The best bridge camera in 2024: ultra-zoom cameras for far off subjects (2024)

The best bridge camera combines the convenience of a compact camera with the zoom of a telephoto lens and the ergonomics of a DSLR. In fact they look and feel pretty similar to a DSLR, but they have a fixed lens and usually a massive zoom range –sometimes all the way up to 3000mm, which is a lens doesn't even exist for a traditional camera system!

This hybrid performance makes the best bridge cameras great for capturing wildlife, sports, or even astrophotography –and they won't cost you the earth. The enormous zoom covers everything from wide-angle landscape shots to detailed images of a single bird in the distance. Combined with fast burst speeds and 4K video, this can make them perfect for family, travel, and animal photography –but the massive zoom capability comes with a few compromises.

The main one is that image sensors in bridge cameras are smaller than those in the best DSLRs and best mirrorless cameras. They generally offer lower resolution, have less dynamic range and don't perform as well in low light. The fixed lens offers huge zoom, but doesn't shoot genres like macro photography –and combined with the smaller sensor, makes it harder to blur backgrounds for things like portraits.

Despite the limitations, bridges are still incredibly useful. You get a whole lot of bang for your buck and they put a lot of power in the hands of even inexperienced cameras users. Here are the best bridge cameras based on size, features, zoom reach, portability, and price…

Our top picks

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Best bridge cameras in 2024

Best image quality

Even though the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV is the most expensive camera on our list, it has a high price tag for a reason. The most exciting upgrade from the RX10 III is the 315-point phase-detect AF system, which makes it much better at tracking moving subjects.It's also the first RX10 with a touchscreen.

Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity make it possible to share images to your smartphone on the move and, while the 24-600mm lens might not offer the biggest focal range, the fantastic 1-inch Sony sensor delivers arguably the best image quality of any camera here.

It's capable of 24fps continuous burst shooting as well as 4K video, making it a versatile and powerful all-round performer –even though you'll need to dig a little deeper into your funds.

Read our full Sony RX10 IV review

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Biggest zoom

I've never owned a bridge camera in my life, but as soon as I used the P1000 I knew that I wanted one! For me, the all-in-one zoom range is the most important thing on a bridge –and at its max zoom, the Nikon P1000 has an astonishing 3000mm focal length. Even if such a lens were available for a mirrorless camera (and even if it was affordable), the ability to go from shooting at 24mm all the way to 3000mm in a matter of seconds, without having to switch lenses, it simply incredible.

When shooting at the telephoto end, you do lose 3 full stops –taking the aperture down from a solid f/2.8 to a less impressive f/8. And at longer focal lengths there is a noticeable softness in images, even with the best camera technique (aided by impressive image stabilization). This isn't helped by the sensor being a relatively small 1/2.3-inch affair, and just 16MP at that.

Still, the P1000 boasts a high-resolution electronic viewfinder, 4K video capabilities and it shoots in RAW –and did I mention that its maximum zoom is three thousand millimeters? Okay, it's a high price for not a lot of sensor, but if range is your top priority then there's nothing better out there.

Read our full Nikon P1000 review

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Cheapest option

Kodak continues to play to a niche but potentially still a sizeable audience of photographers who competing brands have moved on from, with the Pixpro AZ528 all-in-one ‘superzoom’ while others have abandoned the area.

The huge 52x zoom still comes in very handy not just for budding wildlife photographers but also for casual sports photography fans, which makes this an incredibly versatile camera. However, it’s still saddled with a small-ish sensor and any camera like this means softer results when shooting handheld the further we creep towards its maximum zoom setting.

Read our full Kodak PIXPRO AZ528 review

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Best for portability

On paper, the SX70 HS looks a close rival to the Panasonic FZ82 (below), offering a slightly longer maximum zoom and nearly matching the Panasonic's wide-angle setting. But its f/3.4-6.5 maximum aperture range is on the low side and its 20MP resolution can't overcome the limitations of the small 1/2.3-inch sensor size.

