What is the best bridging camera to buy?

Sparky100

I am just wondering what is the best bridging camera to buy?

I like photography and especially love taking photo's at family events or other local functions etc

I also love sharing photo's via email, social networking etc

I love getting photo's developed, close-ups, framed etc

However, I am not a professional or would not have the time with work and family to be taking photos everyday therefore I think a bridging camera is for me over a dslr camera. However I really want a good quality camera with excellent quality, zoom in etc

I want to purchase a new camera and would appreciate some recommendations on the best bridging camera's on the market that would suit my needs

Thanking you

Bluefoam

Would you consider a mirrorless system camera instead? Many have allot of functionality of DSLRs without the professional level quality of optics or large lenses. You can have zoom lenses, specific prime lenses, portrait lenses, wide angle - whatever you want.

The Olympus Pen is well recognised as good quality
I use a Pentax Q & swear by it
Sony also come highly recommended, but not from me, I've had a nightmare with Sony & will never buy a Sony camera again
The Nikon One is heavily marketed, but its a bit loo much like an iPod for my liking - it removes the user controls

Otherwise allot of people seem to recommend the Fuji X20, which is fixed lens

Sorry if I've gone off on a tangent, but I'm having so much fun with my lenses at the moment & I never really understood bridge cameras.

cnocbui

Bridge cameras are a poor choice IMO. They tend to try and cram too great a focal range into their zooms and use a tiny sensor and they don't deliver very good image quality.

A better choice are what are usually referred to as 'advanced compacts' These are much smaller than most bridge cameras and have zoom lenses with much more limited ranges which allows them to actually be quite good.

A step up from those is the Micro Four Thirds system which is mostly dominated by Olympus and Panasonic. This is a mirrorless system - which means a camera with interchangeable lenses but without the mirror or larger sensor of DSLRs. In the M43 system the lenses and bodies from the manufacturers are interchangeable. The lenses for this system are at least as good as those available for DSLR's.

Statistically, most people who buy a DSLR or other interchangeable lens camera never buy any lenses for them and only use the 'kit' lens that comes with them. Something worth keeping in mind. Most of them probably should have just got an advanced compact.

In terms of advanced compacts, I would look at the Olympus ZX-1 and ZX-2 and the Panasonic LX5 and LX7. For less than cost of the LX7 and ZX-2 you could get an introductory level M43 camera like the Panasonic GF3 and GF5 or the Olympus Pen E-PL3 and Pen E-PL1. Amazon is a good place to check out prices of these and dpreview.com for reviews.

In terms of image quality and flexibility, the M43 cameras I just mentioned are probably better value than the advanced compacts and only slightly bigger, even if you never get another lens. They have much larger sensors than the advanced compacts.

Pixie Chief

I know it's not a technical answer like the others (sooooo much to learn!!) but i knocked a huge amount of crack out of my two fujifilms - an s200 exr followed by the hs20 exr - great zoom, lots of stuff to learn if you want to but still amazing photos if you don't. I loved them and the image quality was superb, even printing at A1. I bought then both brand new and loved them so so much. I recently upgraded to a Nikon D90 and the cameras have both gone to loving new homes but they gave me a great start and owed me nothing in the end!

Sparky100

thanks bluefoam and cnocbui - lots of info there for me to digest and start educating myself on. I now feel the mirrorless camera m43 is one to def consider and need to take time now to research some more.

Thanks again for taking the time to put your view forward and advising me on the disadvantages of a bridging camera.

I def won't rush in to it but take time to review the cameras you recommend.

Thanks again

Zascar

I bought a bridge thinking it would be great but I was very disappointed. They just don't compare unfortunately...

alyssum

Bluefoam wrote: »

Would you consider a mirrorless system camera instead? Many have allot of functionality of DSLRs without the professional level quality of optics or large lenses. You can have zoom lenses, specific prime lenses, portrait lenses, wide angle - whatever you want.

The Olympus Pen is well recognised as good quality
I use a Pentax Q & swear by it
Sony also come highly recommended, but not from me, I've had a nightmare with Sony & will never buy a Sony camera again
The Nikon One is heavily marketed, but its a bit loo much like an iPod for my liking - it removes the user controls

Otherwise allot of people seem to recommend the Fuji X20, which is fixed lens

Sorry if I've gone off on a tangent, but I'm having so much fun with my lenses at the moment & I never really understood bridge cameras.

Can you plug an external mike into the Olympus Pen And can the images be uploaded to a windows pc

cnocbui

I don't think you can plug in external Mics directly, you have to get the SEMA-1 adapter that goes on the hotshoe and plugs into the an accessory port. That will allow you to use external Mics - at a price. Yes you can upload the photos to A PC via a USB cable or by removing the SD card and using it with a USB adapter if there isn't a dedicated SD card slot in the PC. The model Pen you linked to also has Wifi so you can upload photos that way also.

alyssum

cnocbui wrote: »

I don't think you can plug in external Mics directly, you have to get the SEMA-1 adapter that goes on the hotshoe and plugs into the an accessory port. That will allow you to use external Mics - at a price. Yes you can upload the photos to A PC via a USB cable or by removing the SD card and using it with a USB adapter if there isn't a dedicated SD card slot in the PC. The model Pen you linked to also has Wifi so you can upload photos that way also.

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/olympus-pen-e-pl3/4505-6501_7-34853488.html says the video is not great. do you have this camera? can you say what video is like? Thanks

cnocbui

No, I have an E-M5 and the video is quite good. If video quality is your priority, you should look at getting a used Panasonic GH2 or the new GH3.

tom tit tot

I'd avoid bridge cameras and go for something a mirror-less system along the lines of an Olympus PEN or Fujifilm x100...