Hi guys, i see all these great photos everyone is taking of our awesome sport. Just wondering 'whats the go'. What gives good results without breaking the bank? What camera? What lense?

Nikon Coolpix P900. Awesome zoom

The below shot is the outside mark at a Bayside Slalom race. Must be over 2kms away just taken by hand

Below is same day, same position, can't see the outside mark its behind the sail of the far right board.


Next two are the same day same direction, the trees behind the sail in both photos are the same ones taken from the same position

I actually posted these in one of the HW Flat Earth thread's to try to prove the earth was round, to no avail.

Jo (AUS254) would have been 2 -3 kms away

Panasonic Lumix FZ-70. Not too large to carry around (although it is not pocket size) and has a 60 times optical zoom. 1200mm equivalent compared with 35mm camera. Can also do x2 time digital but that is ridiculous as the mirage at that range is usually a quality wrecker.

It has a smallish sensor to accommidate the massive zoom range in a very compact lens, but it is still good enough for computer screens etc,

It can also do HD movie and zoom during filming, and anti-shake image stabilisation.

I posted quite a few pictures and vidos from this camera (Mine, and another one identical belonging to another sailor) in the Lake George threads.

edit. this model is at the end of it's run so it is quite reasonably priced. The is a newer model that may have some additional features.

This was from about a Km away.

a mobile phone takes good photos without breaking the bank.

I'm serious....

Someone above, I took advise from that I know is very advanced in this area told me to buy a Panasonic Lumix as sailquick said.
Not sure what the model is, but it's only a few years old.
I was enquiring about SLR's and as sailquick say's; Does the same job without all the crap and know how.
Pretty bloody impressed, and apparently it's "THE" one to buy for any type of sports person.
Also in saying that; the mobile phone gets used more while its sitting in the car.

Current equivelent model now is the Panasonic Lumix FZ-80. There don't seem to be any FZ-70 advertised anymore. The FZ-80 has the advantage of Wi-Fi connectivity.

Canon and Nikon used to, and probably still do, make very comparable models. with slightly less zoom range.

Edit. That Nikon Coolpix P900 is exactly what I mean and has about the same long zoom. I am sure it would be just as high quality, perhaps just a little bit more money, but check and compare the features to see which suits your needs best.

I had a stint doing serious motor sports photography for Magazines in my young days and had lots of SLR's and long lenses.
This superzoom makes those, and most, if not all modern SLR's, look and perform clumsy. The only thing you really gain from an SLR is a much larger image sensor and possibly better lenses that have a much smaller zoom range, fill a suitcase and cost a fortune. But the extra quality of the image is not really an advantage for normal posting to, and viewing on compluter screens. If I was still trying to get published in magazines (do they still even exist? ) the possible extra quality of the SLR image may mean a lot more.

The other big advantage to me is that the superzoom very effectively replaces a HD video camera. Some SLR's do to, but at far higher price.

Yeah, nothing between them, but apparently the lenses' on the Lumix are "Second to None".

Cammd, Nikon P900 looks the goods. Lot of camera for the $. Will check the Panasonic version out as well. Just wondering what battery life was like if left on ready for shots? A previous camera i had used to chew its battery quickly in standby mode.

My FZ-70 battery lasts for a couple of days. Many week of casual occaisional snapping Hours of video. If you leave the camera on, it auto sleeps after 5 mins or so.

Sailquik, thanks for the info. Im checking out the FZ -70 as well.

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sailquik said..
Panasonic Lumix FZ-70. Not too large to carry around (although it is not pocket size) and has a 60 times optical zoom. 1200mm equivalent compared with 35mm camera. Can also do x2 time digital but that is ridiculous as the mirage at that range is usually a quality wrecker.

It has a smallish sensor to accommidate the massive zoom range in a very compact lens, but it is still good enough for computer screens etc,

It can also do HD movie and zoom during filming, and anti-shake image stabilisation.

I posted quite a few pictures and vidos from this camera (Mine, and another one identical belonging to another sailor) in the Lake George threads.

edit. this model is at the end of it's run so it is quite reasonably priced. The is a newer model that may have some additional features.

This was from about a Km away.

Yep I have one..not quite as sharp as an SLR ( mines a few years old so maybe the newer ones are better ) but ideal for pics of sailors in the distance- great video too.
Is that some of the video I took Daffy?

niagaramike on windsurf canada
uses a Nikon D810 with 300 mm f/4 and 1.4X converter
unfortunately most of his pics are on photobucket which costs $$$ now and so cannot post here $%^&*

www.google.ca/search?q=niagaramike+windsurf&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiV5d-HgMHaAhVJq1kKHUiUCBYQ_AUICygC&biw=1366&bih=643#imgrc=6n6i0KTdv9hSqM:

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olskool said..
Cammd, Nikon P900 looks the goods. Lot of camera for the $. Will check the Panasonic version out as well. Just wondering what battery life was like if left on ready for shots? A previous camera i had used to chew its battery quickly in standby mode.

Not really sure to be honest, I guess the product specs might have that info

The superzoom cameras are good cameras for taking images and video of windsurfing as the action can be quite a long way away. I have a Canon Powershot SX50HS which is a few years old now. It has a 35x optical zoom. I guess they are up to double that in optical zoom now.