At one time, bridge cameras were a popular option for photographers who wanted big zoom power without the expense or hassle of an SLR with interchangeable lenses. Today, smartphones offer decent zoom, but if you want an affordable camera for wildlife and field sports, a bridge camera is still a good option, though there are only a handful available new. I’ve tested dozens of bridge cameras over the last decade-plus, and personally have a keen interest in bird and wildlife photography, and think the Nikon Coolpix P950 provides the best balance of price, performance, and carry weight for outdoor photographers.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
March 3, 2026: With this update, we removed the discontinued Canon PowerShot SX70 HS and added the Nikon Coolpix P1100. The rest of our picks have been vetted for currency and availability.
- Huge 60x zoom range.
- Fast autofocus.
- 10fps Raw capture.
- 30fps 4K Photo capture.
- Touch LCD.
- Sharp EVF.
- Wi-Fi.
- No EVF eye sensor.
- Fixed rear LCD.
- Limited Raw buffer.
- Omits 24fps video capture.
- Telephoto video shows wobble effect.
The Panasonic FZ80’s extra-wide 20-1,200mm zoom lens means it can handle everything from landscapes and architecture to wildlife. This camera doesn’t require much user effort to produce attractive results, at least in bright light. It also includes some better-than-budget features, such as an eye-level viewfinder, 4K video capabilities, a touch screen, and the option to snap Raw photos.
Families: The FZ80’s zoom lens is useful for a wide variety of scenes. It’s a good camera for family vacations or a day out at the zoo, its lens zooms out for epic landscapes and goes in tight to get a good look at animals in the wild. It’s not a good choice for use in dim light, your smartphone will do a better job there.
Nature and wildlife photographers: The 1,200mm zoom lens can get photos of birds and animals in the wild, and focuses close up for macros of flowers and insects. It’s a good camera to take out on a hike or to a national park, and isn’t nearly as heavy to carry as a mirrorless camera with a big zoom lens.
Dimensions
3.7 by 5.1 by 4.7 inches
Weight
1.4 lb
Type
Superzoom
Sensor Resolution
18 MP
Sensor Type
BSI CMOS
Sensor Size
1/2.3″ (6.2 x 4.6mm)
Memory Card Slots
1
Memory Card Format
SDXC (UHS-I)
Battery Type
Panasonic DMW-BMB9PP
Minimum ISO
80
Maximum ISO
6400
35mm Equivalent (Wide)
20 mm
35mm Equivalent (Telephoto)
1200 mm
Optical Zoom
60 x
Stabilization
Optical
Display Size
3 inches
Display Resolution
1.04 million dots
Viewfinder Type
EVF
EVF Resolution
1.17 million dots
Connectivity
Wi-Fi, micro HDMI, micro USB
Video Resolution
4K
HDMI Output
Yes
Learn More
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 Review
- 83x zoom lens
- Strong image stabilization
- Manual controls
- Raw imaging and 4K video
- EVF and vari-angle LCD
- Mic input and accessory shoe
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Autofocus struggles with small and fast-moving subjects
- LCD doesn’t support touch
- Larger and heavier than competitors
Nikon’s second-generation 83x zoom camera, the Coolpix P950, is a refinement of the P900. This model is more responsive, adds Raw photo and 4K video support, and boasts a better burst mode. The lens, which covers a staggering 24-2,000mm range, is the real star; it zooms in further than almost every other camera, a plus if you’re trying to get pictures of distant subjects, while still offering wide angle coverage in line with standard zoom lenses and the main lens on many smartphones.
Bird and wildlife photographers: The Coolpix P950 can tackle many types of scenes, but is almost purpose built for wildlife and bird photographers. It 2,000mm telephoto reach is more than enough for a tight view of songbirds in branches, a deer in your backyard, or a day at the zoo, it gets you closer to distant subjects than any smartphone.
Nature and travel photographers: You can get great macro images and landscapes with the P950, it’s a good camera to take on a vacation, a trip to a national park, or to grab for a nature hike.
Dimensions
4.3 by 5.5 by 5.9 inches
Weight
2.2 lb
Type
Superzoom
Sensor Resolution
16 MP
Sensor Type
CMOS
Sensor Size
1/2.3″ (6.2 x 4.6mm)
Memory Card Slots
1
Memory Card Format
SDXC (UHS-I)
Battery Type
Nikon EN-EL20a
Minimum ISO
100
Maximum ISO
6400
35mm Equivalent (Wide)
24 mm
35mm Equivalent (Telephoto)
2000 mm
Optical Zoom
83 x
Stabilization
Optical
Display Size
3.2 inches
Display Resolution
921600 dots
Viewfinder Type
EVF
EVF Resolution
2.36 million dots
Connectivity
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Microphone (3.5mm), micro USB, micro HDMI
Video Resolution
4K
HDMI Output
Yes
Learn More
Nikon Coolpix P950 Review
- Amazing 125x zoom lens
- Useful 7fps burst capture mode
- Eye-level viewfinder and articulating LCD
- Supports Raw photos and 4K video
- Includes built-in flash
- Autofocus can’t keep up with active birds
- Omits weather protection
- Rear LCD doesn’t support touch input
- Heavier than many full-frame cameras
The Nikon Coolpix P1100 is an audacious camera. It has more zoom power than most photographers actually need, and is unabashedly heavy for its class. It’s an edge case recommendation for sure, but if you want to get tight views of a full moon or pick out tiny songbirds from across a field, the P1100 could be the ticket.
