Point and shoot or Entry level DSLR camera?

[Ravish]

I was planning to buy a camera. Surfed online and read reviews, and ended up with these cameras.
Point and Shoot - Sony HX200, Panasonic FZ150, Sony HX100v
DSLR: Nikon D3100

I am not a professional photographer, but I usually capture any interesting things that I see when I travel - Birds, Animals, People, landscape, Mountains, Monuments etc. Friends do appreciate my photos and the theme of the photos. Furthermore, I am not a frequent traveler. Photography FOR ME is about capturing things that fascinates me in my day to day life. Therefore, for my use, camera should be compatible and photo quality must be good (it should neither be Ok nor excellent, but good ).

I understand the difference between DSLR and Photo Shoot cameras. I do know that they are unique and are used for different reasons by different people in different ways.

My confusion started after I decided to buy Sony HX100v and went to a store to purchase it. At the store I met a person, who said he was a professional photographer and has been doing photography from past 15 years. After listening to my reasons for buying the camera, he suggested me to go for Nikon D3100. I was already a bit confused, probably he saw that confusion on my face I guess, he suggested me to research more about cameras and then buy one as I was investing 25k to 28k.

Now I am here to get views about buying one of the above mentioned cameras. It would be of great help if you people could suggest me which camera to buy. (I can afford a camera priced within 28k.)
The problem that I saw in Nikon D3100 is that I had to buy additional lens, which costs more than 10k. So was wondering what to buy.

 

[jrizal]

The P/S or bridge cameras are all fine cameras, but the D3100 or any other entry level DSLR will offer you more flexibility as long as you are willing to invest time to learn (and more money for lenses) to learn more about photography. But if if you are fine with shooting in auto with some manual options and wanting a lengthy zoom then a bridge camera will suit you well. It is interesting to note that some of the better pictures posted here were taken with a bridge camera.

 

[Solarflare]

A DSLR will be larger and heavier than a p&s.

However, it will also be much faster, have more image quality, allow you much more and much easier control, will be a lot more flexible, and allow you to continue to make images even in rough circumstances, such as low light or fast movements, when the p&s will already have reached the end of their usefulness.

About good images, on devianart.com I see great images made with smart phones all the time. Thats ultimately a question of talent.

 

[shagnat]

I feel you dilemma (pain) on this issue. I too have been researching something better than my ~8 y/o P&S. It has served me well for most of my uses/needs, but, I do wish to step wwaaay up but didn't know whether to get back into SLRs. I had a beautiful Canon A-1 back in the day and it was fantastic, but, I quickly realized I wasn't a very too photographer and ended up using the camera for mostly P&S situations with the occasional shoots which required a camera in the quality of the A-1. However, I really didn't want to get back into the $300+ flahes, $500+ lenses, along with all the filters etc. that needed to be bought to go along with a higher end DSLR.

I opted for the Sony DSC HX-200V. I've only had it for about a week, but, so far it is really doing the job very well. Granted the pictures aren't quite as lazer sharp as a $800+ DSLR body, plus all the other ancillary devices necessary to suit my purposes. I have no regrets with my decision at this point and doubt I'll ever have a need for anything much better and certainly not more expensive than my 200V.

Hope this helps and best of luck with your decision.

 

[Greiver]

I have the D3100 and personally after having this thing I would never go back to a Point and Shoot camera again. Sure it costs a lot more in the long run with lenses and all that but the trade-off in image quality, features, etc is worth it.