To save time, I'll quote Wikipedia:
Bridge cameras are cameras which fill the niche between the single-lens reflex cameras (SLRs) and the point-and-shoot camera.[SUP][1][/SUP][SUP][2][/SUP] They are often comparable in size and weight to the smallest digital SLRs (DSLR) and there are also superzoom DSLR-shape bridge camera with retractable lens to make it more compact,[SUP][3][/SUP] but almost all digital bridge cameras lack an optical viewfinder system (film bridges generally had a lighter version of a reflex finder). In addition, SLRs normally feature interchangeable lenses, while current bridge cameras do not.[SUP][4][/SUP][SUP][not in citation given][/SUP] They are prominent in the prosumer market segment. The phrase has been in use at least since the 1980s,[SUP][1][/SUP] and continues to be used with digital cameras.[SUP][2][/SUP]The term "bridge camera" was originally used to refer to film cameras which "bridged the gap" between point-and-shoot cameras and SLRs.[SUP][5][/SUP][SUP][6][/SUP]
Anyway, I bought one last week ( the day after I posted actually
) and it absolutely rocks. It doesn't have the out and out image quality of my DSLR and bag full of lenses, but it also doesn't weigh over 7lbs (it weighs about 1).
It also has a 25-600mm equivalent lens which is a constant f2.8 aperture through the whole range. The video quality is superb, especially 1080 50p (we're PAL standard here don't forget, you'd get 60p in the USA).
Full manual control over shutter and aperture for video is a huge bonus, and the 100 and 200 fps slow motion video is great fun (again, because of the difference in standards, in America you get 120 and 240fps). The flip out and rotate screen is great for composing video; you can see how daft you look when recording a performance, and it's the only good quality bridge camera that has a dedicated external audio in.
The built in stereo microphone is good quality and gives a reasonably accurate rendition of the instrument, and even though it picks up the sound of the fans in my PC when I record in my room, I can easily sample and remove the noise using Reaper/Audacity/Adobe Audition CS6.
The quality of still photographs is also excellent. A good habit that I got into a long time ago is always shooting RAW, then post-processing in Photoshop or Lightroom. This obviates the need for any of the in-camera special effects, but they;'re there if you want them.
Altogether an excellent piece of kit, and the value of that Leica f2.8 lens can't be overestimated. Highly recommended.