plhiggins Loc: Norwood MA

Please help me by explaining what a bride camera is and does?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Its simply a step between a P&S camera and a DSLR. Simplistic in nature, but adding some DSLR functions to the mix.

plhiggins Loc: Norwood MA

Thank you.

Iduno Loc: Near Tampa Florida

Canon G12 and Nikon P7100 I think are the current versions. I have a Nikon P7000 and am blown away by how cool that camera is.

djmarti Loc: cape cod,

You get almost all the functions of an slr and sometimes more special effect features and even a better zoom than slrs. But the one thing they don't give you is the sensors the slr's have. When you zoom in 100% then you see a huge difference in image quality and deatail no matter how good the bridge is. And also most if not all bridge cameras don't shoot raw which also gives slr a big andvantage.

Iduno Loc: Near Tampa Florida

The Nikon P7000 will shoot raw. That was an important consideration when I was buying. As djmarti said, many do not shoot raw.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

A very feature-loaded camera that does not have replaceable lenses like a dSLR. It is typically considered a hopped-up Point & Shoot because of the fixed zoom lens but it may actually take photos as good or better than some dSLRs. The Canon SX40 is an example of a magnificent camera "bridging" the gap between P&S and all out dSLR. There were some SX40 shots posted on UHH earlier this year and I'd defy anyone to determine they were shot with a Bridge camera when put side by side with dSLR similar shots.

I have an older Panasonic Lumix FZ-30 (there have been many similar models since it that are also considered "bridge" models) with a long Leica zoom lens that is wonderful but just 8MP.

Convenience of being all in one with no extra lenses to carry along because the "bridge" models have a long zoom permanently attached, having a viewfinder hole to look into as well as an LCD screen which most cheaper P&S models don't have, and being somewhat smaller than most dSLRs, are the main desireable features. They are also cheaper, in the $400 to $500 range instead of the $850 to $1200 range of dSLRs.

Many don't shoot in RAW format (a pro feature of virtually all recent dSLRs) which some people are rabid about, but if you don't know what that is or why you would want it, the JPG output of Bridge cameras are excellent.

DJ Mills Loc: Idaho

I have the Canon SX40. It does everything but let me change lenses and shoot in raw.

Croce Loc: Earth

You are not djmills. You are an imposter! I recognize you. You are Alfred E. Newman and you are too dim witted to operate even the easy to use SX40. You are forgiven Alfred, but only because you do not know better. Shame, shame.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

I have a Canon G10 and it shoots raw. It is a great camera. Can blow up to 8X10 w/little degradation of image. It is my carry around camera.

Bob1190 Loc: Hatboro, PA

I have a Coolpix 5700 that does fantastic close-ups

dame_wolf Loc: Oregon

I have a Canon SX30IS and it's a great camera! I am completely comfortable taking it to locations where I don't want to risk my dSLR and lenses and I know that the pictures will still be wonderful!

PaulR

Love my P7000

tramsey Loc: Texas

I have a bridge camera and one of the biggest difference between dslr, besides being able to change lens; is that the sensor one the bridge is tiny. So no matter what p/s or bridge camera you are shooting with, it will never have the quality of a dslr simply because of the much smaller sensor.

DJ Mills Loc: Idaho

My friend Alfred is the closest thing I could find to represent my own intellectual abilities. My brain is withered in my 60s because I spent too much time with Mad magazine in the 1960s.