Camera Gurus: Which Superzoon Has the Best EV?

[davester]

Is this a budget-is-no-object question, how important is picture quality to you, and what do you consider "compact"? I can't really answer your specific question because the viewfinder image quality is at the bottom of my list compared to sensor size, picture quality, price, zoom range, dynamic range, UI, handling, etc, so I've never paid much attention to it when comparing cameras. I'd suggest you look at the Fujifilm X-series, which has excellent sensors, excellent lenses, and has a reputation for excellent viewfinders (except for the X-20 which has an optical viewfinder that gets mixed reviews). The biggest issue you'll find is that if you want picture quality and low light ability close to comparable to the Rebel, then you'll need something which has a large sensor, which begets a large lens and bulkier camera if you want a decent zoom range. This wiIl start pushing you back into SLR territory. If you're happy with a much smaller sensor and therefore lower quality photos then you can get away with a less bulky camera, though those tend to be cheaper and generally have poorer viewfinders.