Comments on: That eternal question: SLR vs. bridge? http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml You tell that other boy, not to touch the woodwork... Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:31:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7-hemorrhage hourly 1 By: xtch3 http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-524456 xtch3 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:55:08 +0000 http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-524456 For some of us a bridge camera is the best choice. There seems to be an assumption that ALL photographers "REALLY" want an SLR, but can't afford them, are afraid they won't know how to use them, etc. The real truth is a lot of us using bridge cameras today have already been there, done that with the SLRs. I found it cumbersome to always have to have two or more lenses with me and try to juggle front and rear lens caps while changing lenses in less than ideal conditions. I got tired of carrying pounds and pounds of equipment. With my Panasonic FZ8, I have all the focal lengths I need all the time. I can carry it all day with nary a muscle twitch. I can see through the electronic viewfinder without my glasses (it's vision adjustable) and see exactly what will be in the picture, same as an SLR, without that momentary mirror-flipping blackout. I can easily change either the shutter speed or aperture, or both, with a touch of my thumb. The one and ONLY thing about it that I don't like is that on those rare occasions when I would like to manually focus, the "joystick" method just isn't anywhere near fine enough. I wish my camera had a real focusing ring. That's my only complaint. But the autofocus does such a great job 99% of the time that even that isn't really a big issue. This camera does so much more -- and so much more easily -- than my old film SLRs that I can't imagine ever going back. For some of us a bridge camera is the best choice. There seems to be an assumption that ALL photographers “REALLY” want an SLR, but can’t afford them, are afraid they won’t know how to use them, etc.

The real truth is a lot of us using bridge cameras today have already been there, done that with the SLRs. I found it cumbersome to always have to have two or more lenses with me and try to juggle front and rear lens caps while changing lenses in less than ideal conditions. I got tired of carrying pounds and pounds of equipment.

With my Panasonic FZ8, I have all the focal lengths I need all the time. I can carry it all day with nary a muscle twitch. I can see through the electronic viewfinder without my glasses (it’s vision adjustable) and see exactly what will be in the picture, same as an SLR, without that momentary mirror-flipping blackout. I can easily change either the shutter speed or aperture, or both, with a touch of my thumb.

The one and ONLY thing about it that I don’t like is that on those rare occasions when I would like to manually focus, the “joystick” method just isn’t anywhere near fine enough. I wish my camera had a real focusing ring. That’s my only complaint. But the autofocus does such a great job 99% of the time that even that isn’t really a big issue.

This camera does so much more — and so much more easily — than my old film SLRs that I can’t imagine ever going back.

]]> By: Alok http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-390094 Alok Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:24:24 +0000 http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-390094 Well!!! this article had done nothing but to confuse me more about the selection... now I'll have to do more research on this... :( Well!!! this article had done nothing but to confuse me more about the selection… now I’ll have to do more research on this… :(

]]> By: The Woodwork » Blog Archive » Running with cameras http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-382247 The Woodwork » Blog Archive » Running with cameras Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:58:13 +0000 http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-382247 [...] I carried that time was my Olympus bridge digital and a cheap toy video [...] [...] I carried that time was my Olympus bridge digital and a cheap toy video [...]

]]> By: The Woodwork » Blog Archive » Considering an entry level camera http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-1761 The Woodwork » Blog Archive » Considering an entry level camera Thu, 20 Apr 2006 01:22:51 +0000 http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-1761 [...] My point is that there are general philosophy differences in all the makes, those differences mean that every dSLR will behave differently. It is my fundamental belief that the differences will cause one of these cameras to speak to you more—for you to form a connection with it on a basic emotional level, not necessarily on intellectual one. [...] [...] My point is that there are general philosophy differences in all the makes, those differences mean that every dSLR will behave differently. It is my fundamental belief that the differences will cause one of these cameras to speak to you more—for you to form a connection with it on a basic emotional level, not necessarily on intellectual one. [...]

]]> By: The Woodwork » Blog Archive » Death of the Bridge? http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-1292 The Woodwork » Blog Archive » Death of the Bridge? Fri, 10 Mar 2006 02:34:00 +0000 http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-1292 [...] I talked about the bridge camera in an earlier article. My main contention is that bridge is often better for more people, but they’re going to buy dSLR anyway. [...] [...] I talked about the bridge camera in an earlier article. My main contention is that bridge is often better for more people, but they’re going to buy dSLR anyway. [...]

]]> By: The Woodwork » Blog Archive » SLR kit breaks $600 http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-1145 The Woodwork » Blog Archive » SLR kit breaks $600 Wed, 01 Feb 2006 23:37:33 +0000 http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-1145 [...] One thing I’ve noticed is that bridge cameras still hover around the $1000 I paid for them back in 1998. The cheapest dSLR camera back then was around $5000 for the body only. Now dSLRs are cheaper than bridges. [...] [...] One thing I’ve noticed is that bridge cameras still hover around the $1000 I paid for them back in 1998. The cheapest dSLR camera back then was around $5000 for the body only. Now dSLRs are cheaper than bridges. [...]

]]> By: The Woodwork » Blog Archive » Nikon posts record profits (again) http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-777 The Woodwork » Blog Archive » Nikon posts record profits (again) Wed, 16 Nov 2005 02:00:08 +0000 http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-777 [...] There is a little pressure however. For dSLRs, the lens selection favors certain mounts and some adapters. Once investment is sunk in the lens, it adds an activation energy to switch models. Familiarity in one particular set of design conventions and philosophies breeds contempt for competing ones. [...] [...] There is a little pressure however. For dSLRs, the lens selection favors certain mounts and some adapters. Once investment is sunk in the lens, it adds an activation energy to switch models. Familiarity in one particular set of design conventions and philosophies breeds contempt for competing ones. [...]

]]> By: The Woodwork » Blog Archive » APS-C vs 35mm http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-720 The Woodwork » Blog Archive » APS-C vs 35mm Tue, 25 Oct 2005 19:03:11 +0000 http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-720 [...] Why are you carrying a dSLR anyway? In most shooting situations, a bridge will do just as well. You are doing it for lower depth-of-field for candid portraiture, lower noise, a variety of lens choices. I hardly call a $3500 lens in the sweet spot of anybody’s budget. That is a big problem for Olympus. [...] [...] Why are you carrying a dSLR anyway? In most shooting situations, a bridge will do just as well. You are doing it for lower depth-of-field for candid portraiture, lower noise, a variety of lens choices. I hardly call a $3500 lens in the sweet spot of anybody’s budget. That is a big problem for Olympus. [...]

]]> By: tychay http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-694 tychay Wed, 19 Oct 2005 03:28:55 +0000 http://terrychay.com/blog/article/slr-vs-bridge.shtml#comment-694 <a href="http://www.xxeo.com/archives/2005/10/18/more-on-which-camera-to-get.html" title="More on Which Camera to Get—Dru’s Blog" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Dru’s take on it.</a> Dru’s take on it.

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