The SX70 does handle well and it's not that big for a bridge camera, but the opposition has moved on, with bigger zoom ranges, bigger sensors, or lower price points. The SX70 HS offers solid enough specifications but at a price point that makes its rivals look more tempting.

Read our full Canon PowerShot SX70 HS review

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Best overall value

The Coolpix P950 was a successor to the P900, and showed Nikon's ambition to have the biggest zoom on a bridge camera – a record-breaking baton now held by its bigger brother the Coolpix P1000 (above). Nonetheless, the lens on the P950 remains impressive, boasting 83x optical zoom with an equivalent focal length range of 24-2000mm – and if this somehow isn't enough for you, it can be digitally extended to 4000mm.

The P950 added a lot of features that people felt were missing or subpar on the P900: it improves the viewfinder, adds RAW capture and ups the maximum video resolution to 4K. The only reason it's not further up the list is its small sensor size – and that it now stands somewhat in the shadow of the P1000.

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Best for video

Panasonic won many people over with the FZ1000, with its 1-in sensor, 25-400mm (Equiv.) f/2.8-4 zoom lens, 4K video, and masses of control making it a fine DSLR alternative. The FZ2500 (sold as the FZ2000 in Europe) delivers plenty more, including a slightly longer lens, touch-screen control, and an electronic viewfinder with a slightly higher magnification than before, but it's in the video where Panasonic has made the most significant improvements.

So, here we get DCI 4K video and a variable ND filter, for example, although the latter can, of course, be used for stills too. The lack of weather sealing is a pity, but its falling price, together with the occasional cashback deal, makes it a brilliant-value competitor to models in Sony's RX10 series.

See our full Panasonic Lumix FZ2500 / FZ2000 review

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How to choose the best bridge cameras

Firstly, you need to decide on how to balance the size of the camera you want to carry to the range of the zoom. While a bigger sensor is advantageous, it does mean that often you'll have a smaller zoom range so you'll need to decide what's more important - image quality or the amount you can zoom. Depending on what you plan on shooting most will determine what should be more important. If you are investing in a bridge camera to take on Safari, for example, it might be a good idea to opt for something with the biggest zoom range possible but if you want a versatile, all-rounder and can forgo a 1000mm zoom I'd definitely opt for image quality.

You'll also need to think about how much you're willing to spend. The bigger sensors do come at a higher price tag but often have features that make it worth it. For this reason, we've split the guide into 1-inch sensor bridge cameras with a smaller zoom range and 1/2.3-inch sensor bridge cameras with a massive zoom range and average picture quality.

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Best bridge cameras: FAQs

How we test the best bridge cameras

We test bridge cameras in real-world conditions - using the camera to shoot images in a range of different lighting conditions to see how they perform. Our team of reviewers has collectively tested hundreds of different models - and benchmark performance against results from current rivals and previous models. We pay particular attention to overall image quality - and to the detail captured in particular throughout the zoom range. These cameras are designed to be easy to use, so we also pay special attention to the ergonomics and handling of each of the models we test.

See more on how we test products at Digital Camera World.

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We test point-and-shoot cameras in real-world conditions - using the camera to shoot images in a range of different lighting conditions to see how they perform. Our reviewers have collectively tested hundreds of different models - and benchmark performance against results from current rivals and previous models. We pay particular attention to overall image quality - and to the detail captured in particular. These cameras are designed to be easy to use, and portable, so we also pay special attention to the ergonomics and handling of each of the models we test.

See more on how we test products at Digital Camera World

We test point-and-shoot cameras in real-world conditions - using the camera to shoot images in a range of different lighting conditions to see how they perform. Our reviewers have collectively tested hundreds of different models - and benchmark performance against results from current rivals and previous models. We pay particular attention to overall image quality - and to the detail captured in particular. These cameras are designed to be easy to use, and portable, so we also pay special attention to the ergonomics and handling of each of the models we test.

See more on how we test products at Digital Camera World

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