Maximize Your Birding Potential with a Bridge Camera
How a superzoom bridge camera can enhance your birding experience
Bill Harris
December 28, 2024
Note: This tip comes from Audubon’s article- How to Capture Photos That Will Catch the Audubon Photography Awards Judges’ Attention
Photograph by Bryan Pfeiffer - Bridge camera photo of an Osprey.
As a former birding guide, this photographer photographed birds with everything from his smartphone to point-and-shoots to “serious” (and heavy) camera gear.
But when he would rather be more attentive to birds while still getting great photos, he heads out with his binoculars and a bridge camera.
Screenshot by Bird Photography Tips—This example bridge camera uses a Leica lens with an equivalent focal length of 25-400mm. It also has a built-in optical image stabilizer, and the package is very lightweight. This camera retails for around $800.
QT #1 - Generally costing between $500 and $1,700, these mid-priced cameras “bridge the gap” between standard point-and-shoots and more advanced and expensive camera bodies with their arsenal of interchangeable lenses. They feature a fixed, versatile lens that gives bird photographers what we need most: zoom—far more than what’s standard on a phone or the 3x, 4x, or 10x zoom of a standard point-and-shoot camera.
Screenshot by Bird Photography Tips
A typical DSLR bird photography kit will include a much heavier camera, a large and heavy lens, and a heavy tripod.
Photograph by Pexels – This photographer is traveling light with a bridge camera and smaller lighter weight tripod capable of keeping a bridge camera steady.
QT #2 – If you are just getting into bird photography a quality bridge camera can give you the tools that you need for far less than a DSLR or mirrorless system. Additionally, if you have physical limitations, you will welcome the far less weight that this option provides you.
Want more? If you want to learn more about bird photography, and capture beautiful shots of your own, we recommend downloading and printing out Photzy’s 10 Bird Photography Cheat Sheets (Special bonus available now!)