Basic slr or High spec bridge camera?

I have around £350 to spend, and i can't choose between a nikon d3000, or a panasonic fz100, the panasonic has more mp, and a lot of other features that the nikon doesn't have, but because the nikon is an slr… Would the pictures appear alot better?

Because the Nikon D3000 has a sensor that is over 15 times larger than th FZ100, the potential quality of the photos will be, much, much better, but in the end, this is going to be based upon the photographic skills of the user

More on pixel counts

http://www.kenrockwell.com/...mpmyth.htm

Go to a store where you will be able to handle both of them. Which one is comfortable in your hand and menu seems friendly to you. Get that one because both of them is good in quality.

But, if you have a flexible mind can keep a look on PENTAX K-x. Some people do not like it because of AA battery as power supply. But its quality is better then the other two and I found its utility of AA batteries when I ran out of battery in a remote area and also found solution with backup battery from my backpack for my torch.

Well, visit this link and you might be clear about that

http://www.digital-slr-guide.com/inexpen…

www.bhphotovideo.com is selling this camera partially same price like both of them.

The mega pixels don't matter unless your going to some idiot pawn broker. I have a 2.1 MP camera that I still use sometimes to this day that takes professional quality photos. Crystal clear great pics, the image is just larger the more MP you Have. And yes the slr is capable of taking better photos, its the way they capture the picture that makes them better. Its got a bigger eye in lay mans terms. Hope I helped and good luck.

As eluded to by all the regulars here a camera is like money, it's only a tool. An SLR camera is far more capable than any "bridge" or P&S camera for reasons that involve full control. Mine for example, a Rebel XS, gives results I've never had before accept with my old film SLR cameras some years ago.

Don't be taken in by what we call the mega pixel myth. The manufacturers would have you believe that more is better but that's been proven incorrect time and time again.

As David mentioned the sensor size is of great importance to the technical quality of a photo. However, as any regular here will tell you, 95% of the quality of any photo is due to the skill of the photographer in knowing how to use this tool. Much like investing, it's not the money that makes
the money, it's the skill of the investor in using tools.

Also understand that like any other tool that's worth having these cameras have a learning curve attached and you'll have to go through this in order to be able to operate an SLR correctly to achieve good results. There in lies the skill.