Today I’m gonna talk about 5 best bridge cameras for bird photography. They may not be able to match an expensive DSLR with a super telephoto lens, but are great if you wanna start with bird photography and don’t wanna invest lakhs in gear. Also telephoto lenses are heavy and can be a pain to carry in a forest area. So a point and shoot will be light weight and cost effective, and can give you sharp and superzoom images too. So here are the 5 bridge cameras for bird photography.
1. Nikon Coolpix P1000
I guess, the Nikon Coolpix P1000 is the world’s longest zoom bridge camera with a massive 125x optical zoom, i.e. its focal length range is equivalent to 24-3000mm in 35mm terms. So if you want such high focal length, the P1000 may be your only choice. Plus its electronic viewfinder, 4K video capacity, and RAW support, gives it the No 1 spot in my list. This does come at a cost though as it is priced at around Rs 63950 on Amazon.
- Optical Zoom – 125x
- ISO Range – 100 – 6400
- Image Resolution – 16 MP
- Video Resolution – 4K UHD video at 3840×2160
- Manufacturer Warranty – 2 years
- Maximum Shutter Speed – 1/4000
- Weight – 1415 g
- Display Size – 3.2 inches
Nikon Coolpix P1000 – https://amzn.to/2QRzD0H

2. Nikon Coolpix P900
If you want the features of the P1000 at a lesser price, you may go for the Nikon Coolpix P900 for Rs 29379. It may not have RAW support and 4K video recording capacity of the P1000, but the P900 has 83x optical zoom, a super cool manual mode, and a 16MP CMOS sensor. I have personally seen many wildlife photographers use this camera and it works great!
- Optical Zoom – 83x
- ISO Range – 100 – 6400
- Image Resolution – 16 MP
- Video Resolution – Full HD video at 1920×1080
- Manufacturer Warranty – 2 years
- Maximum Shutter Speed – 1/4000
- Weight – 899 g
- Display Size – 3 inches
Nikon Coolpix P900 – https://amzn.to/3asEVYB

3. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V is a premium super-zoom camera that features 50x optical zoom (24-1200mm), 20.4 megapixel CMOS sensor, 1920×1080 50p Full HD video recording capacity, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, and built-in GPS. The features that may be very useful for bird photography include 10fps burst shooting mode, ISO range of 100-12,800, full manual shooting modes, and high-speed autofocusing. Price on Amazon Rs 28990.
- Optical Zoom – 50x
- ISO Range – 100 – 12800
- Image Resolution – 20.4 MP
- Video Resolution – Full HD video at 1920×1080
- Manufacturer Warranty – 2 years
- Maximum Shutter Speed – 1/4000
- Weight – 660 g
- Display Size – 3 inches
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V – https://amzn.to/3bfI2Tc

4. Panasonic FZ82
After the Nikon P900 and P1000, the Panasonic FZ82 may look pretty ordinary, but it is definitely worth considering. It features 60x optical zoom, 4K video recording capacity, 18.1MP resolution, and touch-enabled LCD display. It has a unique ‘Post Focus’ feature that allows you set your desired focus points after the photo has been taken. Price on Amazon is Rs 41999.
- Optical Zoom – 60x
- ISO Range – 100 – 3200
- Image Resolution – 18.1 MP
- Video Resolution – 4K UHD video at 3840×2160
- Manufacturer Warranty – 1 year
- Maximum Shutter Speed – 1/16000
- Weight – 616 g
- Display Size – 3 inches
Panasonic FZ82 – https://amzn.to/2xeLgI2

5. Canon PowerShot SX540 HS
The PowerShot SX540 HS has an incredible 50x optical zoom which can be further extended to 100x using Canon’s unique ZoomPlus technology. Priced at Rs 19514 on Amazon India, it can constitute a budget friendly birding companion.
- Optical Zoom – 50x
- ISO Range – 100 – 3200
- Image Resolution – 20.3 MP
- Video Resolution – Full HD video at 1920×1080
- Manufacturer Warranty – 2 years
- Maximum Shutter Speed – 1/2000
- Weight – 442 g
- Display Size – 3 inches
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS – https://amzn.to/37p0EOH

So guys here are 5 amazing compact cameras that you can buy to get started with bird photography. I hope my guide helps you in making your purchase decision. If you have any questions, do leave them down below. I’ll definitely answer your queries. Thank you!
Related Post – Top 5 Entry Level DSLRs for Beginners
CONNECT WITH ME:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/agarwalsonika7
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agarwalsonika/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/agarwalsonika7/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonikatravels/