For once, I leave my DSLR at home and carry with me only my mobile & a point & shoot camera. Well, this point & shoot camera is not just any normal point & shoot camera. This is the latest model released by Panasonic - Lumix FZ70 with the longest lens on a point & shoot camera that you can find in the market. The camera capable of shooting a wide range of subjects from a wide angle of 20mm to a super zoom of 1200mm.
I mount the camera on tripod to further stabilize the camera when shooting at maximum zoom.
To test this camera, I choose Sungei Buluh Wetland Reserve (SBWR) as my testing ground. As SBWR is the place to watch waders, most of the times they are quite far away from the hide. This will be the best way to test the super zoom capabilities of the camera. All visitors to SBWR will have to cross this wooden bridge in order to reach the reserve.
After setting the camera to Speed Priority mode, I straight away put the camera zoom to test. This flock of storks & egrets was taken at the maximum zoom of 1200mm! I'm surprise with the quality of this photo. Is almost as good as an entry level DSLR.
The camera can handle the reflections from the water quite well when I shoot this Common Redshank.
With speed priority mode, I shoot this Chinese Egret (
Egretta eulophotes) with 1/1000 and I'm able to capture the egret manipulate the worm before swallowing it. Chinese Egret are consider not common/rare in Singapore and I'm happy to see it again this year. They look very similar to Little egret but with blue facial skin & greenish leg instead of black.
Whimbrel (
Numenius phaeopus)
Almost the same size with the Whembrel, but Bar Tailed Godwits
(Limosa lapponica) have a slightly curve up long bill.
Marsh Sandpiper (
Tringa stagnatilus)
An sub-adult Milky Stork (
Mycteria cinerea) with dirty look plumage.
From mudflat, I walk over to mangrove boardwalk. There a lots of archerfish near the water surface as it is now the high tide. Archerfish able to shoot down insect above water with jet of water.
With the boardwalk visitors to the reserve able to explore deep in the mangrove even during high tide.
During high tide, the tree climbing crabs are all up on the tree.
So as this giant mud-skipper. Perch himself on the tree branch yet still half submerge in water.
Not sure what have this water monitor lizard just ate. It is now trying to keep the body warm under the sun. It look so huge!
After I have enough of the super zoom, is time to test the camera on macro. Well, I must say without additional attachment/filter, the camera just not design to handle macro shots.
Instead of trying to shoot in macro, I use the zoom and shoot further away on this dragonfly (
Neurothemis fluctuans)
Dragonfly (
Orthetrum sabina)
This skink is also trying to keep the body warm by staying under the direct sunlight.
With this test, I would say this is a good camera if you are looking for a camera to shoot wildlife with a good zoom. Another plus point for this camera is that you can actually shoot in raw (uncompressed) or raw with jpg. With raw file, you will be able to further process your photo using a photo editing software on pc. If your preference is macro, than this camera may not suit you.
How about the video performance? Well, you have to come back. I will upload some videos later & you can see it for yourself. :)
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