Bridge digital camera advice- very much appreciated!

[Laura234LJ]

I was thinking about getting a bridge digital camera, maybe something like the Nikon P90... What do people think about this camera? What other options are there with similar spec?

Thanks,

[parisian]

Welcome Laura.
There is a review (click on this) here. It is not over enthusuastic I'm afraid.
The cost of these bridge cameras while not as great as they were still puts them within a very few pounds of DSLRs which have very measurable performance benefits.
The huge zoom range sounds on paper to be a great blessing, however most ofyour photography will be done within a much narrower range and I am sure that you would prefer quality over quantity.
Packing so much into a camera body unfortunately tends to mean compromise after compromise and once you start printing your work you will see the effects.
For very similar money I would look seriously at the Canon G10 which has startlingly good reviews, picture quality to die for and is shown here
Ignore the Canon price. The street price is very similar to the P90 and to be honest it is a much better camera. Have a look in the Canon room above for comments. And no, I am not pushing Canon. I am a Nikon user myself but do recognise when someone does it better.
Good luck and show us some of your shots when you have decided which way to go.

[Manofolympus]

Generally, I would agree with Parisian-there is little point in spending this amount of money on a camera which is inferior to a similarly priced DSLR. As always, though, you need to consider what you may want to do with your photos-are they simply to put on the web and do the equivalent of of handing them round in the pub or will you want A3 prints on the wall? If the latter then a DSLR is the only real choice.
We recently bought a Fuji S5800 (cheap) for the eldest daughter to use for college work (she found a bag of lenses restricted the sandwiches and crisps she could carry). I was not expecting fireworks but have been pleasantly surprised by the images it has produced. Certainly for her purposes (images for stop motion animation, digital art bases etc) it has worked very well. Perhaps if you see this as a 'try out' camera to see how you like it this might be a better route-spend less now and if you like it get something better later

[Zak52]

I would support the two previous posts, bought my G10 a couple of weeks ago at John Lewis for £399. Makes a good back-up to my D200 when I don't want to carry the whole kit and caboodle.

[Learning]

This is difficult to answer on the Nikon forum although I am a Nikon user. Bridge cameras have severe limitations, but DSLRs are bulky especially with their large retrofocus designed lenses. You might find something that is not a bridge, and is not a DSLR, and not even a compact. Unfortuneately you will find it in discussed in the Olly rather than Nikon area of this forum.

[Towershot]

Canon G10 ,as Peter says if you are wanting a good compact with decent photos.

[Learning]

Canon G10 ,as Peter says if you are wanting a good compact with decent photos.

I was thinking more along the lines of micro four thirds. Personally I would not buy the first and only version, but give the format a year and they will make the conventional bridge obsolete.