Best Bridge Cameras

In this article, we’re going to look at the Top 5 Best Bridge Cameras Of 2022. We made this list based on our own opinion, research, and customer reviews. We’ve considered their quality, features, and values when narrowing down the best choices possible.

Bridge cameras are styled like SLRs, but feature fixed, long zoom lenses. They’re a solid choice for photographers who want a zoom range that can only be reached by carrying several lenses along with an SLR. These are the best bridge cameras in our tests.

Best Bridge Cameras in 2022

So, here are the Top 5 Best Bridge Cameras you can buy in 2022. If you want more information and updated pricing on the products mentioned, be sure to check the links in each product we mentioned.

1. Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000 II

Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000 II Review

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II bridge camera keeps the same excellent lens and sensor as its predecessor. It’s an excellent performer, but we wish it had some level of weather protection.

You may also like: The 8 Best Cameras Of 2022

The Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000 II is the best camera with zoom that we’ve tested for most people. It’s versatile enough for general-purpose family or travel photography.

Its built-in zoom lens has a long 24-400mm focal length range (full-frame equivalent) that lets you zoom in on far-away subjects without the bulk you’d get with an equivalent telephoto lens on an interchangeable lens camera.

The camera feels well-built and very comfortable to shoot with. It has an easy-to-navigate menu system, along with plenty of customization options to configure the camera’s controls to your preferences.

Image quality is great right out of the camera, though sharpness declines as you raise the ISO. If you prefer to shoot in RAW, it has decent noise handling despite its small sensor.

2. Sony RX10 IV

Sony RX10 IV Review

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV camera delivers an incredible zoom range and uses a stacked sensor design and phase detection focus for 24fps image capture.

If money is no object, the Sony RX10 IV is one of the best bridge cameras on the market. Though it comes with a premium price tag, this is the most capable bridge camera we’ve tested, with a 20-megapixel 1-inch sensor and a built-in Zeiss zoom lens.

With a long focal length range that covers 24-600mm (full-frame equivalent), you can shoot everything from landscapes to close-ups of far-away subjects. It’s also weather-sealed against moisture and dust, giving you an added level of protection.

The camera can shoot at a remarkably fast 24 fps to capture bursts of fast-moving subjects. It also boasts an amazing phase-detect AF system that performs especially well when tracking subjects in video, rarely losing focus.

Out-of-camera image quality is excellent, with accurate colors and crisp detail even as you raise the ISO, although noise handling is just okay when shooting in RAW at higher ISO values. The camera also has a long battery life and feels incredibly comfortable to shoot with.

3. Nikon COOLPIX P1000

Nikon Coolpix P1000 Review

The Nikon Coolpix P1000 has the longest zoom of any fixed lens camera yet, but it takes a good deal of skill to master.

You may also like: The 6 Best Compact Cameras Of 2022

The Nikon COOLPIX P1000 is the bridge camera to buy if you’re looking for sheer zoom range. Its built-in lens has a remarkable 125x zoom, allowing you to zoom in to a maximum full-frame equivalent focal length of 3,000mm.

It’s so long that it can capture details on the surface of the moon, though it’s also suitable for landscapes or everyday photos at shorter focal lengths.

The camera’s out-of-camera image quality is good. However, it doesn’t perform well in low light due to its small sensor, as photos begin to lose sharpness and gain visual noise at moderate and higher ISO levels.

On the upside, it has a fully articulated screen to help you compose shots from a tripod, and it feels well-built. It can take bursts of seven photos at a speed of 7 fps to capture fast-moving subjects like birds, and it has a 60s minimum shutter speed for long-exposure photography.

4. Canon PowerShot SX70 HS

Canon PowerShot SX70 HS Review

The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS captures views ranging from ultra-wide to extreme telephoto. It’s a solid camera for wildlife observers, families, and shutterbugs in search of a lightweight bridge model.

The best bridge camera that we’ve tested with a more portable design is the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS. It’s relatively small and lightweight, and it feels very comfortable to shoot with, thanks to its intuitive menu system, large handgrip, and simple control scheme.

It also has a fully articulated screen to help you shoot from different angles, though it lacks touch capability.

Its built-in lens has a very long 21-1365mm equivalent focal length, so you can easily zoom in on very far-away subjects or take wider-angle landscape shots. It delivers fairly good image quality, with a ton of dynamic range to pull out more details in highlights and shadows.

It has a decent autofocus system that’s particularly effective at tracking moving objects. The camera also has a quick 10 fps burst speed, so you can fire off quick bursts to capture fast-moving action.

5. Panasonic LUMIX FZ80

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 Review

Panasonic’s Lumix DC-FZ80 camera gives you a ton of zoom for not much money, and includes support for Raw images and 4K video.

You may also like: The 6 Best Mirrorless Cameras For Beginners Of 2022 

The best bridge camera we’ve tested for those on a budget is the Panasonic LUMIX FZ80. It has a simple, easy-to-use menu system, and it’s relatively portable as far as bridge cameras go.

Its built-in lens has a 20-1200mm equivalent focal length, giving you a long zoom range to shoot with, whether you want to take wide-angle landscapes or zoom in on far-away subjects.

The camera delivers adequate image quality with a great amount of dynamic range at its base ISO. That said, the image quality noticeably degrades as you raise the ISO, so it’s not well-suited to shooting at night or in low light.

It can shoot at a fast 11 fps in its high-speed burst mode, and its autofocus does a good job of tracking moving objects, though it struggles to track moving faces. It also has a unique ‘4k PHOTO’ mode that pulls stills out of 30 fps 4k video capture if you want to capture very fast-moving action.