New forum needed for "bridge" cameras?

I suggest that it's time for a new forum to be started for the growing number of "bridge" class of cameras that has evolved.

For example, the SX series, and certainly not the SX40, are not "small compacts" and in many cases the users of such cameras are more experienced than those who have P&S pocket cameras. .

Don't know who makes these major forum decisions, but it would be interesting to get opinions.

Start posting and if the Admins determine there's enough demand, you might get your wish.

hmm, there should probably be further discussion on this.

canon classifies the SX40 as a Digital Compact Camera. Creating another forum may create some confusion on where to post superzoom related discussions as not all superzooms are "bridge cameras". Besides the SX40, the rest of the SX cameras are pretty small in size comparison. plus theres no clear definition on what a bridge camera is. does it bridge the gap between point and shoot and dslrs in terms of function or looks? if its function, then theres plenty of cameras to that can fit in the "bridge" forum. but if its based on function, the sx40 might not be considered as a bridge camera as it functions just like any other powershot with a bigger zoom. Creating an EVIL forum might be useful. but this is a Canon based forum, and even though people talk about m4/3 or nex cameras, its discussion volume is low in comparison to how much discussion goes on about powershots/elphs.

Yeah I think there should be 3 sections as well:

Basic compacts (A series, ELPH)- good place for beginners

S and SX series

G series (which will be different now with the new G1X)


But if Canon makes a new mirrorless camera based off the GX1 then perhaps it should have it's own category altogether. If that were the case I think the old G series should be merged with the S and maybe SX series.

DStanic wrote in post #13725840
Yeah I think there should be 3 sections as well:

Basic compacts (A series, ELPH)- good place for beginners

S and SX series

G series (which will be different now with the new G1X)


But if Canon makes a new mirrorless camera based off the GX1 then perhaps it should have it's own category altogether. If that were the case I think the old G series should be merged with the S and maybe SX series.

Thats always a concern if the forum is based on the product lines. the product lines will shift overtime. and the site will need to keep shifting. G series probably should get its own section. the G series section of this site has almost the same amount of threads as all of the point and shoot section combined.

And it depends on where you're coming from and where you're headed. I'm starting to look at my 7D as the "bridge" between my old full size Lumix superzoom and my Fuji X10.

The old rule for paper file organization is that if a single sub-category accounts for more than 10% of the total volume for that category, it deserves a separate file. It seems like the moderators have historically done a good job of recognizing when a specific topic deserves its own section.

Personally, I'd like to see the Wiki's integrated into the forums. Sticky's are based on the same idea but then they eventually become large and cumbersome to read.

I don't think there is enough users of SX cameras for a new thread I could see S cameras being moved and added to the G forum having a combined G & S series thread would be better IMO.

For many years now the PowerShot Pro1 has been in the G-series forum. For those not familiar with the Pro1, it was one of the earlier "bridge" cameras.

I think the SX40 fits PERFECTLY in the G-series forum along side the Pro1.

Regards,
GEWB

Teekay - Good idea, I think, though a "dedicated sticky" thread in "Small Compact Digitals" could work well, too. And might be easier for the staff to arrange.

However described - the long-zoom "bridge" cameras aren't going to go away - they're a niche market, sure - but it's a popular and widening 'niche'.

Not only for the P&S midrange folk moving up - but for some DSLR folk wanting or needing to move down.

The "bridge" concept was usually referring to a step or stage between upper range P&S and DSLR - though with the spread of the changeable lenses semi-compacts, that's blurring as a definition.

But this forum still has a lot of "bridge-zoom" discussion, on several threads - even back to S5, SX10 and SX20. Also comparative comments re other brands of bridge-zooms. I do that myself - though as a mod, elsewhere, I do feel I'm being a bit "off-topic" if not referring to Canon only.

Perhaps a dedicated "Bridge-Zooms in General" thread could allow such comparisons more freely. Of course, it's still going to be mostly about Canons, but comparisons could be made without folk like me feeling a bit uneasy about being "off-brand" if not exactly "off-topic".

There's going to be some controversy about Fuji's "New Category" of bridge-zooms, with their "Premium bridge-zoom", the X-S1. Canon and Nikon aren't going to "hang-about in the shadows" - if there's a market for a larger-sensor, many-functions, including Full and Std HD, RAW, Fast-Continuous, and very high build-quality, bridge-zoom - they'll be into it, if only because - going by the Fuji's also-premium projected release price in the US of US$800.00, the profit-margins will be higher.

If - and I do say, IF - the X-S1 is even nearly as IQ-good and Video-good as Fuji claims - with its X-series 6.6 x 8.8mm sensor and more - it's going to "nudge" the entry-level DSLR market quite firmly.

And "if" that's so - Canon for one isn't going to ignore it. Even though Canon / Nikon might indeed at present be "wary" about making their bridge-zooms "too good", so don't add features, RAW, etc, to theirs that other brands already have, because of self-competing with their low-cost entry-level DSLRs, if the X-S1 creates its own following - possibly also with the folk "stepping down" from DSLRs - they will have to "do something" about it..

Regards, Dave.

gewb wrote in post #13727742
....
I think the SX40 fits PERFECTLY in the G-series forum along side the Pro1. ....GEWB

Good idea!

Canon categorizes the Powershot G1X, the G12, S100, SX40 HS, and a few others under the category of High End Advanced Digital Cameras. Personally, I think think that the G series are darn ugly, and probably should be in their own forum under Ugly Ducklings or something like that.. I'd go with High End Advanced Digital Cameras and put what Canon classifies themselves as such there.

The only thing is that when you go with categories, such as Pocket type P&S- then there are bound to be several that cross boundaries - like the S100 that fits both high end advanced digital cameras, and has a more conventional P&S look..

IMO, the SX10/20/30/40's deserve their own forum just as much as the G-series. But breaking down forums too much is gonna make it harder to navigate for some..

It's not like there is a huge amount of traffic in this forum. I think we can keep it as it is.

michaelnel wrote in post #13728383
It's not like there is a huge amount of traffic in this forum. I think we can keep it as it is.

. . . and that's the deciding factor . . .

I've argued that this and the G forums be merged. Their combined activity is still less than the EOS forum, and people have argued that that should be split along "product lines". But the principles are the same, and very few questions come up that are really model-specific when you get right down to it.