Forget the Hype, a Bridge Camera May Be All You Need
In a previous article, I shared my thoughts on what I considered to be ideal film cameras for different types of shooters. This was based on three factors that I consider important:
Your level of experience
Your level of enthusiasm
Your objective
Based on these factors, I grouped most film shooters into the following categories and recommended the corresponding film camera types:
The Drive-by Hobbyist: Point and Shoot cameras recommended.
The Casual Hobbyist: Bridge cameras, automatic and semi-automatic SLRs recommended.
The Enthusiast Hobbyist: Manual SLR and Rangefinders recommended.
The Super Hobbyist: All the above cameras, plus TLRs, medium format cameras and large format cameras.
However, recently, I have been observing a trend where certain cameras are overhyped to the point that beginners feel that is all they have to buy to be legit film shooters. This is wrong. If you are a beginner and wish to establish some form of credibility and skill in film photography, let this article be your sign that a bridge camera may be all you need.
What is a bridge camera? Bridge cameras are a special category of film cameras that combine the ease of use of a point-and-shoot camera with the advanced features of an SLR, such as a larger lens (to allow more light) and manual controls. Bridge cameras basically combine the best qualities of point-and-shoot cameras and SLRs into a more friendly and ergonomic design with a fixed non-interchangeable lens. Technically speaking, bridge cameras are fundamentally SLRs, as they do have a single lens and a mirror that reflects light from this lens to the viewfinder.
Here are the pros of going for a bridge camera as your first film camera:
Superior image quality compared to traditional point-and-shoots. Bridge camera with their larger lenses are able to produce large apertures (lower f stops) and wide depth of field that is on par with most SLRs. It stands to reason because the larger lenses translates to more light, which also translates to better low-light performance that the majority of point and shoot cameras.
Less hassle to operate. Unlike SLRs, they have a fixed, non-interchangeable lens. This, coupled with their automatic operations, offers a level of ease of use on par with point and shoot cameras. Although the lack of an interchangeable lens may appear as a negative at first glance, it is actually not much of a big deal in practical operational scenarios. You would find that bridge cameras are more ready to capture that spur-of-the-moment opportunity than your typical SLR, and that is very much a great thing in my books. Also, their design offers fewer potential failure points for the lens mounting system and reflex mirror than your typical SLR.
They are versatile. They were often fitted with zoom capabilities, reflected in their often elongated design. Additionally, they have a wide focal length range. For example, some versions of the Ricoh Mirai have a variable focal length of 35mm to 135mm, implying that it could be used for portraits at 135mm, candid and street photography at 50mm, and landscape photography at 35mm. Oh, and you can shoot both in manual and full auto mode with most bridge cameras!
They are underrated and affordable. This is perhaps the best reason why you should buy a bridge camera today. Bridge cameras, for some reason, have been so vilified, perhaps due to their unconventional looks and presentation, and as a result they are still very affordable. Simply put, they have not hit the hype train that certain cameras like the Canon AE1 have hit, and therefore are still for the most part very much underrated. Thus, you will not break the bank trying to get into film photography!
They are a great transition from digital cameras! Most beginners in film photography are often overwhelmed by the marked shift in mindset and skillset that film photography presents in comparison with digital photography. Film photography is an exercise in patience, and restraint. Film cameras are often more simplistic than digital cameras, and yet, they require more of the shooters input than your typical digital camera, with auto features designed to simplify user experience. Bridge cameras, were precursors to digital cameras and had innovative features that were later adopted by digital cameras. These include large electronic screens, auto zoom, digital controls, and advanced exposure controls. These features make for an easier transition to film for most beginners coming from digital photography.
In conclusion, bridge cameras may be vilified, often referred to as awkward-looking, or even ugly. However, in my opinion, their quirky designs hide a powerful set of features that may be all you need to get you started and be successful in film photography.