Camera Labs

I can say I am better off and worse off since I started this post. I definitely learned a lot more about cameras but not exactly one to get. Heck, now I am looking at DSLR's too. I am really going to have a lot of reading ahead of me now. Thank you all for helping this clueless girl out.

Since no one really has a point and shoot to recommend (are they really that bad?) I wanted to see what the favorite is for a beginner DSLR or ILC. I think it looks like most of you suggest the ILC for me. What is the disadvantage of this over an SLR?
Thanks again everyone.

And as for Hijacking my post.... I don't mind. It give me more info as well when people respond to the question.

My recommendation would be something like the canon 550D or the Nikon equivalent, which ever takes your fancy. In the ranges the bodies either side of these are also excellent. If you go above the 550D ( or nikon equivilent ) then the bodies get heavier but more robust.

The only advantage of a ILC is size. DSLR's generally have bigger and better sensors, an optical view finder which is much higher res (lol) than any digital view finder or screen + works in bright light and so they tend to have much wider choice in lenses etc

When buying a dslr you are buying the building blocks of a camera system. You only have to look at the signatures of those posting here to see that. The same is also true to an extent of a MILC body too

There are P & S's like the Fiji X10 and canon G12 will do what you want mostly. Go and have a play with them and compare them with some other cameras

If I was you I'd short list the following

P&S: Fiji X10 and Canon G12

MILC: Sony Nex and Panasonic GF

DSLR: canon 550D and Nikon equivalent

Go and have a play with them and see what you like and what you don't

Interestingly I think the Fiji x10 has the fastest lens that you'll get out of the box, pretty sure it's f2 when it's wide. I could be wrong on this though

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Canon EOS 550D (with Magic Lantern)
18mm - 135mm Kit Lens, 50mm f1.8, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
430EX II Flash with Phottix Strato Wireless Tigger Set
Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 with 496 Ball Head. Gorilla Pod SLR
Canon Powershot A720IS with CHDK and intervalometer script. Pentax Optio W90

My Blog - http://www.ianganderton.wordpress.com

Something to check on MILCs and P&S is their speed of getting focus. My 550D is pretty quick when using the view finder but slow and hunts a lot when using the live view screen. This is because its using a different focus method. P&Ss and MILC probably use a similar method to the live view so it would be worth checking the difference especially as you want to take fast photos of what must be potentially moving subjects

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Canon EOS 550D (with Magic Lantern)
18mm - 135mm Kit Lens, 50mm f1.8, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
430EX II Flash with Phottix Strato Wireless Tigger Set
Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 with 496 Ball Head. Gorilla Pod SLR
Canon Powershot A720IS with CHDK and intervalometer script. Pentax Optio W90

My Blog - http://www.ianganderton.wordpress.com

Lot's to look at. I also see fuji is coming out with a few new point and shoots. Is fuji a good brand?

Personally I'd say there aren't "bad brands" but just some "bad products" (you can even find those looking at well known brands like Canon and Nikon). Fujifilm offers some pretty amazing cameras like the X10 etc. But I have to admit that I don't know much about too many other Fuji cameras.

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Canon EOS 500D + Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Canon EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM + EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 100mm 2.8L Macro IS USM + Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM + Canon Speedlite 580 EX II + Nissin Speedlite Di 466