Bridge Cameras

Have members any info on bridge cameras, which bridge cameras are among the best and which to avoid.
Regards Ian

Bridge cameras in the Pentax stable are the X70 and the X90, which is an improved version. I use an X90 for my eBay pictures and the results are excellent. I use ISO200 and this gives me a high quality result.

The lens is versatile but always will be slow to focus compared to a DSLR. These are not action cameras, despite a huge 35mm-equivalent lens of something like 26-676mm, which gives the promise of a huge reach. Not for wildlife, it's far too slow.

As a studio camera it's ideal.

Having gone through point and shoot, to a Minolta A200 and a Canon G9 before ending up with Pentax DSLRs I'd say all had mertis but none match a modern and compact DSLR.

If Pentax did an equivalent of the Canon G series I'd consider it but the tiny sensor high zoom models that are often referred to as 'bridge' have too many shortcomings for me. Lens distortion, poor high ISO performance, vignetting, burn out in highlights spring to mind.

I always thought "Bridge cam" was such an uninspiring and uninviting name.

Q (runs and ducks)

Don are you saying the Q will have all these features?

The Lumix ones seemed OK. I liked the FZ27 I got for my parents. I think they are up to the FZ45 at the moment. The Image stabilization was a wonder.

I have photos I've kept from a Kodak Easyshare in early days of digital that I'm still proud of despite the limitations of the medium back then.

I've also many photos i know I culd have taken much better with the fantastic Pentax kit I am lucky enough to own today.

My wife took some great photos on our last holiday with her purple Optio RZ10 with its ISO at 160. Some were embarrassing but only because they were of me asleep on the patio!

It depends on what you want and how much you think the latest technology has improved these previously very compromised cameras (optics and sensor size main restrictions). I think we also (sadly) live in a time when the resolution of a TV or laptop is the limit of people's view of photography after they've taken the images.

My personal views are in context of a web site forum that I thought was for photography enthusiasts.

My son Adam by the way (K20D owner) can't wait to buy the Q. he loves gadgets!

the Q does for all intents and purposes appear to be similar to the g12, but with an interchangeable lens....

Is there much need for bridge cameras any more?
The price of compact cameras and DSLR cameras seems far closer than it ever used to be. Lenses seem to be available for almost every budget.
If you know enough about your photography to think you want a bridge camera, it's probably worth going straight for the DSLR - it will last you longer, as it will continue to be useful as your skill increases.

I find high end compacts like the Panasonic LX5 and Samsung EX1 (or indeed the new Pentax Q) more appealing. Pocketability makes up for the fact they're not as good as a DSLR, although they still look good enough for most purposes really. Bridge 'superzoom' cameras tend to be awkwardly shaped and you may as well get a DSLR imo.

I used to own the KM A200 too and as bridge cameras go it was pretty good, having said that the bulk of these cameras does seem to make them rather obsolete to me now that DSLRs are getting smaller and the new "Pen" cameras have come along.

I don't see any reason to buy one aswell as owning a DSLR, I think a much better option is something like the Panasonic TZ10 type compact - still pretty reasonable IQ, very versatile and drops into a pocket so you can take it everywhere

Simon

I use a bridge camera probably 95% of the time for work, because of the versatility of that huge zoom range in one fairly small body that just cannot be found anywhere else.

They definitely fill a gap - hence the name.

casio makes a speed demon bridge camera...

as for bridge cameras, If you're going on vacation and need a telephoto, and you know you will be using it primarily for bright light situations, a good bridge camera will serve a lot of people better than buying a cheap or lower quality telephoto lens for your d-slr. smaller, lighter as well....

Good logic and something one of my mates quickly saw the sense in.

He fancied photography and was going to buy a bridge cam on the basis that he could upgrade to a DLSR. I persuaded him to go for a DSLR and by doing so he could grow into the features without losing money and changing cams. I couldn't persuade him to go Pentax as he had 'Canon' indoctrinated', but he did buy a Canon DSLR and is pleased he didn't waste money on a "Bridge Cam".