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Bridge Digital Camera Reviews
Smaller than SLR, but with more features than a compact, bridge cameras have always had a foot in both camps. Today, they're popular with people who want a good general-purpose lens in a reasonably-sized body.
Franck Mée
Updated: June 15, 2010
Updated: June 15, 2010
'Just' A Compact?
Let's start by getting rid of the biggest received idea there is in photography: a bridge camera doesn't necessarily produce better results ha a compact point-and-shoot model. The bigger lens might well be better quality, but high-end compacts have great optics too. Because the sensor and image treatment software are often shared, the results are unsurprisingly very similar: bridge cameras are a lot like older compacts (and indeed some people no longer make the distinction between the two segments), and the photos produced by both look very different to what you'll find from a camera with a large sensor, whether that's an SLR, a Micro Four-Thirds model or a top-of-the-range compact.
The advantage of a bridge camera, apart from the extra zoom, is in how you use it. Most of them take all of the features found in high-end compacts, but a real expert compact will be better than an entry-level bridge.
At the end of the day, the choice between a compact and a bridge camera comes down to the zoom and handling of the cameras themselves, not the quality of the photos they produce.
The advantage of a bridge camera, apart from the extra zoom, is in how you use it. Most of them take all of the features found in high-end compacts, but a real expert compact will be better than an entry-level bridge.
At the end of the day, the choice between a compact and a bridge camera comes down to the zoom and handling of the cameras themselves, not the quality of the photos they produce.
Which camera is right for you? You can either read our full selection of tests (bridge cameras here, with compacts and SLRs in their own dedicated surveys), or get straight to business, with our round-up of the best cameras currently available. There's also an archive of older bridge cameras.
Half way between compacts for the mass market and specialist SLRs, the world of bridge cameras has also historically been divided in two. At one end are 'super zoom' point-and-shoot cameras, while at the other are 'mini SLRs'. The former have a motorised zoom and basic features, while the latter regroup the settings, dials and fixtures beloved of enthusiasts, often reaching the same size and price as a digital SLR.
The dust has settled a little now that you can get an SLR for under £500. Just what role is there for an expert-level bridge that costs the same, if not more than an SLR but is just and complicated--and takes worse photos because of its smaller sensor? It seems that Fujifilm is the only manufacturer actively pursuing this field, but we're not sure if this will last much longer.
Instead, modern bridge cameras are compact and lightweight. They're not small enough to slide into your pocket, but will fit in a handbag or satchel without needing a dedicated camera bag. They have all of the same automatic features as a compact, but are easier to hold, have a few extra hardware features (like a settings wheel or a rotating screen) and a powerful zoom. Now that point-and-shoot cameras are reaching zooms of 12x and finishing towards 300 mm, the bare minimum for a bridge is beyond 15x.
Like their little brothers, then, they're useful for taking everyday photos, but also for picking out details from a long way away. Which is great, because sometimes you do run into some interesting wildlife while out walking.
With long focal lengths reaching around 500 mm, the handle and electronic viewfinder are there in part to help you keep the camera steady. Although stabilisation systems are becoming remarkably effective, getting a steady shot with a good grip and the support of your cheek against the viewfinder always makes things easier and helps you to line the shot up properly.
Because bridge cameras are a little smaller than SLRs, you can also carry a few extra accessories, like a brighter flash to avoid red-eye, a stereo mic to capture sound for your videos or a spare fortunately. And you might well need to, because there's no law that says your average bridge camera has to be any better than a good compact ...
