YES! They are!
While there are phone cameras, point and shoot cameras, this blog post is about bridge cameras. I will discuss the cameras that our two daughters used on our trip to South Africa last year, and the images they were able to capture with this kind of gear. However, do read on to get more insights.
Netra and I are often asked by potential workshop attendees whether their cameras are suitable to attend one of our bird photography workshops or field trips. There are many things to consider, but the truth is, that just about any camera can take a good image of a wild, unhabituated animal. The secret is to know the limitations of yours and not get too upset if it is not allowing you to take advantage of every shooting scenario that presents itself.
Some cameras will struggle in low light situations, or action photography, or subject tracking when compared to high-end offerings. Generally speaking, in wildlife photography, the more money you spend on your equipment, the more suitable it will be to cover just about any scenario encountered in the wilderness. Of course, you still need to learn how to use this equipment and not just buy it, then go out to shoot wildlife indiscriminately. We have seen far too many folks with expensive gear who simply haven’t put the time in learning how it all works, then they think the equipment is not working well. But the truth of the matter is, it’s the photographer’s own fault. A bit like a poor tradesman always blames his tools; does that ring true?
But if you are afraid of failure, don’t be! You just need to know the limitations of the different types of cameras and then you can manage the expectation.
There are notable differences between camera model levels (where the camera sits in the manufacturer’s range of available cameras) and between different types of cameras.
What are bridge cameras?
These are much more suitable for a deeper dive into wildlife photography than point and shoot cameras (P&S) or phone cameras. Bridge cameras are kind of like a camera between P&S and DSLR/mirrorless cameras with a non-interchangeable lens. The fixed lens on a bridge camera will usually have an impressive zoom range. The features are more advanced than a P&S camera, but they will still be limited and will not quite make it easy in situations, where professional level cameras will still perform very well. Bridge cameras will give you far more useable and good images consistently and will hopefully keep you enthused for progressing along your wildlife photography journey and develop GAS – Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
Current (April 2025) notable brands and models are:
Before we took the girls (18 and 20-years old) on the trip, we figured we needed to upgrade their equipment, as previously they were using old Canon EOS 5D (first series) bodies with simple zoom lenses, not so ideal for wildlife in a local park, let alone on a safari.
While our holiday was mainly to see family and friends, we wanted to incorporate wildlife photography too. As everyone knows, when you go to Africa, you’d be crazy to miss the astonishingly beautiful and varied wildlife that abounds.
We researched bridge cameras and decided to buy each of the girls a Canon Powershot SX70HS camera. This camera offers a very impressive optical zoom from 21mm to 1,365mm. That’s a huge zoom range and we knew the girls would do OK in the field using this outfit.
Benefits of bridge cameras
- They are usually cheaper than a mirrorless or DSLR camera,
- They often have a large zoom range,
- They have good features for more serious photography enthusiasts,
- They are lighter, thus easily portable.
Limitations of bridge cameras
- Image quality does not match a mirrorless or DSLR camera,
- At the longer end of its zoom range the image quality is not always great,
- Limited range of apertures,
- Usually, they often have a low native ISO sensitivity,
- They have an electronic viewfinder, thus drain batteries faster.
Side-by-side comparison images
I must say, the girls did very well, considering they used their newly acquired bridge cameras, while Netra and I opted for our professional grade equipment. Our primary wildlife photography equipment consists of the following cameras and lenses:
OM System OM-1 mirrorless camera body
M.Zuiko 300mm f/4 Pro telephoto lens
I will post comparison images from their selections and ours too, so you can see for yourself. It takes more practice and patience, but with focus, effort and a bit of dedication, these simpler cameras can still deliver the goods.
In Summary
Are bridge cameras as good as a professional set-up? Absolutely not! But the good news is that with some thought and practice and a bit of effort, you too could take really pleasing images if that’s the only camera you could afford to buy at this point in time of your photography journey.
We are so proud of the girls, for they can show that you don’t always need super expensive, high-end photography gear to make good images and happy memories of wildlife you have encountered in the field.
If you wanted to improve your photography skills or want to go on a photography adventure, why not join us?