The decision
The decision for a new camera is not easy. Since I took my pictures with a smartphone lately, and it broke, I decided it is time for something new. Something new in a situation where I already lost my savings due to the past Corona years and where inflation is going to the moon. So I had to make a reasonable decision and do some research.
I had some points on my list that I tried to address in my search. So before you buy you gotta make sure to know what direction you might wanna go.
For me the following things were important:
- easy to hold
- focal length
- autofocus
- affordable
DSLR, Compact or something else?
Now in the jungle of possibilities it is not easy to get an overview. I used to own a Nikon D5000 DSLR, which was ok back then. The two pictures of my beloved Molly in this post were taken with the Nikon D5000. In my current decision though, a DSLR seemed not the right choice.
They are usually a bit heavy, mostly expensive and you have to switch lenses according to your photographic needs. The picture quality is good depending on your equipment but you have to have the right lens ready for your purposes.
I wanna go out and shoot when needed. Spontaneous. So carrying a lot of equipment needs to be avoided. I looked into compact cameras, point 'n shoot. They are decent these days but I might as well get a new smartphone then.
But what to go with now? A Bridge camera maybe?
Bridge cameras are as versatile as a DSLR or a system camera, but pack all of the lenses into one massive zoom lens. Focal length, one of my points on the list.
So the Bridge camera caught my attention.
Of course, a single optic with a large scope of performance is always a compromise. If you compare the performance of a high quality DSLR lens, you will find differences. None the less, the super zoom of a bridge camera, with a large range of optical focal length, is a very practical thing and could suit my needs the best.
Compared to a compact camera or a smartphone, a bridge camera has a much larger range of functions. For example, it often offers the photographer a manual focus option, manual zoom and other convenient settings. It is more comfortable to hold as well.
My Huawei P30 Pro takes awesome pictures, but you can't hold it with one hand and it is slippery. That's how I broke it lol.
Now a Bridge camera is what they say it is, a bridge between DSLR and Compact.
A bridge camera has a smaller sensor size and does not have the resolution and low noise of a DSLR. In low light conditions, a bridge camera sucks a bit. Due to the smaller sensor the bokeh is missing compared to the DSLR. However, compared to a compact camera or a smartphone, the bridge camera has a much greater possibility of depth of field.
I would probably not be able to shoot at high noon with stark contrast, but we all have to die one death right?
Conclusion
After torturing myself through the endless possibilities of photography, my decision was made.
The price was driving my decision as well. I decided on a Bridge camera as it seems to be the one that fits my current needs the most without having me go broke lol.
Which one?
That my friends I will tell you in my unboxing ;). I should receive the camera tomorrow and I hope it meets my expectations.
Stay tuned!
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