Hi guys,
I want to get more serious about photography (I mean, do better than crappy snaps on my phone or old, old point and shoot). Do you think I should consider a bridge camera? I like the idea that a lot of them have great zoom and are cheaper than DSLRs (cos you don't need to buy different lenses). I was thinking of trying to photograph some birds or other animals, and some nice landscapes.
Sorry, total noob here.
Thanks!
Maybe do a tafe course as well.
Get an entry level DSLR kit with a kit lens. You don't need the latest and greatest. That will allow you to explore your interest… from there you can upgrade your glass (eg. $100 50mm 1.8 if you go canon) if the kit lens is limiting you.
Leave it in Manual mode, get your head around the exposure triangle… and learn to create the picture in your mind, before you change the settings and press the shutter… That way your shots won't be an accident, and you will be a better photographer (Though admittedly, some of my favourite shots have been accidental).
Good luck!
Bridge cameras are good if you are concerned about size. Otherwise an DSLR or a mirror less (with twin lens kit if you want will get nicer photos and you will not grow out of it as quickly. Depends on how much $$ you wanna splash of course.
Unless you spend the money to get a good bridge camera like the Sony RX10 or Panasonic FZ1000 you're going to be stuck with a camera that is a bunch of compromises - image quality won't be much of an improvement over a good p&s, poor low-light performance and average autofocus in a camera that is similar size to a dslr. Most bridge cameras have a sensor similar in size to a compact, so the image quality isn't much of an improvement, they just have a longer zoom.
All cameras are a compromise, so you need to make a list of what is most important to you in terms of - cost, size, image quality, low light performance, action performance, video abilities, future-proofing etc. and then work out the best fit.
For shooting landscapes you will need a wide-angle lens and a camera that can capture fine detail. Wildlife / animals etc generally needs a good zoom lens to get in nice and close. Autofocus abilities will also come into play - landscapes don't move so they're easy, but animals can move so if you're trying to catch birds in flight, or your pet dog / cat running around, then continuous autofocus and continuous shooting will be important.
If you buy a dslr or mirrorless camera then you have some flexibility to upgrade things over time, like adding lenses or upgrading bodies, whereas with a bridge camera you can't really do much so you need to buy right to start with.
Canon SX50 HS has 50X optical zoom, and provides some very impressive bird pics. As bridging cameras go, it will do all you want it to very well.
Regardless of what camera you end up getting, learn from the start to use it in manual mode.
I wouldn't recommend spending money on a bridge camera. Photography is more than just zoom, it's to do with controlling aperture, exposure and film speed. Why not start with an entry level DSLR with lens kit from Nikon or Canon. Most of the time the 2 lens from the lens kit would be good enough.