Some research on Bridge Cameras (aka SLR like, but not SLR's)

WexfordMusings

Okay, here we go...


Beginners out there (of which i am one), and I stand to be corrected by the more experienced out there if I'm wrong - a Bridge camera is a camera that is a step up from the standard compact camera but is not an SLR - i.e. a single lens reflex. So it is in-between the bog standard starting camera and the more serious, (more expensive) camera. Suitable if you want to start experimenting but dont want to shell out huge money for the SLR as you either cant afford it or cannot justify spending that kind of money as you are afraid (like the treadmill you got with great intentions) that you wont get the use and time it deserves.

The main difference is that with bridge cameras there is a fairly high resolution picture, with a fairly good zoom lens, but the downside is that the lenses cannot be exchanged, i.e. you cant up-grade without buying a new camera body.

After posting previously about 2 different cameras I continued to do some more research and found the other brand comparisons and here are my findings.

I used "Trustedreviews", a UK website and checked out:

Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Fuji FinePix S5700
Kodak EasyShare Z710
Nikon Coolpix S10
Olympus SP-510
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8

Price

Canon - around €400
Fuji - around €200
Kodak - around €175
Nikon - arouond €400
Olympus - around €230
Panasonic - around €300

Mega Pixels & Optical Zoom

Canon - 6mp & 12xzoom
Fuji - 7.1mp & 10xzoom
Kodak - 7.4mp & 10xzoom
Nikon - 6mp & 10xzoom
Olympus - 7.1mp & 10xzoom
Panasonic - 7.2mp & 12xzoom

ISO Equivalencies

Canon - 80, 100, 200, 400 & 800
Fuji - 64, 100, 200, 400, 800 & 1600 (Reviews say 1600 not great)
Kodak - 64, 100, 200, 400 & 800
Nikon - 50, 100, 200, 400 & 800
Olympus - 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 & 1600
Panasonic - 100, 200, 400, 800, 1250 & 3200

Focus type

Canon - Manual, Auto, Bracketing & Lock
Fuji - Auto, Manual, Multi-point
Kodak - Auto & Multi-point
Nikon - Auto & Face Recognition
Olympus - Auto, Manual, Predictive & Spot Focus
Panasonic - Auto & Manual

So thats the basics. You can check out all the different reviews, but its hard to compare cameras, as I've found out. you could just keep widening your search for ever and ever. All 6 cameras are rated on dpreview as:

Canon - 4.33 out of 5 -
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=canon_s3is

Fuji - 4.20 out of 5 -
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=fuji_finepixs5700

Kodak - 4.50 out of 5 -
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=fuji_finepixs5700

Nikon - 4.07 out of 5 -
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=nikon_cps10

Olympus - 4.25 out of 5
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=oly_sp510uz

Panasonic - 4.68 out of 5
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=panasonic_dmcfz8

Me, I now do not know what to do - arrghhhh.

Has anyone used these cameras, any good or bad info about them. Any newer models out there that should be considered also? Please help...

Spyral

dont look for x vs y look for ' will this fulfil my needs and allow me to learn at a price im willing to afford' ?

majiktripp

I've the FZ* and think (thought until I got my D40x :P) was bloody brilliant. It shoots raw , has a good zoom that gets a bit noisey @ 12x but still nice to have that capability, so in conclusion Panasonic gets my vote!

Borderfox

Second the Panasonic, I had the earlier version and it was so handy. Great pics too and the zoom is excellent. Only thing against it was some chromatic abberation is high contrast shots, but you even get this on DSLR's too

janmc

Borderfox wrote:

Second the Panasonic, I had the earlier version and it was so handy. Great pics too and the zoom is excellent. Only thing against it was some chromatic abberation is high contrast shots, but you even get this on DSLR's too

Third the Panasonic - still very happy with my FZ30, although it doesn't get as many outings now I have my D80

TJM

Be sure to use the particular bridge camera before you buy one to see if you can put up with the LCD viewfinder - the small image, slow refresh time and inability to see what's in focus drives me crazy. Night shots are also difficult.

If you can stretch to €400 you should consider getting a cheap DSLR rather than a bridge. Jessops in Dublin (Grafton St.) is shutting down & may have one for not much more than that.

digitalbeginner

WexfordMusings wrote:

The main difference is that with bridge cameras there is a fairly high resolution picture...

The sensor in the vast majority of Bridge Cameras is the same size as the one in ordinary compact cameras. For quality, a Digital SLR will beat a compact/Bridge any day,

Dave

unklerosco

Best Bridge camera in my opinion...

