Tuesday 17 January 2012

What is a Bridge Camera? Do I need one?

So many years ago people didn't even know what the Internet was. Today, that word is a part of our daily vocabulary. When it comes to the world of digital cameras, very few people will know what a bridge camera is. If you try to proceed by deduction, you might think that the camera will have a bridge that connects to another appliance. You will not be far from the truth. 

If you've ever heard about single lens reflex cameras and point-and-shoot devices, bridge camera is in between. It is a camera that will allow you to get the best of both worlds by being able to control the pictures you take with the ease of just a pointing and taking the pictures.

Most bridge cameras are slightly bigger and have hot shoes to which an external flash can be attached. They also have integrated flash just above the camera lens. The price range for most decent bridge cameras are above $300. Most major brands like Nikon, Kodak, FujiFilm, Canon and Panasonic offer bridge cameras. 

Another thing that you will find in these type of device is the range of the lenses available. Most cameras will feature wide-angle lens to telephoto attribute. In other words, it means that you will have a camera with sufficient zoom for taking great close range pictures and also for capturing objects at the greater distance.  You can of course get the same with point-and-shoot cameras but the quality will not be the same. In some cases, you will have to change your bridge camera lens in order to get telephoto capacity. That is also why some people prefer bridge cameras with interchangeable lenses.

Another attribute of bridge cameras is that they allow you to use the viewfinder that will bring you closer to reality. This is a sort of WysiWig, “what you see is what you get” that means you capture what you see through the viewfinder unlike the LCD screen.

With the above mentioned information, you might wonder if bridge cameras are worth your money. That will definitely depend on what you plan to do with your camera and the price you're willing to pay. If you want to slowly ease yourself into the world of photography and maybe progressed to become a professional, a bridge camera might be something that will give you the best options. You will look like a professional to the untrained eyes with your entry-level bridge camera.


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