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Bridge Digital Camera Buying Guide

If you feel that the run-of-the-mill compact digital camera  is too simple for you but aren't ready to cross over into the intense world of digital SLR,  the Bridge Digital Camera  would be a great option.  Despite its declining popularity as the digital SLR has become more mainstream, Bridge Digital Cameras still maintains its own niche in the camera market.

What are Bridge Digital Cameras?

Bridge Digital Cameras,  sometimes called Advanced Point and Shoot Cameras or Superzoom Digital Cameras, are the "bridge" between compact digital cameras  and digital SLRs.   These cameras have the bodies of smaller digital SLRs but do not have the more advanced features of a digital SLR that maybe inessential in the hands of non-professional (but still serious) photographers.  This hybrid offers the best of both worlds at fairly a reasonable price for its features.

Features

  • 10x or more magnification
  • Electronic Viewfinder 
  • Powerful Flash 
  • Compact-Style LCD screen 
  • Adjustable (not automatic) controls for shutter-speed, aperture, ISO, white-balance, and metering on most models

Why Choose a Bridge Digital Camera?

Bridge vs. Compact

  • Bridge has a much better zoom
  • Compact is more...compact
  • More control over shots with the Bridge
  • Better flash in the Bridge

Bridge vs. Digital SLR

  • Bridge lacks the best thing about having an SLR...the SLR
  • Bridge's lenses are not removable
  • Digital SLR are typically much larger than the Bridge
  • Bridge has much more sensitive sensors which might affect your ISO

Some of you who are looking for a camera with great optical zoom but find these too bluky should look at Ultra Zoom Digital Cameras which are essentially normal point-and-shoots with enhanced zoom.

Recommended Bridge Cameras

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 

Best Value

Olympus SP-570 UZ 

Superior Zoom and Focus

Canon PowerShot G6 

Long Battery Life

Fujifilm FinePix S5200 

Amazing Image Quality

Samsung Pro 815 

Great LCD Screen

Related Guides

External Links

  • Wikipedia.org: Basics of the Bridge Digital Camera.
  • CNet.co.uk: A review of "Superzoom" or Bridge Digital Cameras.
  • PCWorld.com: Reviews of many "Advanced" or Bridge Digital Cameras for comparison.