Which to Buy? DSLR Camera or Bridge Camera?

Most people will have a "point
& shoot" digital camera
somewhere. They are ideal for
carrying around in your
pocket or bag. Most will take
relatively good pictures, in most situations.

But what about when you
want better pictures than your
little "point & shoot" can
manage? When you want
clearer portraits, or close-ups
of something interesting?

Maybe you want a better
zoom capability than your little
camera is capable of?

There used to be just one
option, the SLR camera. But in
recent years, we've seen the
emergence of a new style of
camera, the "Bridge". So called,
because it 'bridges' the gap between the point & shoot and
the SLR, both in capabilities
and, normally, price.

So let's look at some of the
pros and cons of both the DSLR
(Digital Single Lens Reflex) and
the Bridge.