Bridge Camera Vs Digital SLR

Nowadays people want something more than your iPhone can handle. What do you do when you want more clear portraits, close ups or the capability to enlarge for prints?

For the longest time there was really only one option, a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera. Lately however, the new kid on the block is the "bridge" camera, which 'bridges' the gap between the point & shoot and the DSLR, both in functions and price.

Let's compare the pros and cons of the two.

Digital SLR Camera

Pros

Sensor is generally better.

Interchangeable lenses.

Better zoom and macro capabilities

Cons

More pricey

Purchase of extra lenses

Not as portable

Need more knowledge to operate properly (although they are becoming easier and easier)

Bridge Camera

Pros

Typically Less expensive (not always the case these days with entry level DSLR)

No need for extra lenses.

More portable.

'Auto' settings easy to start with. (again, entry level DSLR's are pretty simple these days)

Cons

Limited zoom capabilities

Typically poor low light performance

Limited capability to improve your skills

So, which camera is best for you?

You first need to ask yourself, what you are trying to achieve in your photography?

As with most things, it also depends on how much of your hard earned money you're willing to part with.

With bridge cameras, you can get a lot of options without spending too much money. If you don't want the ability to change a lot of the camera settings, the "auto" setting is very capable. However, this basically makes it a point and shoot on steroids. If you want to expand your skills and learn to adjust the settings, you have that capability, albeit in a limited fashion. One thing to keep in mind is that not all bridge cameras allow for full "manual" control.

DSLR cameras provide the most options and flexibility, but come with a higher price tag and less portability. With an almost unlimited range of lenses, flashes and lighting you can expand your photographic horizons in an unlimited fashion. In the past, you couldn't plan on taking stellar images right out of the box, but the auto settings on some of the entry level DSLRs available today make that more possible. If you want to dive deep into the camera settings it can take a while to learn how to use it properly. Also, you are going to want to buy more than the kit" lens that came with the camera. Keep in mind that lenses are not something that spread across major brands. If you buy a Canon 7D you can't use Nikon lenses. Although there are some brands, namely Sigma and Tamron, that make lenses for multiple brands of cameras.

What it all boils down to is: what are your needs? If you simply want something to give you more zoom range than your smart phone, then a bridge camera is probably good for you. However, if you want to expand your skills with room to grow, then a DSLR is the way to go. Be careful though, DSLRs can be addictive and have been known to become an expensive hobby when you want to buy new lenses and accessories!

My personal recommendation as a professional youth sports, school and event photographer, is to go with the DSLR. They have become really affordable and the auto settings make things easy. However, if you have no desire to ever change the auto settings, then there are some really awesome bridge cameras these days.