What bridge camera?

[leemarkadams]

Hello all, looking at getting a bridge camera (up to about £250 cost) and have seen these two and both get good reviews, what are people's opinions here. Oh, and do not want to go the slr route!

http://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fz72-...

http://www.johnlewis.com/fujifilm-finepix-s1-bridg...

Whatever one I go for I want to have a viewfinder as well as a screen.

Many thanks

Lee

[Golaboots]

Doubt anyone will recommend a bridge camera. they combine the disadvantages of dslrs and compact cameras whilst offering none of the advantages of either.

You'll struggle to get even a second hand compact system camera with viewfinder for £250 so I would say go to wan advanced compact. go for the largest sensor and fasted lens (lowest f numbers) that you can find.
The viewfinder will be poor but no worse than a bridge camera would have but at least its small.

[GetCarter]

I too would go for a compact for the reasons stated above. All the downsides, none of the up. I have two compacts with viewfinders (though they cost more than £250). Fuji x20 and Sony RX100 mk3. The latter is a stonker - though expensive as it's new.

[Derek Smith]

I take photographs to illustrate books and articles. When editing/writing for a magazine I was given a bridge camera, a Nikon, although I already had an SLR with a selection of lenses. Within 18 months I was using the bridge all but exclusively. For me the lack of weight, size, how cumbersome the SLR was, plus the fact that I did not have to risk opportunity when changing lenses was compelling.

I got rid of the SLR and went fully digital but instead of going for a DLSR I went for a compact and bridge, I currently have a Lumix FZ150 bridge with a TZ50 as a 'glove-locker' camera, plus a selection of other lesser cameras.

They suit all my work needs and they are just the thing for my social needs as well.

I used to belong to a couple of camera clubs and there were those in each who used rangefinder cameras (a phrase from the past) with fixed focal length lenses, 50mm I should imagine, and they regularly won against those of us who brought their equipment in on a pallet.

My elder son in a journalist. He has a decent quality Canon DSLR but bought a G2 for his work. I can't remember the last time I saw him with his DSLR.

Bridge cameras do not suit every need but they certainly fulfill a role. I wouldn't be without mine. Whilst I often go into camera shops and play with the DSLRs, I doubt I will buy one.

So don't dismiss bridge cameras. If your style of photography dictates a DSLR then so be it but bridges have their place in serious photography as well.

A camera is a personal choice. Buy one that suits your style of photography. You can always buy another. And indeed should.

[Elderly]

Derek Smith said:

I take photographs to illustrate books and articles.

.....

...

If your style of photography dictates a DSLR then so be it but bridges have their place in serious photography as well.

I presume that the photograph on your Profile Page was taken using a bridge camera .

[leemarkadams]

Thanks as already have an ok compact so want something a bit more advanced if possible but not too cumbersome, as we are living in South America at the moment and have a lot of traveling planned so want something decent but easy enough to use.

[Ultuous]

Derek Smith said:

Bridge cameras do not suit every need but they certainly fulfill a role. I wouldn't be without mine. Whilst I often go into camera shops and play with the DSLRs, I doubt I will buy one.

So don't dismiss bridge cameras. If your style of photography dictates a DSLR then so be it but bridges have their place in serious photography as well.

A camera is a personal choice. Buy one that suits your style of photography. You can always buy another. And indeed should.

Totally agree with all you've said - I've gone from bridge to DSLR as I wanted more flexibility, shallower depth of field, quicker focusing, better performance in low-light etc...

However, I've still got my bridge as (particularly for travel photography and even more so in more treacherous/ less desirable areas) it's more than capable in most situations and is great for just picking up, zooming to whatever level required (including on flowers/ insects or whatever) and taking the shot. Having a viewfinder helps composition massively in bright conditions/ at longer zooms and it's nice not having to worry about carrying round and changing a selection of lenses when travelling light/ not wanting a missus to be rolling her eyes at you every two minutes!

[leemarkadams]

Thanks all and looking likely I will get the S1, as it is described as 'weatherproof' which will be a bonus here!

[Derek Smith]

Ultuous said:

Totally agree with all you've said - I've gone from bridge to DSLR as I wanted more flexibility, shallower depth of field, quicker focusing, better performance in low-light etc...

However, I've still got my bridge as (particularly for travel photography and even more so in more treacherous/ less desirable areas) it's more than capable in most situations and is great for just picking up, zooming to whatever level required (including on flowers/ insects or whatever) and taking the shot. Having a viewfinder helps composition massively in bright conditions/ at longer zooms and it's nice not having to worry about carrying round and changing a selection of lenses when travelling light/ not wanting a missus to be rolling her eyes at you every two minutes!

Thanks for the comments.

I use mine mainly for images for websites/pdf books and the Lumix FZ150 is just the ticket. I take pictures of cars, bits of mechanical things, displays and such. The 12meg image has good colour and the detail is excellent. I have no complaints. People tend to like seeing the cars on the road in everyday use, sort of candid, so the TZ comes in handy.

The depth of field isn't a major decision for me, although I can mess about with it on the FZ if I need to. I'm with you with regards a viewfinder. I thought it was something to do with my age: I queued outside a camera shop in the late 60s waiting for it to open to get the first batch of FP4.

I might have lied in my earlier post. I might well get a DSLR but that will be when I've given up on the writing.

It is comparative though. I got my SLR to replace a 6x6 twin lens reflex with wide and tele lenses. We went through some old photographs when we moved and the ones I took with it were really quite good. With just 8 images to a role - 16 took a trip to London to buy - I made certain each shot was spot on and the ground glass screen made composure easy. Now I normally set the camera up to take three shots at a time. One's bound to be adequate.

When I got the SLR, with a 50mm, 85mm (best lens) and a 180, the lack of weight was remarkable.