Sony DSC-R1... I had one n it took stunning shots. Sold it as i never got a chance to use it to its full. But at its price point ur heading into DSLR money... Even at that its lens bettered an kit DSLR lens.

Using a fuji s9600(got it cheap in the states) does the job for me...

Winters

I got the Sony DSC-H9 from Pixmania earlier this month. Loving it so far and has some lovely features. Id have loved to have got a Canon EOS 40D but really just didnt have the money to get it or invest in an SLR and lens' at the moment.

jaqian

Spyral wrote:

dont look for x vs y look for ' will this fulfil my needs and allow me to learn at a price im willing to afford' ?

Exactly.

I started out using the Fuji S5500 (4MP, 10x Optical zoom) one of the ancestors of the S5700 and found it to be a fantastic camera. I now use the S9000 (9MP, 10.7x Optical zoom). It's known as the S9500 in Europe, latest is the S9600. I only upgraded because I wanted more megapixels for blowing pics up and for the hotshoe so I could use an external flash.

How I upgraded was this:

My P&S didn't have any zoom and everytime I took a photo I wished I could have gone in closer. I also wanted/needed more megapixels as it was only a 1.3MP then I looked at how much I could afford to spend... no more than €500.

I bought the S5500 off eBay for €430 which was cheap at the time.

You probably already know where your current camera falls down. Write down what you wish you could do with your current camera they are what you should look for in an upgrade.

unreggd

I have the S5600, and i frickin love it


so many good shots and good for learnin the basics of Ap and Shutter speed

Gettin my Canon 350D soon but i'd like to have the s5600 too

WexfordMusings

Thanks everyone. Seems like the Fuji and Panasonic are popular brands. Thanks TJM, will check out Jesspos and see can I get a bargain. 9I'll also be checking out Gunnes as I've read people like them too). I will of course let ye know how I get on, but keep posting the ideas. Is this thread worth a sticky for all the newbies out there?

John

rgiller

I've got a Kodak Z612. 6MP and 12xzoom with IS. It's been nothing but great so far. Some very nice features, like the click wheel for adjusting settings and at €200 from Pixmania it's well worth a look. Doesn't shoot RAW though, which I think the Z712 might, but that's about double the price. If you're looking for something to learn the basics on, I'd definitely recommend the Kodak at this price

WexfordMusings

Hi everyone,

To get back to the Bridge Camera saga. i eventually decided and purchased. i was keeping an eye out for nice fuji camera as people were saying good things about them. Saw an advert on Gumtree from a chap called John in Waterford selling a 6 month-old Fuji Finepix S9600 with all the extras for €300.

As this fitted my budget but was a hell of a lot better than I could afford from new, I bit the bullet and purchased last night. So met the man, chatted with him for about an hour and did the deal. Must say, am impressed so far. Buying some 2500mha rechargable batteries in Argos today and will be snapping away this weekend.

Thanks everyone for all the advice.

toodles

John

thebaz

i have an olympus 765 bridge that i really like , the lens is great , does great macro , although lens opening isn't very wide , and its slow to load up and shoot --- but i'll always keep it -- got a compact tz2 , with 10 x optical zoom , and IS -- but no viewfinder , and its too light -- although the size is great --- it will be going up on adverts or ebay soon -- so i can get a 18 - 200 nikon lens .

leinsterman

Be careful how you benchmark ...

I had use of a Panasonic Lumix for a shoot one time ... it may make claims to high ISO ... but shooting even at 400 was aweful ...

I still think Canon has the lead in this area from what I have seen ... but the new Nikons appear to be a big leap from their previous performance ... it would be interesting to see how big ...

Canonfan

Wait for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, better overall.

jameshayes

I use the Z710s... it's great, small, light, easy to use (sometimes too easy with all the onscreen help)

Bad points;
- Uses CV3 battery
- Can use AA's but eats the life out of them
- Onscreen help is a bit annoying

Good points;
- Great zoom lense
- Great price
- Smaller than regular bridges
- easy to use, even the manual settings

WexfordMusings

Hi James,

I have the bog standard Kodak and when i got it first found the battery thing a pain, especially the way it eats normal AA's but just get some rechargable batteries with high Mah, eg Energiser 2500 in argos for under €20.00 and they last for ages. I took about 200 photos one day last week using the screen all the time and they lasted fine.

Argos now has a quick charge Energiser charger (about 1 hour for full charge) that also works in the car, costs €35.00 with 4 batteries included. I bought one yesterday.

John