heyjoe Loc: cincinnati ohio

seems like the new cameras like the canon sx40 and Nikon 510
are taking over,some of the pics i have seen on the forum are very nice,do i need this bag and and over $5000 in equipment
or should i sell and buy a bridge,

Dback4430 Loc: Lockport Il

I am wondering the same thing . Sarge did it , look how much fun he is having

Carioca

I own the SX40, and I love it. I love the versatility, being able to go from wide to zoom on the fly.

I bought an DSLR last year, and it blows the SX40 image quality away. OTOH, it was work: lugging all the stuff around, getting the camera to do things that auto just couldn't handle. It just wasn't fun anymore. So I sold it.

In looking back at my best photos of last year, the DSLR pics stand head and shoulders above the rest.

So I'm saving up for a new one later this year. I'll carry the SX40 as my "daily driver", and break out the DSLR for "special occasions".

Your mileage may vary.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

That's my thought so far. The quality of the pictures, the amount of features ( which I still have not played with ) and the fantastic zoom of the sx40hs and the p510 have me believing no more Nikon D5100's or D50s.

For my purposes, these two newbies earn my respect and I am amazed I can carry both around my neck and outside of looking like El Tourist, they don't weight anything.

Sarge

hlmichel Loc: New Hope, Minnesota

I came pretty close to getting one of Nikon's mega-zoom bridges when I was shopping for my dslr.

Don't regret going dslr, but I'm sure I would have had some fun either way.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Unless you mean a "bridge camera," I've got a couple in Arizona and a couple more in Nevada, I'll sell you at bargain prices.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Don't forget that there are also some very good Fuji and Olympus cameras out there!!

I seriously considered ALL brands but went with the Canon SX40 primarily because of the fully articulation LCD screen instead of the 'fixed' or just 'tilting' screens of the others.

LaughBrian Loc: Tn

used camera gear = loss of money lol. Unless you can find a sucker you will dump alot of cash. keep your gear and go shoot some pics lol. its just a passing fad.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Carioca said in part, "So I'm saving up for a new one later this year. I'll carry the SX40 as my "daily driver", and break out the DSLR for "special occasions".

I agree, most of my photography is "shot from the hip" with my holstered camera, always with me and loaded! The DSLRs sit on the shelf and are there for "professional" occasions when "professional" equipment is expected.

Modern compact ultra zooms take great photos. If well composed, then little if any cropping is needed and so the output is very good to excellent. In today's world the quality of the output, of photography seen, is governed not by the camera but by the display. Displays range from a pocket 3" device, a wall mounted 7" display, a 52" HDTV, or a 12' display at the RNC viewed from afar. If we print, then most of us print at most 8 x 10" others 13 x 17" both of which can look good with a compact camera image.

SUMMARY: The best camera is the one that is there, unobtrusive, always with you for capturing that shot of the moment that is never to be repeated. Ten years from now our DSLR will sit on the shelf covered with dust right along with that expensive Nikon 8008 film camera now worth nothing on the market... an antique. Save that old $5000 bag of equipment so you can say, look what we had to put up with just to take a "professional" shot on rare occasions.

djmarti Loc: cape cod,

The problem with the bridge cameras is they can't pick up nearly the detail as an slr. When you zoom in 100% you see the difference. You notice the difference when you make enlargements. With that said if you don't plan on selling your pics and your doing it for fun then a good bridge is the way to go. You can get more pics without buying 4 different lenses when the bridge covers it all.

LaughBrian Loc: Tn

Good answer!!!!!!!!

G.Feduccia Loc: Paradise in Florida Panhandle

I have to agree that the "Best Camera" for anyone is the one that you will use the most. Having retired my Canon AE and AE1 and my Nikon N8008s for a digital Sony and just recently the P510 bridge cameras, I can say that I am most pleased with the performance and features of the bridge cameras. The manual for the P510 took almost a ream of paper; yes, it is quite extensive and I am just now exploring what it can do. The zoom is incredible in an instrument so light in weight, but with enough heft to be comfortable and the whole kit and kaboodle fits into a small camera bag. I never could bring myself to taking the SLR kits to Disneyworld or anywhere that I was constantly walking and riding something. Heck I might have broken my neck with that SLR and 28-200mm zoom hanging around my neck strap!

So, the best camera for you is . . . ?

2 Dog Don Loc: Virginia Beach VA

I have 2 Fuji bridge cameras the S100FS which is a 14x and ths HS20EXR which is a 30 optical. Both take excellent pictures and will shoot raw. They were my learning platforms as they have almost all the features of a DSLR. but as my abilities grew and I started to focus on HDR and on wildlife I needed more so I bought a Sony A65. I still use both my bridge cameras as they are so easy to travel with and that is one of their greatest advantages. You can see a lot of what I shot with these cameras on Flickr where my user name is also 2 Dog Don

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

If you are happy with snap shots from the camera and want to lighten the load then go for it. If you want a lot of pro lens and other pro lighting options, then stay with DSLR.

Carioca

Well said.

You can get some great pics with a bridge cam. But the same pic will look far better with a DSLR.

It's just a question of how much effort you want to put into getting the better image. Sometimes it's not worth it, sometimes it is.