Bridge cameras are a flexible and inexpensive different to DSLRs, providing the identical sort of handbook controls plus an enormous zoom lens that covers every thing from wide-angle to super-telephoto pictures.
There are two vital variations to pay attention to, although. The primary is that bridge cameras have a lot smaller sensors than DSLRs or mirrorless cameras, so most cannot match these fashions for image high quality.
The second is that the lens is non-removable, so though it may deal with a variety of topics you possibly can’t swap to a macro lens for close-ups, for instance, or a super-wide-angle lens, or a quick prime lens for low-light pictures.
When you’re not fairly certain what sort of digicam you want, learn our important information: What camera should I buy?
Bridge cameras do, nevertheless, offer you loads of digicam to your cash, and so they’re an awesome stepping stone for photographers who wish to transfer on from easy point-and-shoot cameras. There are additionally now just a few fashions which have bigger sensors and ship higher image high quality, and which come quite a bit nearer to the efficiency of a DSLR.
These are our favorites proper now…
1. Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV
It is costly, nevertheless it’s just about in a league of its personal
Sensor: 1-inch CMOS, 20.1MP | Lens: 24-600mm, f/2.Four-Four | Monitor: Three-inch tilting touchscreen, 1.23m dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Steady capturing: 24fps | Films: 4K | Person degree: Intermediate/skilled
Glorious and quick 24-600mm lens
Very good stills and video high quality
Restricted touchscreen management
Dear in comparison with rivals
For these on the lookout for a robust all-in-one resolution, the RX10 IV is the very best digicam on the market. That includes an enormous 24-600mm f/2.Four-Four zoom lens, the RX10 IV builds on the RX10 III with an overhauled AF system that now does justice to the remainder of the digicam, whereas the 1-inch, 20.1MP sensor is able to attaining glorious ranges of element. It is fairly cumbersome for a bridge digicam, and there is no getting away from the hefty value, however the RX10 IV is just about in a league of its personal.
Learn our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV review
2. Panasonic Lumix FZ2500
The FZ2500 combines a bridge digicam zoom with a giant 1-inch sensor
Sensor: 1-inch CMOS, 20.1MP | Lens: 24-480mm, f/2.Eight-Four.5 | Monitor: Three.Zero-inch articulating show, 1,040,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Most steady capturing fee: 12fps | Films: 4K | Person degree: Intermediate/skilled
1-inch sensor
Tremendous-fast AF
Comparatively massive
No weather-sealing
The Panasonic Lumix FZ2500 makes use of a 1-inch sensor, and whereas the zoom tops out at 480mm equal, which is comparatively quick for a bridge digicam, that is nonetheless a lot for all however probably the most excessive on a regular basis use. We would definitely sacrifice a bit of zoom vary for higher and sooner optics, and we love the FZ2500 as a result of it delivers each picture high quality and zoom vary. When you’re on the lookout for one thing a bit cheaper, the older FZ1000 (beneath) can also be price a glance.
Learn our in-depth Panasonic FZ2500 review
Three. Panasonic Lumix FZ1000
A 1-inch sensor and 4K video recording give this bridge digicam the sting
Sensor: 1-inch CMOS, 20.1MP | Lens: 25-400mm, f/2.Eight-Four | Monitor: Three-inch articulating, 921,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Most steady capturing fee: 12fps | Films: 4K | Person degree: Intermediate/skilled
1-inch sensor
Giant most aperture
Display screen not touch-sensitive
Comparatively massive
The Lumix FZ1000’s 16x optical zoom is lower than that of typical bridge cameras, however that is as a consequence of its sizeable 1-inch sensor, which delivers a giant enhance in picture high quality. This is not simply any outdated lens, both, however somewhat a Leica optic with a big f/2.Eight most aperture on the wide-angle finish, which narrows to a still-respectable f/Four at full zoom. This helps you seize photographs in low mild with out resorting to excessive ISO sensitivities, whereas the Hybrid 5-axis Optical Picture Stabilisation minimises digicam shake. 4K (Extremely HD, strictly) 3840 x 2160 video recording, superior autofocusing, an excellent 2,359,000-dot digital viewfinder and uncooked capturing all assist to make the FZ1000 considered one of our prime picks.
Learn our in-depth Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 review
Four. Sony Cyber-shot RX10 III
Costly, however extremely succesful and presents an enormous focal vary
Sensor: 1-inch CMOS, 20.2MP | Lens: 24-600mm, f/2.Four-Four | Monitor: Three-inch tilting, 1.23m dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Steady capturing: 14fps | Films: 4K | Person degree: Intermediate/skilled
Very good sensor
Excessive-quality zoom lens
Costly
Menu system may very well be higher
When you can stay with out the superior AF system and different efficiency benefits supplied by the RX10 IV, the RX10 III continues to be price a glance. The design is just about equivalent to the RX10 IV, and you have the identical 24-600mm f/2.Four-Four lens. What is the compromise? Effectively, the AF is a bit pedestrian in comparison with the most recent mannequin, whereas there is no touchscreen management or the power to shoot at a powerful 24fps. With the arrival of the newer mannequin, you would possibly be capable of monitor down considered one of these at an honest value.
