DSLRs with IS/VR built into BODY...

If you sift through all the marketting hype and spin, you will probably discover that in use in body stabilization is equal to lens stablization in effect. The Olympus 4/3 system is a smaller chip which nevertheless produces comparable image quality and the size and weight tends to be less than the other camera and lens systems. The lenses however are pricey. As to wide angle with Olympus instead of 18mm for a 35mm equivalent 28mm shot, a 14mm is used. Still possible just done differently.

As to the lenses and systems arguments, unless you are planning to spend one heck of a lot of money on accessories, primes, and zooms it really does not matter which camera you buy. As to cost, most good VR lenses are close to $1,500 or more and many good lenses of the body stabilization kind are under $1,000. By the way, lot of lenses also means travelling heavy and missing shots while you are changing lenses.

Sony is becoming popular because it comes with a range of lenses from Minolta, through Sony, to Zeiss. It has tiltable LCD screen, live view with fast autofocus that is better than the others and yes, you can see camera shake levelling off in the viewfinder. There is noise in some low light shots visible on screen but it can be filtered out and it may not show up in prints.

The difficulty for camera buyers is that all the cameras have a list of good points and bad points and it is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. It becomes a matter of this great feature versus this weakness. Which is the bigger issue? Cost of course complicates the decision even more.

Some experienced photographers buy cameras for the features that they will make the most use of, and work around the weaknesses. Some photographers buy cameras for a long time and others change/upgrade every few years. Some buy numerous lenses and accessories, while others buy a wide angle zoom, telephoto zoom, polarizing filters and an auxilliary flash and that's it.

This variation in experience and style as well as budget means that no particular choice fits everyone and their planned use. There is also of course no perfect camera that meets everyone's needs at any level.

skieur
 
you cant go wrong with a sony
 

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