What is the best bridge camera 2011? Our top 5 superzooms of the year
- Fri, 7 Oct 2011
- Comments (23)
What is the best bridge camera 2011?
Bridge cameras are also often referred to as superzooms. As the name suggests they ‘bridge' the gap between DSLRs and compact cameras in some respects, offering a longer zoom range than traditional compact cameras (hence ‘superzoom').
You'll also find an electronic viewfinder (EVF) comes part and parcel of your superzoom purchase, so it's possible to either use a rear LCD screen or hold the EVF to your eye for added support and precise framing in low light.
Superzooms will have a zoom multiplication factor - usually 18x, 24x, 30x or 35x - that can help you assess how far into the distance you can zoom. This can often equate to a top-end zoom of somewhere between 600-840mm. However, you'll want to pay close attention to the widest angle setting should you also want to create shots with a wide angle of view - something like 24mm is ideal.
In addition to the zoom it's advisable to look for a bridge camera with optical image stabilisation as this will help to steady the preview shot and is an essential for longer focal lengths.
There're plenty of bells and whistles on recent superzoom releases, a number of which we'll look at in our top 5 superzoom bridge cameras list below...
Fujifilm Finepix HS20
Price: £269
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 stabilisation 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 competitors are able to offer. The HS20's price has also dropped like a bomb in recent months, so it's a steal.
Click to read our full Fuji HS20 review...
Nikon Coolpix P500
Price: £279
Nikon's latest bridge camera, the Coolpix P500, cranks things up a gear compared to Nikon superzooms of old.
It comes with a massive 36x zoom 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 competition, indeed this Coolpix's images are of top quality and only let down by the lack of an optical stabilisation system (as per the HS20 this bridge camera depends on sensor-based Vibration Reduction).
Click to read our full Nikon P500 review...
Canon Powershot SX40 HS
Price: £419
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 stabilisation and the best superzoom picture quality. The 2.7in LCD screen's even mounted on a tilt-angle bracket to allow for more unusual framing. The only thing missing here is Raw capture.
Click to read our full Canon SX40 HS review...
Sony Cyber-shot HX100V
Price: £385
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 1080p50 movie and 3D mode further ice the cake.
Click to read our full Sony HX100 review...
Panasonic Lumix FZ150
Price: £385
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 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 stabilisation 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 superzooms should be.
Have your say!
Latest comments
January 10 20:28
GillH
@Sukik9 - There's a comment on Amazon re. Finepix cameras that they freeze in the way you describe if you let the batteries get too low. Only removal will enable the camera to be closed.
January 10 22:24
Nick
Fuji HS20EXR I also bought and was freezing up from day one and sent it back and got a full refund. I really liked the camera reviews ect and the feel, but dont think I want to take a risk again. Never had any problems with Canon or Panasonic, even after years of use and abuse.
January 24 13:20
thenbman
What about the Fuji S3400? 28x zoom, It's stylish, you get lens adapters to make it even better, I think it's a great camera.
April 02 18:45
Me,Myself and I
Ive seen a lot of extremely impressive photos from the HS20 using a raynox Macro lens, also the Raynox lenses are fairly cheap in the way of price, there are two I could see a use for one 2.5 macro, and a 2.2X telephoto.. you can pick both up for about 400.00 that with the HS20, is a awesome package for under 700.00 Can't get that from a true DSLR, plus the standard zoom capibilities are impressive!