If you’re on a budget, consider the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS. This bridge camera feels significantly cheaper than the more expensive models above, with a plastic exterior and a smaller 1/2.3-inch sensor that results in poorer overall image quality. However, it’s still suitable for casual photography, and although it uses a smaller sensor, its 21-1365mm equivalent full-frame lens has a very wide 65x optical zoom range for capturing distant subjects.

On top of that, the camera has a very intuitive and simple interface, a relatively high-resolution viewfinder and a fully articulated screen that allows you to shoot at different angles or take selfies. All in all, it offers pretty good value for its price, making it our top budget pick. If you can find it, the Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 is cheaper and has similar performance, although it’s discontinued and harder to find in stock.