Need some opinions. Got a friend here who loves playing with my camera and wants something decent of her own. But I know if she gets an SLR, she'll never take it anywhere. So looking at something with a tiny body, APS-C sensor and the option to put big lenses on if she ever gets into it enough.

Thinking the new Samsung NX1100 looks quite impressive in this bundle:
http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-samsung-smart-nx1100-digital-camera-with-20-50mm-lens-black-plus-tablet/p1539825

I'd probably prefer something a little more high end, but ultimately you're paying for the size. A Nikon D3100 or Canon 600D would be twice as much camera for around the same price. Anybody got any experience of these things? I know it'll be slow to focus, but that's the only thing I can really moan about and I can't change that unless she decides she wants to carry a DSLR around (which she won't)...

Thoughts?

It might be an off the wall suggestion but have you considered a smart phone? They can have additional lenses, and are exceptionally portable.

I like the look of this. Then she'll be able to bug you for lenses when she's ready.

Depends on why she loves your camera. I bought a Canon G12 because I thought I'd never take an SLR anywhere and a G12 was compact enough yet provided enough options to shoot some good pics. It's something that fits in my jacket pocket too.

If I went down this route, I'd look at: Panasonic GF3, Canon EOS M, and the Olympus PEN series (comes in pink too!). Or what about the 100D?

EDIT: Or the Sony NEX series?

If you want small then the Lumix DMC-GF range or the Olympus E-PM1.

A bit bigger/more expensive and you can grab a Lumix DMC-GX series, Sony Nex 6/7 or Olympus E-P3/5.

I'm also a fan of the Fujifilm X-M1.

Or if you want REALLY small (although compromising on sensor) the Pentax Q cameras are tiny.

Turns out this is key. I pushed her on this yesterday and it turns out the major attraction is the speed and reach of what she calls my "perv lens". It's an L series 70-200 f4 IS. She likes to take candid people shots and likes keeping her distance (Freud would love her). In this case, irrespective of size issues it's back to the same old thing - nothing but an SLR will do.

But with a budget of around £500 the closest I can seem to get to some reach and decentish glass is a 600D with 18-135 kit for £589. Hmmm....

Even assuming you don't shoot full frame, a micro-4/3s lens only needs a ~160mm focal length to get similar sort of reach. It's no longer a pocketable camera, but a damn sight smaller than the equivalent SLR+lens.

Remember with a smaller sensor the equivalent 35mm focal length of a lens is greater than on your APS-C for extra perviness! e.g. 70-200mm on....

FF = 70-200
APS-C = 105-300 (1.5x crop)
M4/3 = 140-400 (2x crop)

With regards to focus I thought (although haven't tested) the latest contrast detect AF on Olympus mirrorless is particularly fast.

Had a little look and the E-PM2 can be had for £539 with 14-42mm and 40-150mm lenses (equiv 28-84 and 80-300). According to the marketing it has (had?) the world fastest autofocus and in testing Imaging Resource found full-autofocus shutter lag (single centre point AF) to be better than most consumer DSLRs. Could be an option? Available in black, silver, white or red.

You can also get a Sony NEX-3N with 16-50mm and 55-210mm lenses (equiv 24-75 and 82.5-315) for £500.

I'm a bit of a fan of the m4/3 format. Well worth looking into.

You know that E-PM2 for £539 with two lenses? Well you can also claim a free 17mm f/2.8 lens from Olympus.

Hmmmm..... Why is m4/3 so much better than APS-C in a CSC then? I don't think she'll find the Olympus sexy enough. Especially when compared with the NX1100, but I can ask.

I think (I'm not 4/3 expert so please don't just take my word) that modern M4/3 sensors don't lose anything to APS-C mirrorless cameras in terms of IQ anymore. If that's not a factor then the fact she likes long reach means the 2x crop should suit her better and as mentioned previously the E-PM2 is at least as fast at focusing as a consumer DSLR.

The image circle is smaller with M4/3 too (4:3 versus 3:2 on APS-C) so lenses will be potentially smaller.

I guess APS-C will give a shallower DOF due to the larger sensor. Someone suggested 0.75 stop so f/1.4 on APS-C would require f/1 on M4/3.

Oh and maybe because I'm a guy but I think the E-PM2 looks far better than the NX1100

http://snapsort.com/compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PM2-vs-Samsung-NX1100

Thanks for that Veato. Ok, so sat in one of our hotels and show said pics of said cameras to said girl.

"Awwwww, but I want a BIG camera!"

There you go guys, size matters.

Second hand dSLR then IMO. Kit lens.