outdoor photography camera

[JordenL]

Hi all;

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read my post.

I'm looking to upgrade from a point and shoot to an entry level DSLR/four-thirds style of camera. I have been looking at the cannon T2i, but I'm a little concerned about portability. I do a lot of traveling, hiking, and field work (in the bush), ideally would be looking for a camera that offers exceptional photo quality, and doesn't weigh too much. I'd be taking photos of landscapes, wildlife, and want to get into doing some macro photography later. I'm not overly interested in shooting in low-light, but want to be able to take a decent photo of a sun-set/rise, and also not have to worry about cloud cover.

Things I'm looking for (in order)
1. exceptional photo quality
2. must have a view finder. I've had nothing but trouble with a PNS camera, and shooting in direct sunlight.
3. should be light weight, relatively small
4. Reasonable amounts of lenses available
5. Video capable (not overly important)

I'd like to be able to take good photos of the stuff I see in the field, in my travels, etc. My price range is the typical under $1000 CAD
I've also looked at the Panasonic DMC GF-1, a four-thirds that looks promising, however, I'm not so sure that is the camera I need, even though it comes with an optional view finder. I'm also hesitant to go for a four-thirds style camera, because I don't want to sacrifice image quality.