lenses.

Bottom Line on These Lenses

These lenses are for someone who is happy with the quality of the kit lens that came with their camera but wants more zoom without having to switch lenses.

These lenses are not for someone who frequently shoots in low light or wants the absolute sharpest image quality.

Personally, I suggest carrying one of these do-it-all lenses along with a small prime like a 24mm or 35mm. It’s a compromise on the carry-only-one-lens philosophy, but it gives you an excellent low-light, sharp lens option when you really need it—without adding much bulk or weight to your camera bag.

Now, Which of These Two Lenses Is Better?

I’ll give you the answer up front: 9 out of 10 times, I would pick the Tamron over the Sigma, despite the Sigma being marginally sharper at some focal lengths.

Why? The Tamron has faster focusing, full-time manual focus, weather sealing, a nicer focus indicator, and starts just a little wider.

Buy The Tamron 16-300

Lets Compare Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM Contemporary vs Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD MACRO Point by Point

Build Quality & Features – Both lenses have similar construction, made of tough plastic. From a distance, you might mistake the Sigma for metal, but it’s the same basic material as the Tamron. Both feel well made, feature telescoping zoom, and have internal focusing—great for using circular polarizers.

• Filter Size: Tamron uses 67mm; Sigma uses 72mm.

• Lens Hood: Both include one.

One downside of the Tamron is its small and slippery AF/MF and IS (VC) switches. Sigma’s switches are slightly taller and easier to operate. However, the Tamron offers full-time manual focus, a great feature that allows quick fine-tuning. On a lens with this much range, focusing can be slow, and the ability to assist AF or manually fine-tune focus makes for a much smoother experience.

The Tamron’s stabilization also seems slightly better—noticeable in slower shutter speed handholding and when shooting video, where it appears just a bit smoother.

Weight – Sigma: 1lb 5oz, Tamron: 1lb 4oz.

Focusing Speed – Both use ultrasonic focusing systems (HSM for Sigma, PZD for Tamron). I tested them at Longwood Gardens using a Canon 7D Mark II on a moving train display. In both One Shot and AI Servo modes, the Tamron consistently kept focus on trains moving directly toward me. With the Sigma, some shots were slightly out of focus—it was just a bit slower. The Tamron also performed slightly smoother in video focusing.

Macro Capabilities – Identical for both lenses.

• Close Focus Distance: 15” with AF, ~6” with MF.

• Magnification: Same for both.

• Sigma’s 2x Magnification Filter: A $50 screw-on filter designed to double magnification.

Image Quality

• Sharpness: The Sigma is slightly sharper, and when viewing at 100% or more, the difference is noticeable.

• Chromatic Aberration: The Sigma shows significantly more purple/magenta fringing, which may be due to its increased sharpness.

Buy The Tamron 16-300 | Buy the SIgma 18-300

Panasonic FZ1000 super zoom

4k video in a P&S with 16x zoom for less than $1000!

Panasonic has announced the FZ1000 super zoom- aimed squarely at the Sony RX 10- the FZ1000 offers 25mm - 400mm range(200mm more than the RX10). Inside a 1" sensor that provides up to 4k video! Neat features like a customizable control in the lens ring, focus peaking and camera RAW development provide a do it all camera in a seriously portable package. Offered at a price almost $400 less than the Sony RX 10. A standard mic jack allows a videographer to easily capture audio with a variety of external mics - making this a very portable video recording package. 

A few highlights of the FZ1000

• 4K video
• Ability to pull 8MP still images from 4k Video - effectively allowing you to shoot at 50fps
• 120FPS Full HD for super slo mo footage
• variable speed zoom
• Custom mode on dial
• Output to 4K compatible TVs via HDMI
• Timelapse options
• Shadow and Highlights control

Hands-on with the FZ1000

4k Video from the Panasonic FZ1000Preorder the Panasonic FZ1000 from B&H

Panasonic FZ10000 vs the Sony RX 10

Camera	Panasonic FZ1000		Sony RX10
Range	25-400mm f/2.8 - 4		24-200mm f/2.8
Sensor	1" High Sensitivity MOS Sensor		BSI-CMOS
MP	20 megapixels		20 megapixels
Continuous Drive	12 FPS (50FPS)*		10 fps
Max Video Resolution	4K QFHD (3840 x 2160)		1920 x 1080
Screen	3" 920k		3" 1.2 M
EVF	2.36M OLED		1.44M
Connection	WIFI & NFC		WIFI & NFC
Price	$897.99 (preorder on B&H)		$1298.00 (buy on B&H)

---

Panasonic FZ1000 FAQ:

Q: The camera is capable of 50 FPS!?A: In camera processing allows 8MP screen grabs from video to create still images.  This video runs at 50fps so in effect, yes, this camera is capable of 50fs at 8MP.Q: How does the price compare to the Sony RX10A: Almost $400 cheaper!Q: When will the FZ1000 be available?A: Shipping at the end of July.Q How much zoom?A: 16x total. Remember to calculate zoom you divide the maximum(400) by the minimum(25) to get your range.Q: maximum ISO?A: 25,600Q: How does the Panasonic FZ1000 compare to the Sony RX 10?A: See the chart above!Q: How is the macro capabilities?A: 3cm or 1inch close focusing at the wide end of the range should provide decent macro capabilities.Q: Can the Panasonic FZ1000 record for more than 29minutes at a time?A: No - this is a limit imposed by European tax lawQ: Other video modes are offered in the FZ1000?A: 1080 and 720 as well as full HD at 120FPS for super slow mo footage.The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ1000 Digital Camera is a bridge-style point-and-shoot camera featuring a large 20.1MP 1" High Sensitivity MOS sensor to enable high-resolution 4K QFHD video recording and rich still shooting up to 50 fps. The image sensor affords notable sensitivity, to an expandable ISO 25600, with a high signal-to-noise ratio for a cleaner image quality with reduced image noise. Designed for effective hybrid photo and video recording performance, the 4K output can also be used to permit in-camera 8MP screen grabs from video files for simplified multimedia output.Preorder the Panasonic FZ1000 from B&H