Suggestions on something small, yet versatile

Ok so its getting around to that time of year again where I feel more aged, slow, etc.... and get another candle on the cake (the worst part is the older you get the faster you have to blow before the top melts from the heat!)

Anyway family always keep mentioning that "you need a little camera" and to a certain extent I agree with them - DSLRs are great, but a 7D, 580flash and a modest lens (like say a 70-200mm or even 150mm) is just way to heavy and bulky for family days out - trips and general travel.

So I need something smaller - but the market here appears to have exploded into whole varieties of point and shoots - bridges - mini DSLRs and hybrids. So I'm left a little lost as to which to focus on - so any here got any advice? I know this is the "G-series" section, but it seemed the closest to general smaller camera chat and I'm certainly not limiting myself to considering only the G series of cameras.

Requirements:
1) Smaller, and lighter than a DSLR setup

2) Long focal range coverage - long end especially - something around 400mm equivalent

3) Manual controls - aperture, ISO, shutter speed and focus (if at all possible physical manual focus not the electronic kind)

4) Expandable - if I can work with my flash units or with flash on a radio remote or something that would be great

5) Good overall image quality (yeah expected ).

6) Viewfinder - not only am I used to it, but when holding things I feel more stable with a viewfinder - without one or the option of one it just feels wrong.

I'm not opposed to a smaller interchangeable lens setup provided that its not going to turn into a massive money sinkhole to get all the features I feel I need.
Macro I'm not too worried about - almost all smaller cameras do close up well and I've my Raynox DCR 250 to boost the magnification (though manual focus control becomes more critical again).


So is there anything out there that might come close to fitting some/all these requirements? I've not put a budget on this as yet - I don't know what area of the market I'm really looking at to tell as yet.

Given this is the Canon crowd, I believe the SX30 is about the only thing close to your request. The G series doesn't come with the 400 mme reach, so you need to look to the superzoom category. The SX30 falls under the Small Compact Digitals category forum, even though I don't consider it a small compact.

You can use Canon flashes with the SX30, but not other small compacts. This would help in some cases with better image quality, especially indoors, or outdoor fill lighting. The SX30 has a very long reach, but it may be a reach too long. Sticking to the mid-zoom range may be better for you in the long run, but then begs the question of why have all that reach?

There are some folks that find the SX30 quite good, especially in birding. Here's a thread on DPR by one the best;

http://forums.dpreview​.com …rum=1010&messag​e=38611766

You might also find this "review" of the SX30 vs FZ100 useful.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com …_superzoom_shoo​tout.shtml

Dennis

Why not just use your 400d for the family outing stuff?

Dennis - the bridge cameras to interest me with their massive focal range coverage that they are capable of - certainly I've been out with friend who've had them and they got close up shots I could not get (without lots of lens changing and a big heavy lens). However I've used them and I find the response of them - clunky - digital focus control is not ideal and the overall feel is just a bit lacking compared to a DSLRs response

Jfueng - the problem is if I use the 400D I suffer gear creep. First I'd want to put a big OPtech camera strap on it - then I'd be annoyed with my pinky finger falling off the bottom of the camera - so back on goes the grip (I'd also be missing my wrist strap so two points for the grip going back on). Then even if I stuck to cheap lenses a cheap 70-300mm would always leave me saying - you should have brought the 70-200mm f2.8 etc...


Add to that the fact my battery grip is rather stuck on my 400D anyway

I need a separate system camera for the lighter work - so that I can still get good quality for it whilst also able to fully appreciate the camera on its own - rather than always feeling that I'd made the lesser of two choices

It sounds to me like you would not be happy with the current crop of point and shoot/compact cameras. You would most likely prefer the results from one of the mirrorless cameras out there. The Olympus and Panasonic brands offer an optional EVF, while the others do not. Here's a comparative review on several to consider;

http://www.bythom.com/​compactmirrorless.htm

Dennis