Looking for the best bridge camera? I’ll show you what to look for when buying and give you my current top 3 recommendations!
Below is a detailed article about the best bridge cameras. If you don’t want to read it all, here’s a quick overview.
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These recommendations on the best bridge cameras come from my experience of more than 15 years of photography.
The Best Bridge Cameras – My Top 3 Recommendations
Below is my personal recommendation on the best bridge cameras. I update this list regularly. All bridge cameras I recommend have an electronic viewfinder and a 1 inch image sensor.
1st place: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Can Sony make the already very good RX10 III even better? Yes, it can. The RX 10 IV has once again become quite a bit faster. This is especially true for the continuous shooting function and the autofocus. This is especially beneficial for users who want to work with it a lot in the field of videos. The zoom range is also 24-600 mm, just like its predecessor. The ergonomics are good and the camera is very versatile to adapt to one’s needs. Thanks to its 1 inch 20 megapixel sensor, the bridge camera also delivers very good image quality up to ISO 3200. Surprisingly, this applies to the entire zoom range. For me, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV is by far the best bridge camera, but it also has its price.
2nd place: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Sony’s RX10 III is even a bit faster. With an aperture of 2.4 to 4.0, it captures a lot of light. The zoom range of 24-600 mm (calculated to 35 mm) is even a bit larger. For being a bridge camera, it is relatively large and heavy.
On the other hand, 600mm is good for wildlife and sports photography. However, if you want to have this focal length with an SLR camera and matching lens, then we would be talking about 5 times the weight and size. From this point of view, the RX10 III can almost be classified as compact. The size also has a positive effect on the handling.
One of the main reasons for buying a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III is the excellent image quality provided by the 20 megapixel sensor.
3rd place: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2000
The Lumix FZ2000 comes with a 1-inch sensor. The lens has a focal length of 24-480 mm calculated on 35 mm. The speed of 2.8 to 4.5 over this zoom range is impressive. It has 20 megapixels and is very fast in JPGs with 11 frames per second.
The FZ2000 cuts a good figure in terms of image quality, especially at low ISO values. In lower light and with higher ISO values, the camera draws the pictures a bit softer. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2000 also offers a lot of video features, but it is primarily interesting for ambitious photographers who do not mind the higher weight and size.
Of my recommendations, the FZ2000 is also the best choice in terms of price-performance ratio.
Why is a bridge camera interesting in times of SLR or system cameras?
Often, a bridge camera is a bit smaller and lighter than an SLR. Because the lens is not interchangeable, you don’t have to choose between several lenses. You focus less on your photo equipment, but simply take what you have. This puts more emphasis on the photography itself – which ultimately leads to better pictures.
How is the image quality of bridge cameras?
Due to the slightly smaller 1-inch sensor, the image quality doesn’t quite match that of an SLR. However, here we are talking about differences on a very high level. Modern bridge cameras deliver great image quality. The difference to larger cameras is not particularly big, depending on the situation. Only in special disciplines, such as low light, does the large sensor of an SLR or system camera make a noticeable difference.
Bridge cameras with 1 inch sensors are on the advance
Sensor size plays a big role in any camera in terms of image quality. The bigger, the better. Currently, the best bridge cameras have a sensor with a diagonal of one inch. Sometimes there are also bridge cameras whose sensor size is identical to the even larger format of entry-level SLR cameras (APS-C).