BLOGGING: On Using a Bridge Camera

People judge you in the blogging world. They judge you a lot. One thing you get judge about, is the camera you use. They really shouldn't, but they do. Far too often bloggers feel they need to have a DSLR to a) take "good" photographs and b) to be a "proper" blogger. As much as I would love to own and use a DSLR, I can't justify the price and I can't see me owning one for a long way, so what do I use? Well for the most part, I use my trusty Fuji bridge although not all the photographs which appear on the blog are taken with it, I throw in camera phone and our GE point and shot photographs in to mix everything up a bit.

But also a lot of people don't know about bridge cameras, so I thought I'd share some of the pros and cons of this type of camera, and if you're looking for a new one, why it might be a great camera for you.

Light

Bridge cameras seem to pass a lot of people by but they are a great alternative to a DSLR for a number of reasons. Basically bridge cameras slot between your standard digital compact and your DSLR, offering in the process advantages from both. If you want the simplicity of a point and shoot, but not the price of a DSLR, a bridge might be the camera for you. 

Ren Cen, Detroit

I brought my Fuji Finepix S3300 Bridge back in 2011 (I think) from Argos for about £180, they tend to be less than £300 depending on the brand and model so they are considerably cheaper than your DSLR models. With a sizable LCD screen, they can fit in a full range of focal lengths from micro through to telephoto without the need to change lens. One big advantage is that they let you shoot in manual and raw, so they can be a great basis for learning how to use a camera away from the auto settings which is something I've loved being able to do since owning my camera. But don't worry, if manual isn't your thing they offer a full range of auto settings too.

Dragonfly, Au Sable river

Granted they can have issues in low light and they can be slow to focus - mine struggles a far bit with landscapes for whatever reason. Mine doesn't have a rechargeable battery, so it does eat them up, but nothing that can't be limited using lithium batteries. And while they are smaller and lighter than a DSLR they aren't cameras you can just throw in your pocket, so just like a DSLR if you're after sneaking some food photographs in a restaurant, they don't make it that easy to disguise.  

Forty Point Lighthouse, Rogers City

For me, a bridge suits my needs as both a blogger and as someone who loves to take photographs just because, then again I'm not a typical blogger (I don't own anything by apple and I don't use instagram). But if you do want to make the step into having a camera you have more control over, but want to save pennies, a bridge might be the way to go.

So while I feel I get judged about not being "proper" because I don't have a DSLR those are the reasons why I do love using my bridge. It's practical, has the advanced settings so I have the flexibility and the opportunity to have more control over my photographs but they also take photos I'm pleased with.