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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Scott_sg" data-source="post: 1670392" data-attributes="member: 81463">Steve I generally agree, although I do think it is easier to mess up with a more advanced camera than a simple point of shoot. Even after being in photography since the mid 80's once or twice a year I will still mess up, and then I am left thinking &$*^ I would have been better with a compact.A good example was about 6 months ago, when I was photographing flowers. I was using shutter priority (which I am prone to do), with a 100mm macro, then switched to a 70-200mm (hand held) later on - but being hot and very tired completely forgot to up the speed. So I ended up with a whole lot "soft" shots.Another example was last year, when I was walking north of Sydney, and had been playing around with custom functions on a camera earlier. Anyway I bumped into some Glossy Black Cockatoos feeding low... and completely messed up, I was so thrilled (I went all girly and weak at the knees!) at seeing the birds that I started snapping away realising something was "not right". It was only after the birds flew off and I sat down to check my "screwed up camera", that I saw what was wrong - and could have shot myself.Of course they are stupid mistakes, and completely my own fault. Still in those cases a compact would have given me some half decent shots straight off.I am not bagging DSLR's only saying that generally you have to be on the ball to get the most out of them. The other thing is that in years past the gap between an SLR and compact (going back to early mid 80's) was huge. These days the gap between compacts and DSLR's is sometimes very fine.Back then there also wasnt the same sort of reliance on the body as now. The advice was always something along the lines of get the best lens and an ok body.With DSLR's you really have to get the best lens AND body you can afford. And with the higher end compacts today the quality is on par with the low end DSLR gear.So for 90% of users I would find it hard to justify getting a DSLR when the camera might be used once a month, and the pictures are only really going to be shown to close friends and family. On the other hand for someone actually wanting to learn photography and wanting a bit more out of their hobby, DSLR is the only way to go. Although a good compact is still handy to keep in the glove box or your pocket when you want to travel light. Just my thoughts.</blockquote>

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