Learn our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX10 III review
5. Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
This feature-packed bridge digicam has quite a bit to supply lovers
Sensor: half of.Three-inch CMOS, 16.1MP | Lens: 21-1365mm-equivalent, f/Three.Four-6.5 | Monitor: Three-inch articulating, 922,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Most steady capturing fee: 6.4fps | Films: 1080p | Person degree: Newbie/fanatic
65x zoom vary
Full handbook management
No eye sensor on the viewfinder
Lacks touchscreen management
The SX60 HS is a extra typical bridge digicam than our prime 4, because it makes use of a smaller half of.Three-inch sensor, enabling an enormous 65x optical zoom vary. It is nonetheless presents full handbook management, although, plus an articulated display, a superb high quality digital viewfinder and the power to shoot in uncooked. In-built Wi-Fi with NFC is one other bonus. Annoyingly there is no eye sensor on the viewfinder, so you must activate it manually. Picture high quality is superb, with brilliant and punchy colours, nevertheless it does wrestle a bit of with very darkish situations, and if you happen to study photographs at 100% you may see some speckling and noise.
Learn our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX60 HS review
6. Panasonic Lumix FZ80
60x zoom bridge digicam will get near the motion
Sensor: half of.Three-inch CMOS, 18.1MP | Lens: 20-1200mm, f/2.Eight-5.9 | Monitor: Three-inch touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Most steady capturing fee: 10fps | Films: 4K | Person degree: Newbie/fanatic
Simple to make use of
Efficient picture stabilization
No eye sensor for EVF
Weak high-ISO efficiency
The Lumix FZ80 could be some of the inexpensive bridge cameras right here, nevertheless it nonetheless packs fairly a punch. The zoom vary could be very spectacular, going from an ultra-wide 20mm by means of to a staggering 1200mm, and advantages from an efficient picture stabilization system. There’s additionally 4K recording with Panasonic’s 4K Picture, which may shoot 8MP photographs at 30fps, which means you need to by no means miss that split-second second. It is also very simple to make use of, with an intuitive touchscreen. The viewfinder may very well be higher (and there is no eye sensor to mechanically swap between the viewfinder and rear display), whereas high-ISO efficiency cannot match that of larger-sensor (and costlier) rivals. That stated, this is likely one of the finest funds bridge cameras round.
Learn our in-depth Panasonic Lumix FZ80 review
7. Nikon Coolpix P900
Unleash your internal paparazzo with the P900’s class-leading 83x optical zoom
Sensor: half of.Three-inch CMOS, 16MP | Lens: 24-2000mm, f/2.Eight-6.5 | Monitor: Three-inch articulating, 921,000 dots | Viewfinder: Sure | Most steady capturing fee: 7fps | Films: 1080p | Person degree: Fanatic
Class-leading zoom vary
Inbuilt Wi-Fi and NFC
No uncooked capturing
Huge and costly
Thought the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS’s 65x zoom was the restrict for optical zoom vary? Suppose once more. Nikon has rewritten the rule e-book on this division, with the P900’s unbelievable 83x lens at present incomes it the accolade of world’s longest-zoom bridge digicam. Such a large lens does make this one hefty snapper, nevertheless. Options embody Wi-Fi with NFC pairing and an articulating display. Picture high quality cannot match the pricier 1-inch rivals, but when an extended zoom is your predominant concern, the P900 definitely will get the job performed.
Learn our in-depth Nikon Coolpix P900 review
Eight. Nikon Coolpix B700
B700 improves on the P610 with uncooked help and extra pixels
Sensor: half of.Three-inch CMOS, 20.3MP | Lens: 24-1440mm, f/Three.Three-6.5 | Monitor: Three-inch articulating, 921,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Most steady capturing fee: 7fps | Films: 4K | Person degree: Newbie/fanatic
60x optical zoom
4K movies
Plasticky end
No touchscreen
There’s heaps to love concerning the Coolpix B700 from Nikon. Trying on the zoom vary first, and the 60x zoom offers enormous attain,, whereas picture high quality is sweet as much as ISO 800, with nice shade copy and cheap element, and low-light photographs look good as much as ISO 1600. The B700 can even shoot uncooked recordsdata, so it is attainable to drag much more element out of the recordsdata. There’s additionally a watch sensor for the viewfinder, when you get SnapBridge connectivity to switch photographs remotely from digicam to good machine, plus an articulating display which is helpful for composing photographs from awkward angles.
9. Sony Cyber-shot HX400V
A fantastic all-rounder that is simply beginning to be outclassed by newer rivals
Sensor: half of.Three-inch CMOS, 20.4MP | Lens: 24-1200mm, f/2.Eight-6.Three | Monitor: Three-inch tilting, 922,000 dots | Viewfinder: Sure | Most steady capturing fee: 10fps | Films: 1080p | Person degree: Newbie/fanatic
Excessive-quality construct
Wi-Fi, tilting display
Cannot shoot in uncooked
Low-resolution EVF
Sony’s premium superzoom bridge digicam is intently matched with the Panasonic FZ72, nevertheless it loses out to that digicam as a consequence of its greater value, JPEG-only picture seize and lesser zoom vary. The HX400V claws again some floor by providing Wi-Fi, whereas it is also pleasure to make use of because of its ergonomic design, and the tilting display is good contact, though it is not absolutely articulating. Extra disappointing is the comparatively low-resolution digital viewfinder. Though there is no uncooked help, JPEG photographs have nice colours and loads of element. Some picture smoothing is seen when photographs are considered at 100%, however that is a typical trait amongst small-sensor bridge cameras.
Learn our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot HX400V review