Few best Bridge Cameras of 2011-2012
Fujifilm Finepix HS20
Price: $ 365.6572 (approx)
Fujifilm
Finepix HS20…
…with a huge 30x (24-720mm) optical zoom lens
With a huge 30x (24-720mm) optical zoom
lens, Fuji’s HS20EXR superzoom is comparable to little else on the market
thanks to its manual zoom control that works much like a DSLR lens. This bridge
camera’s 16MP EXR CMOS sensor is backed up by a sensor – shift image
stabilisabtion system (not optical) and can capture shots from ISO 100-12,800.
There’s even an 8fps burst mode to reel off images, Full HD 1080p movie
capture, and Raw capture that few competiors are able to offer. The HS20’s
price has also dropped like a bomb in recent months, so it’s a steal.
Nikon Coolpix P500
Price: $ 374.5975 (approx)
Nikon
Coolpix P500
Nikon’s latest bridge camera, the Coolpix
P500, cranks things up a gear compared to Nikon superzooms of old. It comes
with a massive 36xzoom that equates to a super-wide 22.5mm through to a
superzoom 810mm-great for extra wideangle shots without sacrificing the top-end
zoom. The P500’s 12.1MP sensor is also back –illuminated by design which means
its low light performance is better than much of the competiton, indeed this
Coolpix’s images are of top quality and only let down by the lack of an optical
stabilization system (as per the HS20 this bridge camera depends on sensor –
based Vibration Reduction).
Canon Powershot SX40 HS
Price: $518.4465 (approx)
Canon
Powershot SX40 HS
The newest superzoom to hit the shelves,
Canon’s latest has a long –reaching 35x zoom with a maximum focal length of
840mm. that gives it the ability to reach just that bit further than the
competition, certainly an attractive prospect for a bridge camera. Although
updates are limited compared to the previous SX30 IS, the Canon has got all the
important things right: big zoom; optical image stabilization and the best
superzoom picture quality. The 2.7 in LCD screen’s even mounted on a tilt-angle
bracket to allow for more unusually framing. The only thing missing here is Raw
capture.
Sony Cyber-Shot HX 100V
Price: $ 411.0738 (approx)
Sony
Cyber-Shot HX 100V
Sony’s HX100V – the ‘V’ stands for the
Global positioning Satellite (GPS) unit in the body – is a great superzoom
camera. With a dual control to zoom the 30x (27-810mm) lens the HX100V feels
different to its competitors: either use the zoom toggle around the shutter or
the power zoom to the side of the lens or, at the flick of a switch, adjust manual
focus instead. It’s an innovative system that gives bags of user control. A
variety of extra modes such as Sweep Panorama, Full HD 1080 50 movies and 3D
mode further ice the cake.
Panasonic Lumix FZ150
Price: $402.2944 (approx)
Panasonic
Lumix FZ150
Although Panasonic’s best-specified bridge
camera has a lesser 24x zoom than most of its competitors, it still offers a
rangey 24-600mm equivalent but where this superzoom truly excels in the
performance department: the FZ150 has far faster and more precise focusing than
any of the competition and that’s integral to getting the right shot. Add an
exceptional optical image stabilization and there’s nothing else out there that
can match up to this bridge camera’s abilities. Other modes such as a
super-fast 12fps burst mode can even be used in continuous autofocus and Raw
shooting is available. If the shorter top-end zoom isn’t an issue than look no
further than the FZ150-it’s how superzoom should be.
Meet Rohan Shreshia – Fashion Photographer.
Rohan
Shreshia – Fashion Photographer
How and when is a bridge camera more
useful? And for whom?
A bridge camera is more useful for those
who don’t want to invest in expensive DSLR’s and the accessories that come
with, but who still want to feel like they are using a professional piece of
equipment rather than a basic point and shoot camera.
If asked to pick the best bridge
camera in market today, which one would you go for?
Well I began using a Sony Cybershot camera
and I am quite comfortable with it. It is easy to use for beginners and does
produce some good images. Although, off late I have heard that the Canon range
of bridge cameras are very good and since I use a Canon professionally my bias
would lean to that.
A bridge camera is best preferred for
which type of photography?
In all honesty as a DSLR camera user, I
feel that bridge camera will only be used in photography on the go to click
photos of landscapes, people, lifestyle, holidays, etc. by those who are just
about starting out as photographers.
Tips for the beginners who are more
interested to start off with a bridge camera?
My advice would be to not mistake the
bridge camera and a DSLR to be the same thing or for that matter even remotely
similar. The bridge camera is, at best, a step up from a point and shoot, but
doesn’t compare with the quality of a DSLR. Camera’s with digital zoom are a
definite no-no.
