I had a top end Canon point and shoot - it took excellent photographs but I lusted after a dslr (big girls camera) for zooming in on the animals I saw at the zoo, birds in my garden etc. So took the plunge, spent an arm and a leg buying a big girls camera and because I am only ever going to shoot on auto my pictures weren't as good as on my point and shoot (apart from when I use the zoom lense) It is heavy as well, and gets in the way, it doesn't fit in my bag and to be honest the only time it comes out is when I go on a proper summer holiday. Also it is terrible for taking perfectly focussed shots of my cards and papercrafts.
Then of course I dropped my little Canon and it just wasn't the same so I had a dilemma. After lots (and lots and lots) of looking and reading reviews and asking people I bought a Panasonic Lumix point and shoot which I use on the intelligent setting and it is fab! Even when I zoom in I get decent shots of my little doggie, great crafty shots and I just love it - if it broke today I would be straight out to buy another one.
Now I know that a dslr isn't for me