terminology - What are the differences between a bridge camera and a DSLR?

What are the differences between a bridge camera and a DSLR?

Answer

To understand the difference between a bridge camera and a DSLR, it is really necessary to understand the origin of the term "bridge camera". While a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) is a particular type of camera with a very well defined meaning (it uses a single lens which is used for both exposure and viewfinding), the term "bridge" simply means that it is bridging the gap between two different types of cameras.

So, knowing that "bridge" camera is simply a marketing term, what was it that it was designed to be a bridge from and to?

Traditionally there were two main types of cameras, your point and shoot cameras, which were designed to be small, simple to use, and basic for an average person to be able to take photographs. Historically, they typically had a fixed lens, a basic built in flash if any and a simple viewfinder that simply gave you an idea of what the lens would capture when you exposed the image. If present at all, settings like shutter speed were minimal.

On the other side, you had interchangeable lens cameras with full ability to adjust (either manually or automatically) settings like shutter speed, aperture, focal length, etc. These cameras were much more advanced, generally larger and generally more complicated to use, especially outside of using automatic settings. SLRs are one example of this type of camera.

Early on, the differences were more pronounced, however as cameras advanced, both of these extremes moved more towards the center. Point and shoot cameras now often do allow basic exposure adjustments to be made and the automatic shooting capability of DSLRs have made them much simpler for a novice to use and get ok results, however some of the advantages and disadvantages have remained. Generally, point and shoots still are smaller and lighter and DSLRs have far greater versatility and generally better image quality due to larger sensors and better optics.

So, knowing those two extremes, a bridge camera means that it is a camera which specializes on trying to provide the advantages of both DSLRs and point and shoot cameras with as few of the disadvantages as they can. They are also sometimes referred to as hybrid cameras. Typically, they are larger than basic point and shoots and have lenses that have adjustable focal length, but they are typically not removable lenses. They generally use an electronic view finder to avoid the complexity of SLR optics. They generally have smaller sensors than a DSLR, but often larger than a typical point and shoot, so they split the difference in size and versatility without having all of the cost or complexity of a DSLR, but also with more versatility than a basic point and shoot.

The exact differences will depend on the particular models you are comparing and some high end bridge cameras may actually perform better than cheap DSLRs in some situations, but the general idea is simply that they straddle the gap left between the design goals of a point and shoot and those of a DSLR.

Perhaps the most consistent distinction in terms of what is being bridged is that of the level of control the camera gives the user. Ultimately, simple cameras tend to have simpler and more limited controls while high end cameras give the user direct control of every aspect of image capture. Bridge cameras sit in between the extremes of super simple with no control and complete control over every aspect of image creation.

A more recent introduction to the space is mirrorless cameras which could arguably be considered a type of bridge camera, at least on the lower end (though they aren't typically called as such) as well since they feature generally smaller sensors and simplified bodies from those of DSLRs, but include interchangeable lens systems to improve versatility and quality over that of a bridge camera with a permanently installed lens. I would say that higher end mirrorless cameras could not be considered bridge as they have strong support for full lighting, exposure and lens selection control and are no longer really a bridge between almost no control and full control, but rather provide full control.

So to break down the gamut of cameras, from simplest to most complex, you have the following:

• Point and Shoot / Compact - smallest size, most basic adjustments, cheapest, easiest to use


• Conventional Bridge/Hybrid - slightly larger, generally more adjustments, but often menu driven, zoom lens, but permanently attached, still very easy to use


• Mirrorless - still a small size. Camera body nearly resembles a point and shoot, however lenses are interchangeable. More adjustment options available. Often full adjustment is available, but may still use menus for some settings, more complicated to use as you need to consider lens selection and possibly exposure adjustments


• DSLR - large size, generally better image quality, full adjustments directly available on higher end models, most complicated bodies and thus generally most expensive, similar shooting complexity to mirrorless since full consideration of exposure, lens, lighting selections need to be considered

That isn't a perfect list as there is cross over depending on how high end a particular model is, but it serves as a general guideline. Ultimately, when you are considering which camera to buy, you should look at the capabilities of the camera and your needs rather than considering if it is labeled as a "bridge" camera. Look for a camera that can get the shots you want and let you adjust what you want while taking care of the rest for you.