DSLR vs. Bridge Cameras – What is The Difference?

There are many different types of cameras all around the world and each one of them has its own features and they all bring what is the best for you!

As some of you may already know, DSLR cameras are more aimed at professionals and are in the market for many years now, but what if you need a more advanced zoom capability, what are you going t do then?

In this article, you will find explain the difference between DSLR & a Bridge Camera. That way you can have a clearer idea in case you are trying to choose between them. Firstly will be explained what these types of cameras are, then you will find some of the most important differences.

What is a DSLR Camera?

First of all, the DSLR shortcut stands for Digital Single Lens Reflection(digital single lens reflex). Digital means that the camera works with a fixed digital sensor. Single-lens as already understood means that within the camera you can find only one lens that does all the job; framing, focusing, as well as taking the picture. Moving on to the last word, reflex defines the system where the mirror splits or directs the light that is coming via the optical viewfinder and is coming into the camera.

Basically, a DSLR is a camera that is packed with only two most important elements, the lens and the camera body in general. Also, the camera can work easily with interchangeable lenses, and not forget the shutter speed.

What is a Bridge Camera?

Bridge Cameras in a way, are a combination of SLR cameras and a point and shoot digital camera. You may also have heard refer to them as small DSLR cameras, but still, they are mostly known for the powerful zoom range that they bring! These cameras, however, don’t own interchangeable lenses and have a fixed lens, unlike DSLRs which can use a prime lens or zoom lens of their own choice.

Unlike DSLRs, bridge cameras usually have an electronic viewfinder known as EVF, this is also found mostly on a mirrorless camera.

What Are The Main Differences Between DSLR & a Bridge Camera?

Design, Weight, and Size

Even though some of the DSLR and Bridge Cameras look alike, there are some major things that make them differ from one another. DSLR cameras are way bigger than a Bridge Camera, and that makes them less portable, while a Bridge camera can fit in any bag that you may own. Being bigger, DSLR cameras are also known as heavier ones.

So yeah if you seek compact cameras, a SLR camera might not be your first choice.

On the other hand, point and shoot cameras or say bridge can be really compact and can easily fit in your pocket, there are a bunch of compact and bridge cameras.

Speed

On the speed, I would say that it is the DSLR camera that is faster than a bridge one; in focusing or shooting a range of pictures. Bridge cameras seem to fall off a little bit when it comes to this part because they can be a little bit delayed with their shooting speed ability, and they are not one of the best choices when it comes to action shots.

I would say that only mirrorless cameras are comparable, if not better when it comes to shooting more images at faster shutter speeds.

Image Quality

The image quality on a camera, of course, is mostly in charge of the sensor and the image processor. In these cameras, there is a quite big difference in the sensor. DSL cameras always use bigger sensors, and a Bridge Camera use of course smaller ones. The image quality on both of them will be based on what type of sensor they own.

I already mentioned above that the zoom range on Bridge Cameras is enormous, but DSLR ones would bring a better ability of usage while in low light environments. I would like to say that when it comes to the image quality in both of these cameras, it is a win-win situation!

Verdict

Above are mentioned some of the most important things that you need to know regarding the difference between DSLR & Bridge Cameras.

So yeah simply put, DSLR is a great camera for professionals who are deep into photography while a point and shoot camera is mostly for average joes who like to zoom around and have a really compact camera on their pocket.

I really hope this article or this guide, will help you determine once for all the differences between these two types of cameras. Since I mentioned that Nikon P1000 has a very big zoom range, you definitely should find more information about it. There it goes, check out our article on How far can Nikon P1000 Zoom.