Birders: The P1100 feels like it is purpose-made for bird photography. There aren’t many other genres that call for as much zoom power, and while the camera is bulky, it’s nothing when compared with a big 150-600mm zoom and interchangeable lens camera. We think that most wildlife specialists will be OK with the P950, but for those who want more zoom power, the P1100 is the obvious choice.
Dimensions
4.7 by 5.8 by 7.1 inches
Weight
3.1 lb
Type
Superzoom
Sensor Resolution
16 MP
Sensor Type
CMOS
Sensor Size
Type 1/2.3
Memory Card Slots
1
Memory Card Format
SDXC (UHS-I)
Battery Type
Nikon EN-EL20a
Minimum ISO
100
Maximum ISO
6400
35mm Equivalent (Wide)
24 mm
35mm Equivalent (Telephoto)
3000mm
Optical Zoom
125 x
Stabilization
Optical
Display Size
3.2 inches
Display Resolution
921000 dots
Viewfinder Type
EVF
EVF Resolution
2.4 million dots
Connectivity
Wi-Fi, micro HDMI, Microphone (3.5mm), Bluetooth, Remote (Nikon MB-DC2)
Video Resolution
4K
HDMI Output
Yes
Learn More
Nikon Coolpix P1100 Review
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Buying Guide: The Best Bridge Cameras for 2026
Small Sensor, Big Zoom
Current bridge cameras pack the same-sized sensors as pocket point-and-shoots and premium smartphones. You won’t see a significant jump in image quality compared with a pocket model, but you can still enjoy zoom ratios above 50x. Most bridge cameras have a fixed lens attached to a mid-sized body, giving them the appearance and handling characteristics of an SLR or mirrorless camera, thanks to their sizable handgrips and eye-level electronic viewfinders.
We recommend the Panasonic FZ80D as an affordable, general-purpose bridge camera. It’s quite capable, and while its $550 asking price is higher than when it was introduced, it reflects an industry-wide pricing uptick. I reviewed the previous version, the FZ80, and the only changes in the new edition are a sharper LCD and USB-C charging port.
Nikon Coolpix P950 (Credit: Jim Fisher)
You can go longer when it comes to zoom—the Nikon P950’s 83x zoom lens covers a 24-2,000mm range—but image quality at the extreme telephoto isn’t as good as it is at wider angles, and the autofocus system struggles with tiny, quick subjects (like athletes on a far-away sports field). Even so, the extra reach is a big plus for bird photography, and while the P950 is big, it’s not huge.
How PCMag Tests Digital Cameras
Nikon also sells the P1100, an upgraded version of its P1000. The two share the longest lens of any camera, an incredible 24-3,000mm (125x) zoom, Raw image capture, and 4K video recording. On the other hand, both are huge, heavy, and expensive, and are decidedly not for everyone. They’ve been a hit with birders and others who want to get views of really distant subjects, and are far less to carry versus telephoto lenses for mirrorless cameras, but the situations where a 3,000mm angle will get you a shot that the P950’s 2,000mm zoom won’t are few and far between.
What Happened to Type 1 Sensor Bridge Cams?
The bridge cameras made today all have relatively small Type 1/2.3 sensors, which make it possible to fit such impressive zoom power into a camera that’s reasonably easy to carry. That means they take a step back from smartphones and interchangeable-lens models in terms of picture quality. In the past, I’ve recommended photographers who want better picture quality opt instead for a Type 1 sensor bridge camera, but unfortunately, none are made today. Still, if you don’t mind shopping used, you should seek out a Panasonic FZ1000 II (25-400mm F2.8-4) or Sony RX10 IV (24-600mm F2.4-4), both have a leg up in picture quality and enough zoom power for a trip to the zoo or catching pictures of birds at your backyard feeder. These cameras aren’t made anymore, but the market shows they are in demand—the RX10 IV recently sold on eBay for around $2,000, more than the camera cost when it was in production.
Recommended by Our Editors
Choosing the Right Bridge Camera
The bridge camera that’s best for you depends on your budget, your image quality demands, and just how much zoom range you want. Our top pick for backyard wildlife spotters and family vacationers is the Panasonic FZ80D. It has an ultra-wide lens that’s ideal for landscapes and snapshots in front of famous landmarks, as well as enough zoom power to capture a songbird dining at your feeder. But it has limitations—it’s not the best tool for working in dim light, doesn’t offer weather protection, and can’t reliably focus on fast-moving subjects.
And for the edge cases—photographers who just want as much zoom power as possible—the aforementioned P950, or a P1100, respectively reach 2,000mm and 3,000mm. Just understand that both of these cameras are quite a bit to carry; their lenses are huge, and their bodies are sized like a compact SLR.
