Top five bridge cameras for 2021

Bridge cameras bridge the gap between compact digital cameras and DSLRs. Easier to use than a DSLR, they offer more advanced features and manual controls than you find on standard compact camera. They have versatile lenses with a powerful optical zoom capability – some models offer whooping zooms of up to 50x.

This makes them a good choice for photographers who like the simplicity of a compact camera but want more scope in lens focal range and creative manual features, without the fuss of multiple lenses like with a DSLR.

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Pricing, recommendations and test scores correct as of January 2021.

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Our tests go further than those carried out by other organisations, and because Which? is independent and does not accept advertising or freebies, you can trust our reviews to give you the full, honest and impartial truth about a product.

Which? tests more than 100 cameras a year from brands such as Canon, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony.  We put every model through our rigorous lab tests to make sure we can recommend the best camera for you.

There's nothing more important with a camera than the quality of the pictures it takes and that's why when we test cameras we take indoor shots, outdoor shots and put the flash and zoom through its paces. This lets us give you clear advice on which camera can take superb photos and videos, or which ones will give you blurred lines and sub-standard quality. 

But we also go beyond picture quality. Will the automatic scene modes and auto-focus give you a decent snap? Can you see what you're shooting on the viewfinder and how easy is the camera to use? We have the answers to your questions.