Page 1 of Compact Digital Camera with SLR-like quality?

....Does such a thing exist?

My girlfriend has a hankering for a DSLR camera, but I know that if she gets a fully blown, chunky monster of a camera it will be left at home 99% of the time just because of being too bulky to comfortably carry. Is there a compromise to this; something that is more of a compact camera size (ie convenient to carry) but has some of the higher quality features associated with DSLRs? Looking at a budget of under £500 (closer to £300 if available).

As you`ll probably have guessed, I know nothing about cameras, so any guidance is appreciated.

Thanks.

Others will know better than me what they are called and what models are worth looking at, but there is an increasingly large range of cameras that sit between DSLRs and compacts that have some of the features of the former and some of the portability of the latter.

That said, if she is prepared to spend time learning how her camera works, understanding aperture, exposure, shutter speeds, etc, a DSLR is for her. But she isn`t and is under the impression that it`s all point and click, and that just because it`s a DSLR it`ll take better pictures, then it isn`t.

If she does go the DSLR route, then there are loads of great websites out there with everything she`d ever want to know, that said a friend of mine did two short courses and found she learnt more from those than reading online. Just depends what sort of person you are I guess.


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Is it mirrorless you are on about?

http://www.pentax.co.uk/en/digital-mirrorless/PENTAX-Q

http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/21693.htm

http://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/products/category_pages/digital_cameras/category_Nikon1_System.page?sParamValueLbl=Digital%20Cameras&sParam1ValueLbl=Nikon%201&ParamValue=Digital+Cameras&Subnav1Param=Nikon+1&Subnav2Param=0&Subnav3Param=0&RunQuery=l2&ID=0

All small, the Pentax is tiny. And they claim dslr type quality.



"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.

Thanks for the pointers. The Nikon you linked appeals to me - it seems to get good reviews and appears to sit nicely inbetween a full DSLR and a compact. If I were to search around for other similar cameras what terminaology should I use? Is "compact DSLR" correct?

My girlfriend initially wanted a fullsize DSLR, as she`s seen others using them and was impressed with the quality increase in the photos (despite them being taken by non-pro individuals). But I`ve steered her away from a full-size DSLR as I have a strong suspicion the novelty will wear off quickly, and the thing would be left behind most of the time. I`d like to buy a higher quality camera than your standard £150 compacts, and one that allows for a more diverse range of manual control. Ideally we`d like the convenience of the auto point-and-click features for those times when you need to quickly grab the thing and take a snapshot, but also the ability to manually set up focus etc, paired with the higher quality results an SLR lens should provide.

Things she likes are `pro` looking shots with lovely depth-of-field. I appreciate that simply by having the right tools does not mean that she will be able to automatically take pro looking shots, but if she is going to experiment and learn, she`ll need a camera to work with, hence why I`m here, asking those in the know what the best option will be. Things that annoy her about the picture quality of compacts are poor light, difficulty taking night shots, bad auto focus, shaky photos etc. I`m hoping that by buying a) a more (expensive) premium camera, and b) a camera with DSLR features (and lens), that some of these issues can be addressed either automatically by the camera, or by the camera allowing us more control to take better quality photos.

Just FYI, we currently have a Canon Ixus which has served us well, but doesn`t allow for the quality of photo we`d often like.

Thanks for the help.

i`ve got a "bridge" camera... Fuji HS20EXR
which falls into the category of "nearly a DSLR".
it has many of the features of a DSLR
such as manual control, aperture priority
etc.
because it has a smaller sensor than a
DSLR, the images it produces are not
as good.
it`s a good camera to use though, you
can leave it in auto mode and just point
and click, or use manual mode and be
a bit more creative.
click on my Flickr account (below my
sig) for some examples of what can be
achieved without a great deal of effort.


Ste
My Flickr Photostream

The thing that would stop me getting the Nikon is Robbie Williams face.



"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.

Ah, depth of field, both the curse and joy of a DSLR. :)

Ste, how good is your bridge camera when it comes to dof? I know that compacts are just abysmal at it. :/


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Based on a couple of years back the Canon G10 was a must have as a pocket camera for pro`s in the know.
Currently it`s up to model G12.
I haven`t seriously looked for a while but I`d happily walk in and buy a G12 on reputation alone and having had (still have) an EOS20D.


Snaps

Every Third Car

---

I used to be with it, but then they changed what `it` was.
Now, what I`m with isn`t it, and what`s `it` seems weird and scary

Rob, have a quick look at the carnation
or the san miguel glass in my flickr stream.

neither were deliberate, but it is possible
to get a reasonable dof if you tinker with
the f stops.

Ste
My Flickr Photostream

The problem with most mirrorless cameras is they don`t have a viewfinder. So you have to hold out the camera at arms length to view the screen. This in itself brings possible judder. Sony & Panasonic have cameras with electronic viewfinders as well as an LCD screen. I have swapped a Nikon D90 to a Sony A55 because I wanted something smaller that would take DSLR pictures. As I have been into photography for a few years it had advance shooting that most would not need. The camera I personally like is the Panasonic DMC G-3. This comes with a good electronic viewfinder & LCD screen & the 14-42mm lens is really sharp. I had a play with one a few months ago & it took really good photos. You can add lenses as & when. For these reasons I would recommend the Panasonic DMC G-3.as first choice. The other cameras pointed out will all take top quality photos but at the risk of blur because of the lack of a viewfinder.
Panasonic DMC G-3 here.