Great camera's for traveling?

I'm studying abroad for a few months, and backpacking in Europe for one month. I want a good camera that isn't bulky, but still takes great pictures. Something that isn't too confusing. I was looking at the Nikon 1 camera's but I just have no idea. Something that also has a good video quality.

Juli,

If you are going to be on the go a lo the Nikon 1 maybe for you. I have a big Nikon DSLR and also a Nikon 1. I got the Nikon 1 because I travel a lot (20-30 times a year) and the Nikon 1 is small enough that it fits in my carry on bag, but the image sensor (the part of the camera that records the light) is bigger than all the point and shoot cameras but it is smaller than some of the 4/3 cameras so the lens are smaller and lighter than those cameras which it a huge plus when traveling ultra-light. (no wheeled luggage for me.) I think you get the best results in full manual mode rather than auto on this setup, and the position of the manual controls are a bit different than other cameras and take a little time to get used to. My company built the image sensor and my friend designed part of it so it is a very modern process and design, unlike some of the older image sensors still used in comparable designs that are still being sold to consumers as "new" cameras.

The video features are better than most of Nikon's entry level DSLR and you don't hear any autofocus noise, and you can still take full resolution pictures when the video is running. The focusing is lightning fast, much faster than any other entry level DSLR or 4/3 camera you can buy.

Many on this forum are going to say "… Nikon 1 is not a camera that professionals will use… " or it doesn't take as good a picture as a real DSLR. This is true, but all cameras are filled with engineering comprises, and this camera is fun to use, easy to travel with, and can take great pictures if the light is good plus it will be less of a target for thieves who will obviously target the "professional" cameras.

Consider Nikon D3100 some features about this camera:
- It performs far better in low light than any point-and-shoot. With the right tools, it's usable right up to ISO 1600. Compared to my old point-and-shoot, this is a huge bonus.
- It's an SLR, so you can take those pictures with shallow depth of field (blurry background).
- Its pictures are sharp, clear, and beautiful. The high MP count makes details pop and cropping easy.
- It's incredibly easy to use - Nikon has an amazingly well thought out body design, and within weeks I felt more at home with this camera than my old one.