The bridge camera is a form factor that is between a point-and-shoot and a DSLRA digital single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR) is a digital camera that combines the optics and the mechanisms of a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera with a digital imaging sensor. The reflex design scheme is the primary difference between a DSLR and other digital cameras. In the reflex design, light travels through the lens and then to a mirror that alternates to send the image to either the viewfinder or the image sensor. The viewfinder of a DSLR presents an image that will not differ substantially from what is captured by the camera's sensor but presents it as a direct optical view through the lens, rather than being captured by the camera's image sensor and displayed by a digital screen. DSLR is often (wrongly) used to describe cameras that are Micro Four Thirds or Bridge Camera - just because they look similar. This can bee seen when cameras are offered for sale. [rdp-wiki-embed url="http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/DSLR" toc_show='0′ edit_show='0′ infobox_show='1′] More, the sensors are often small sensors for the larger form factor, but bridges offer incredible zoom power very often at high lens speeds. They also tend to be very affordable new and used.