For those of you who love photography and SLR’s - here is a good option. Leica has a fantastic camera that acts like an SLR with removable lenses. The Leica V-Lux 1 is an amazing camera that has a tremendous 12x zoom (equivalent to 35mm to 420mm on a 35mm film camera). What is more you can shoot video which my wonderful D200 cannot. Its a great compromise for those who want SLR quality but not the hassle of changing lenses and the limitations of shooting video. Don’t get me wrong – it won’t do what my D200 will do but it is a great camera. http://en.leica-camera.com/photography/compact_cameras/v-lux_1/
But wait, there is more. Don’t spend the money on a Leica branded camera. Get the Exact same camera from Panasonic – with the Leica lens. The Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FZ50 is the same camera for half the price (well, maybe not half but hundreds less Yes – Leica purists will say its not the same due to quality control but the Panasonic is an amazing camera. My Mom and Pop got one and took it on a Safari in Africa – amazing shots. More at http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/lumix/fz50/index.html
[...] – $1,000. Panasonic appears to have updated the DMC-FZ50 my mom bought. She loves it. I reviewed it briefly here. This is a terrific camera matching Panasonic electronic know-how with a terrific Leica lens. [...]