Bridge Camera - Examples of Bridge Cameras

Examples of Bridge Cameras

Examples of bridge cameras are the Nikon Coolpix P90 2009 model with 24× Optical Zoom NIKKOR lens, some Canon PowerShot S and Fujifilm FinePix S-series cameras, Olympus SP-500 Ultra Zoom, Olympus SP-570UZ, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200. The Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 could also be considered a bridge camera, though its video features distinguish it from any other consumer camera. Kodak EasyShare P-Series and Z-Series. Minolta (before the Konica Minolta merger) marketed the DiMAGE series, with the Minolta GT manual fixed zoom lens. Their bridge digital cameras were known as ZSLRs (zoom lens, single lens reflex).

The Sony DSC-R1 (2005–2006) and the Sigma DP1 (2008) are bridge cameras with APS-size imaging sensors. The DP1 is much smaller than typical bridge cameras, and has a fixed focal length (non-zoom) lens. Current superzoom model from Sony is CyberShot DSC HX1, which replaced the CyberShot DSC H50. The Nikon Coolpix P6000, Canon PowerShot G series, and Panasonic LX-3 are other examples of smaller bridge cameras with smaller zoom ranges.

Most bridge cameras have flash arrangements similar to compact cameras. Few have an external hot shoe as Kodak Z980 has and also Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200, and the newer Kodak Z981 has none. Only three non-DSLRs in Canon's current lineup offer the facility for external flashguns, i.e. two for Bridge Camera and one for Compact Camera: PowerShot SX1 IS, SX30 IS (has hidden hotshoe) as replacement of SX20 IS and G1 X, respectively. Most bridge cameras have PSAM (Program, Shutter Speed, Aperture, Manual) mode besides Auto mode as DSLR have.

Introduced in 2010 the Fujifilm FinePix HS10 has a 30x optical zoom.

At CES 2011, Fujifilm announced FinePix HS20EXR as a successor of HS10EXR, but not as a successor of Fujifilm FinePix HS10 which has no EXR processor. It is provided with 16 MP EXR-CMOS 1/2" sensor with new EXR processor for speed and better behaviour in low-light condition. Optical zoom 30x (24-720mm in 35mm equivalent). It is also Full HD 1080p with High Speed Movie option up to 320 frame/s. RAW and RAW+JPEG. The motion panorama can take picture in 360 degrees horizontally or vertically. Motorized and manual zooming, has hot shoe and has filter threads. FinePix HS25EXR has same body and lens with FinePix HS20EXR, can takes 3D photos and has In-camera High Dynamic Range (HDR - combine multiple exposures), but loss RAW and high speed movies 320 fps. While FinePix HS30EXR is a combination of both predecessors, so has RAW, high speed movies 320 fps, 3D photos, and In-camera HDR and also changes AA battery from previous models to Li-ion battery, so it is lighter about 10 percent.

Most DSLR-like bridge cameras use a 1/2.3" sensor, but Fujifilm S-X1 has 2/3" 12MP EXR BSI-CMOS sensor (larger than 1/1.7" also), provided with fast lens f2.8 to f5.6 and ultra smooth 26x optical manual zoom (24–624 mm), RAW and hotshoe, but certainly the price is big higher compare to even Nikon CoolPix P510 with 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor, 24-1,000 mm (41.7x) optical zoom with no RAW and no hotshoe, but has a GPS. The Canon PowerShot G1 X, introduced in 2012, has an even larger 1.5" sensor, slotting between the Four Thirds standard and APS-C in size. It offers a hotshoe, 14-bit RAW shooting, and much of the creative controls of a DSLR, but has a fixed lens with only a 4x zoom range, and is priced considerably above other Canon point-and-shoots (and higher even than some of the company's entry-level DSLRs).

Nikon CoolPix P500 is the predecessor of P510 with wider wide-angle has optical zoom at 36x (22.5mm wide-angle to 810mm telephoto). It has a 12 MP CMOS sensor, but has no lens threads.

