This

Or

This

Or

This

So many choices.

Holidaying in Canada this year so want/need/would like a decent camera

I'm getting one of THESE tomorrow, I'm a tad excited about that.

Like that 😆 Have a good panasonic shop in town where I get my TVs and other bis & pcs

Also tempted by the pen but not sure if it is a bit gimiky ❓

wot no Nikon ??

Hi Trekster

Have you checked out the reviews on What Digital Camera's website?

http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipment/reviews/1/digitalslr.html

They've got fairly comprehensive reviews of both the Pentax and the Sony

Pentax, great little camera and has the bonus of working on AA's ideal for travelling and holidays

The pentax has a sony sensor, but you'd need to move up a series in the sony camera to get it. Olympus has a smaller sensor (four thirds) than the other two.

Out of those, I'd probably go go for the pentax.

cheers haakon & taxi(have plenty rechargable AAs)

will have to have a "feel" at them all, have big fitters hands!!

5th..sons mate uses Pentax for wedding photography so am tempted..

Sorry Si..nae Nikon

no to the sony unless you have super small hands! i find it so hard to sell the camera at work due to how it handles.

big hands dunc, and like em heavy…………….

Another fan of the GF 1 here as a travel camera.

90% of my pro DSLRs capabilities and it fits in your pocket.

The olympus has a small body to go with the small sensor. The Pentax has to be the front runner.

Mr Nutt – let us know what you think. I've been looking at that Panasonic as a compact for when I can't be bothered with the D300. I don't have muscles like SfB's, so I can't carry a big Nikon all day.

Nikon D5000 I'd go for.

I don't have muscles like SfB's, so I can't carry a big Nikon all day.

I'm a very weedy specimen – and I rarely notice it 🙂 Besides which, it wields so much photographic power, anything else (I can afford) seems like a toy…

edit: also, since I always carry it when I'm outdoors, I'm used to it!

SFB what's your thoughts on the GF1?

I fail to believe you have none! 🙂

I have a 400d with a beautiful Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens, the I.S. plays up on the lens so i turn it off, other wise its a wonderful lens, you could have the lot for £500 +p&p

SFB what's your thoughts on the GF1?

No viewfinder, no interest. Slow frame rate. Dubious autofocus.

Looks nice and not too big, but I don't care about those 2 things. Not for me.

edit: not enough pixels on screen

but you take most pics of ladies from waist height looking the other way anyways simon.. who needs a viewfinder? ;O)

but you take most pics of ladies from waist height looking the other way anyways simon.. who needs a viewfinder? ;O)

not actually, they don't seem to mind me being quite open about it 🙂

Hmmm. Haven't played with it but I thought they'd sorted the autofocus on this one, the viewfinder I agree with (it would be better if it was a rangefinder style design), frame rate doesn't really bother me (but shutter delay does).
I think as an alternative to a compact (albeit bigger and more expensive) it looks interesting. As an alternative to an SLR – well not to a good SLR.
That said I have more cameras than bikes (a 10930s £5 Zeiss Ikon medium format folder, 3 SLRs, and 3 compacts, plus a couple of cameraphones – my wife has her own cameras in addition) so one more wouldn't be a huge increase in outlay.

large handed Sony user here, seems OK to me and I preferred it to a Nikon I tried

go to a Shop and try them

Happy Canon 500D user here – Canon are doing a cash-back offer at the moment too. I'd get to a camera shop and try them all out, see how they fit in the hand etc – no real replacement for having a try yourself.

Some very ill-informed buffs here.

You should get out to the shops and handle the cameras and see which ones feel best in your hands and which you feel happy to lug around.

A lot of spouting about sensor size from the would-be photo-forum-pro(s).
Read up on the cameras. And try.
You might want to look at the
http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/43/sensor-size.html

And consider the Oly E620 kit which is well within your budget too.
Here

Some very ill-informed buffs here.

This is the internet. Everyone's an expert.