Point and Shoots with DSLR Quality

It's about time! Hauling around DSLR is not the most practical or enjoyable thing to do while on a trip, especially one that involves lots of walking. Until most recently, if you opted to leave your DSLR at home, automatically you forfeited picture quality. New technology has allowed companies to jam pack most DSLR features into compact point and shoots as well as HD video capturing capabilities. Here are some of the top compact cameras that are on the market or soon to be:

Sony NEX-5

-interchangeable lenses
-light-weight magnesium body
-14-megapixel sensor
-virtual mode dial
-full 1080 HD video capabilities
-no built in flash or view finder
-$699
-full cnet review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

-interchangeable lenses
-built in flash
-optional view finder
-720 recording video capabilities
-12.2 Ounces
-$899
-full cnet review

Olympus E-P1

-interchangeable lenses
-no built in flash or viewfinder
-720 recording capabilities
-13.9 ounces
-$799
-full cnet review