Sony DSC-HX100V has 16.2 MP CMOS sensor (equivalent with Fujifilm HS20EXR), 30x optical zoom (27–810 mm equivalent), 7x digital zoom and video Full HD 1080p - 60 frame/s, but no hotshoe and no lens thread.

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS has 35x optical zoom with 4.5 stops lens stabiliser camera plus 4x digital zoom will cover 24-3360mm (eq. 35mm film camera). Has 14.1 MP CCD sensor, but only has HD movies 720p30 stereo. The camera seems as replacement of Canon PowerShot SX20 IS which has 12.1 MP CCD sensor and also only HD movies 720p30. Certainly not exactly as replacement of Canon PowerShot SX1 IS which has 10.0 MP CMOS fast/reactive sensor and also Full HD movies 1920x1080 at 30 frame/s stereo. Available in September 2011, the successor Canon PowerShot SX40 HS (not IS) use HS System to boost low-light performance with 12.1MP CMOS sensor powered by the new Digic 5 image processor and capable to take video Full HD 1080p. The body and the lens is same with the predecessor Canon PowerShot SX30 IS. As the predecessors since SX10 IS, they have no RAW, but have hotshoe. In OCtober 2012, Canon launched the Powershot SX50 HS. The successor of the SX40 is capable of a 50x zoom, the most powerful superzoom in the world.

At CES 2011, Fujifilm also announced 4 S-Series. All have 14 MP CCD sensor and only capable of HD 720p movies, but allow zooming while taking video with sound. Allows up to 8 fps continuous shooting for 20 frames in S mode. No hotshoe and no lens threads. Use AA battery power. The difference among them is only the zoom capabilities. S4000 30x (24-720mm), S3400 28x (24-672mm), S3300 26x (24-624mm), S3200 24x (24-576mm) In early 2012, Fujifilm introduced the successors of 4 S-series in 2011 with same platform/capabilities of the predecessors, but boost improved start up times and auto focus times as fast 0.35 second in low light. They are S4500 30x optical zoom, S4400 28x, S4300 26x and S4200 24x. The versions with Dual Zoom Control for flexible shooting, Through The Lens (TTL) external hotshoe and rechargeable Li-on battery is SL300, SL280, SL260 and SL240 respectively. All of them have also provided with 6.7x digital zoom same as the predecessors.

The other DSLR-like bridge camera has some lacks or inferiorities: Olympus SP-800UZ: 14.0 MP CCD sensor, 30x optical zoom (28-840mm) plus digital zoom 5x, internal memory 2 GB, 10 frame/s burst mode, but only HD 1280*720 at 30 frame/s with no sound, No external hot shoe, No aperture priority, No shutter priority, No lens thread, No view finder. Olympus SP-820UZ iHS 14 MP 1/2.3" CMOS sensor with 40x optical zoom (22.4 to 896 mm) has the widest capability and only slightly match by Nikon CoolPix P500 with 22.5 mm, but as the predecessor has no external hotshoe, no viewfinder or manual exposure control. Uses 4 AA batteries, has capabilities of Full HD Video 1080p, High-Speed Video 240fps HSQVGA and Hand Held Starlight which captures multiples images without tripod and stitches them into a single photo.

At CES 2012, General Imaging a subsidiary of General Electric unveiled GE X600 Power Pro with 25x optical zoom with a 26mm wide-angle lens and 14.4MP CMOS sensor, 1080p Full HD video and continuous high-speed shooting 10fps for less than $200, but no hotshoe. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is cheaper than any line of bridge cameras on the market (for its class).

A few bridgecams, known as Hybrid Cameras, have features similar to those of a DSLR (PSAM mode, (external) hot shoe, EVF and RAW record) and advanced video features including Full HD Stereo Video (1920 x 1080 format at 30 frame/s) and a 'quiet' ultrasonic motor able to operate the optical zoom and autofocus while filming. These include the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS