>>1148511I looked through my pictures and apparently EXIF data doesn't show what zoom level the picture was taken at, but it does say if it used digital zoom or not. I'm pretty sure this was just the 12x optical and no digital since for a potentially skittish sparrow I would have kept my distance. For a "cheapy" P+S I think my Canon does good work.
Tripod is the Dolica AX620B100 62-Inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head. It has tabs at the top of the legs you can pull out to make them go full horizontal. My tabs got loose after time but some black electrical tape around them solved the problem, otherwise the legs would over-extend and I don't need them to come out 180 degrees anyway. Solid tripod for a lightweight scope or camera.
If you have the money to burn I might just say go for the Celestron just based on the quality of my friend's one, I'm sure this model is very similar. Twice the price, but the angled lens will save your neck and 80mm > 60mm. Not worth $150 for me when I already have a decent one but if you have nothing right now it looks like a great first scope, though I do like mine if for no other reason than how lightweight it is.
Never used a Lumix, but after the other anon mentioned P900 is a CoolPix model I remember I did buy a CoolPix in the past and returned it, different model though. Picture quality was less than I expected and had a lot of chromatic aberration. Plus being a "bridge" design it was a pain in the ass to carry. Not sure how the P900 compares but again people seem to like it.
