Bridge camera vs mirrowless camera (Page 2): A7/A7R is your best bet, but break out the wallet... Rx-1 is nice too, but it has a fixed lens...and it's not cheap either.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Ansel Rosewater wrote:

I put the requisite of a large sensor in because it allows cropping and enlarging (16 x 20) without degrading the image. I do a lot of post-shooting, photo manipulation, and often want to use only a small portion of the picture.

I also like to do portraiture and end up with a lot of detail.

A7/A7R is your best bet, but break out the wallet...
Rx-1 is nice too, but it has a fixed lens...and it's not cheap either.

rizer Loc: Long Island, NY

I have both, the SONY Alpha 99, which has a full frame sensor. I also have the NEX-6, which is a compact APS-C sensor (crop sensor). The A7/A7R has a full frame sensor, but it is a compact camera. The cost of the NEX-6 is much less than both the full frame cameras i just mentioned. And I must tell you that it performs beautifully. You need to think about whether you need a full frame camera, which is more expensive (both body and lenses), or if a crop sensor compact camera will do everything you need it to do.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Unless you have a full frame mirror less camera which in many instances is a step ahead of the DSLR full frame. Then again the DSLR full frame is miles behind the Hasselblad!

hb3 wrote:

I would put it this way...the Bridge while still a point and shoot, provides a way for users to learn what it may be like to use a mirror less or DSLR camera , but with a lesser sensor and thus lesser quality images...The upper end mirror less cameras have gotten on par with the crop sensor DSLRs in terms of image quality, features and lens choices.

The upper end mirror less and crop sensor DSLRs are a step behind the full frame DSLR in terms of image quality...

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Cdouthitt wrote:

First, what types of things do you like to shoot, and what's your budget, and do you shoot on anything other than auto mode.

If you answer the last part of that question as a no, then it doesn't really matter, because you wont use the full potential of either one. Save your money and buy a decent point and shoot...then learn about exposure, iso, and aperture before jumping in with both feet.

The other part of your question has been answered by others here.

So true.........some digital cameras on the higher end are very complex little computers which require you to really learn the camera before you can use it properly whereas the more point and shoot types can give you really nice images with less technical frustration.

billjohdoittoday Loc: Arkansas

Ansel Rosewater wrote:

I put the requisite of a large sensor in because it allows cropping and enlarging (16 x 20) without degrading the image. I do a lot of post-shooting, photo manipulation, and often want to use only a small portion of the picture.

I also like to do portraiture and end up with a lot of detail.

Ansel: Another possibility you may want to consider is software that will allow you to safely-and-effectively enlarge your picture. I totally recommend Alien Skin's Blow Up 3 http://www.alienskin.com/blowup/index.aspx?utm_source=newsletter-2010-03&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=0194. I use a m4/3 camera, the Panasonic GX1. When I wanted to turn a recent picture into a 24x36" print, I first did all my post processing and then used Blow Up 3 to enlarge the picture to the dimensions I wanted. I got a Really Impressive Print back. Look at the cost of the cameras and the cost of the software, you may decide that you're better off with a somewhat-smaller sensor at software that does good enlargements.

Bill

billjohdoittoday Loc: Arkansas

mossgate wrote:

So true.........some digital cameras on the higher end are very complex little computers which require you to really learn the camera before you can use it properly whereas the more point and shoot types can give you really nice images with less technical frustration.

The chip/computer in my m4/3 GX1 is, I am convinced, significantly more powerful than the chip in my desktop computer. No, I'm not kidding.

Bill

texashill Loc: Texas Hill Country

Ansel Rosewater wrote:

Ive wondered why one of the major manufacturers d... (show quote)

The site that you mention also has a "camera feature search". For me, an articulating LCD is a must have feature. After doing some searching, one discovers that the Canon PowerShot G1 X has no competitors. It has a large sensor and there is no need to worry about swapping lenses. I am a Realtor. My photography interest is in publishing Internet MLS presentations. I don't know how much I would benefit if I were to incur the expense and trouble of changing lenses. But I do think that I would benefit from having a larger sensor because interior residential photography can have low/tricky lighting. I currently use a point and shoot with a 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor size. The Canon has a 1.5″ (18.7 x 14 mm) sensor size. No other point and shoot with articulating LCD has such a large sensor. One would think that this would be a popular camera but perhaps it is not as it was introduced over two years ago and no other manufacturer has introduced a competitor.

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Daveg0720 wrote:

Please explain the difference between a bridge camera and a mirrowless camera.Are all mirrowless cameras 4/3 cameras?

Maybe you are on info overload right now, but I just wanted to add one more piece of info. I am getting to like my Olympus OMD E M-1 camera but it is very complex. It is mirrorless with interchangeable lenses and even though not as heavy as some DSLR's it is still heavy in comparison to cameras in the point and shoot category.

Olympus has now come out with the Stylus 1 twelve megapixel camera which appears to have similar features (although probably not all of them) to the M-1 but lighter and smaller and no interchangeable lenses. The lens is a constant F2.8, 28-300 mm equivalent. It is called the "baby OMD."

Just in case you are curious at all here is a youtube link....https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=olympus+stylus+1+video&sm=1

There are so many cameras to choose from it can be a daunting task deciding what to buy but you should at least do your research on the various sensor types to MAYBE get some idea of how each "species" of camera differs. Then consider price and just how many features you really need.

redrocktom Loc: Sedona

Ansel Rosewater wrote:

Ive wondered why one of the major manufacturers d... (show quote)

Sony recently introduced two new full frame sensor mirrorless cameras-A7 and A7R. 24MP and 36MP respectively. However, even though these bodies are much smaller than their DSLR equivalents, you will still be stuck with the large and heavy full frame lenses to cover that big sensor.

Ansel Rosewater

Wow! Is this a great Website !

Thanks to all of you for your advice.

Out of all of the choices Ill probably find one that meets my requisites after deciding which ones are really important.

Im realizing the Holy Grail of digital cameras: a feather-weight, all metal body, full size sensor, 40 MPs, powerful battery, light weight fast lens that zooms from here to everywhere and sells for under $600, doesnt exist is this world.

Thank you all.

Ansel

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

rszer57 wrote:

The SONY NEX series are mirror less cameras. Very high quality compact cameras, with interchangeable lenses, APS-C (crop sensor lens), and electronic view finder. Excellent cameras.

My Nikon P/520 works just fine!! :thumbup:

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Ansel Rosewater wrote:

Wow! Is this a great Website !

Thanks to all of you for your advice.

Out of all of the choices Ill probably find one that meets my requisites after deciding which ones are really important.

Im realizing the Holy Grail of digital cameras: a feather-weight, all metal body, full size sensor, 40 MPs, powerful battery, light weight fast lens that zooms from here to everywhere and sells for under $600, doesnt exist is this world.

Thank you all.

Ansel

Pick 2, maybe 3 from that list.