Bridge cameras

Prosumer or Bridge digital cameras form a general group of higher end LPDs that physically resemble dSLR cameras and share with these some advanced features but share with compacts the same basic LPD design. Traditionally dSLRs are considered much more professional than bridge cameras which have so far been prosumer or at best semi-professional. However since the introduction of the Canon EOS Digital Rebel (a small-sized, low-priced dSLR introduced in 2003) and what followed it of similar entry-level dSLRs from different manufacturers, a new class of dSLR has emerged and the distinction between bridge versus dSLR as prosumer versus professional cameras has become less black and white than it used to be. The new class of dSLRs can be described as consumer (compared to the higher classes of dSLRs), while the top bridge cameras remain prosumer (compared to compact LPDs). A Comparison between the bridge and entry-level dSLRs would reveal that they are on par. The name prosumer from professional (or producer) and consumer, means a professional-consumer or a producer-consumer (who is involved somehow in the production of the product that they consume).

Bridge cameras tend to have long- or ultrazoom lens, which compromises -in varying degrees, depending on the quality of the zoom lens- a "do it all" ability with barrel distortion and pincushioning. Prosumer cameras are sometimes marketed as and confused with digital SLR cameras since the bodies resemble each other. The distinguishing characteristics are that prosumer cameras lack the mirror and reflex system of dSLRs, have so far been always produced with only one single sealed (non-interchangeable) lens (but accessory wide angle or telephoto converters can be attached to the front of the sealed lens), can usually take movies, record audio and the scene composition is done with either the liquid crystal display or the electronic viewfinder (EVF). The overall performance tends to be slower than a true digital SLR, but they are capable of very good image quality while being more compact and lighter than DSLRs. The high-end models of this type have comparable resolutions to low and mid-range DSLRs. Many of the these cameras can save in JPEG or .RAW format.