If you're serious about photography-if you keep a camera nearby at all times and enjoy capturing high quality images-then you should know about these first-class, fully-featured alternatives to large, heavy digital SLRs. We're not suggesting that you forego your current camera system in favor of a compact-but we all know that there are times when a small camera fits your active lifestyle better than a big one. The good news is you can give up bulk without giving up performance.

Every camera featured here is small and highly portable. That means you're much more likely to have it with you wherever you go. Your DSLR may offer a number of advantages, but you'll take zero pictures if you leave your at home camera.

All of the cameras in this round-up offer the creative controls that serious photographers demand. These include Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority exposure control plus full Manual control. All can capture in RAW image format so that you can squeeze the most out of every image file instead of relying on the camera to do all of the processing. Of course, you can also set any of these cameras on Auto, hand it to a total novice, and still expect perfect results and sharp, punchy JPEG images.

In addition to having this set of essential pro features, these cameras diverge from the "ordinary" each in their own exciting way. Three of them have interchangeable lenses. A different pair comes standard with fast, sharp f2.0 lenses. One has an articulated swing-and-flip LCD, and one has an imaging sensor that's the same size as the ones found in DSLRs.

There are other cameras on the market that come very close to offering all of these key features and many-including the innovative Fujifilm Finepix F70EXR-offer special advanced features of their own. And there are cameras with ultra-long zooms, like the hot Pentax X70 that has a 26X zoom range. That's always been one of the most exhilarating things about photography-with minimal searching you can always find exactly the right to meet your needs. But we've limited this list to those cameras that give serious DSLR users the ability to be in command of the shooting experience-particularly exposure control, full manual operation and RAW image capture.

Canon PowerShot S90 combines a fast 28-105mm f2 zoom, low noise and fast-handling for great low-light shots.

Canon PowerShot S90
The smallest of the bunch, the S90 is the latest in the long line of Canon's uber-compact, feature-packed S-series cameras. The Menu, Function/Set Button and Control Dial, as well as the menu, will be immediately recognized by any Canon user because of the consistent interface. Far and away, the coolest feature of this camera-even cooler than the 28-105mm zoom that boasts fast f2.0 aperture-is the Control Ring. A knurled ring surrounds the lens and extends about one-quarter inch beyond the front of the camera. Choose what you want to control by pressing the Ring Function button and scrolling the menu. Then rotate the ring to control the ISO, White Balance, Exposure Compensation, Focus or-and the best part-Zoom settings. When used to select the focal length you click from 28mm to 35, 50, 85 and end at 105mm. These are all numbers photographers understand and it actually makes you think more about what you're doing.

The PowerShot S90 and the PowerShot G11 (detailed below) both reflect Canon's deep desire to surpass consumers' requirements. Both cameras offer larger than normal image sensors and 10-megapixel resolution. By spreading the pixels out over a larger area (and creating more distance between them) Canon has reduce the digital signal noise significantly. Gone is the grainy screen door effect when you shoot under dim light at a high ISO.

Canon PowerShot G11
Following on the heels of the popular G10, this is the ninth model in the G-series. Each generation has embodied the best, most current technology, and the PowerShot G11 is no exception. Sporting a 5X (28-140mm) zoom, the G11 is less than 2-inches thick and weighs about 12-ounces. All frequently used controls can be accessed externally, without looking at a menu, so you can preset adjustments even when the camera is turned off. For my money, the most useful feature is the articulated 2.8-inch LCD. Of course, it allows you to shoot over crowds and around corners (really!) but just as important, you can reverse the LCD so that it tucks neatly away, facing the camera body, out of sight and fully protected. You can also use your Canon external flash units and WA and Tele conversion lenses if that's your want.

Nikon Coolpix P6000
The Coolpix P6000 parlays Nikon's extensive experience as the camera provider to professionals and packages their core competencies into a 13.5-megapixel, 4X zoom compact that is built without compromise. Unique in this group, the P6000 has a built-in GPS that will automatically geotag each image with the data necessary to identify exactly where the picture was taken. There's also an integrated Ethernet connector for image sharing via Nikon's "my Picturetown" service-another differentiator. She's small (2.6 x 4.2 x 1.7) but elegant and tough, and tips the scales at 8.5-ounces.

The retro-style Olympus E-P1 has interchangeable lenses for greater versatility and more fun-and it produces razor-sharp images.

Olympus Pen E-P1
Even if you've never used one of the original Olympus PEN half-frame 35mm cameras from the 1960's you'll immediately fall in love with the retro styling of the new Olympus PEN E-P1. Without exaggeration, it's one of those cameras you don't want to set down once you've handled it. At the core of the attraction is the solid feel of the stainless steel construction and the just-right finger grip that graces the front. The E-P1 offers lens interchangeability. The 14-42mm zoom (28-85 equivalent) uniquely collapses internally (you have to see it) to keep the camera profile slim. For even more portability you can attach the 17mm f2.8 pancake lens. By using an optional adapter you can use other Olympus lenses and certain other 4/3s lenses.

Although it lacks a viewfinder, it's a true SLR in every respect. It's not an embellishment when I say that it's one of the most intriguing cameras you'll ever use. If you absolutely need a camera that has an eyelevel finder, Olympus just announced the Olympus PEN E-P2 which is similar to the E-P1 (exact same size and shape) and accepts an optional electronic viewfinder (EVF) that sits cleverly in the accessory shoe.

The Panasonic Lumix LX3 has a fast f2 Leica 2.5X zoom that starts super-wide 24mm wideangle.

Panasonic Lumix DCM LX3
This is the camera that sent all of the other manufacturers back to their product planning meetings with red faces. If has a 24mm f2.0 Leica lens, super compact body, all of the manual controls that serious photographers demand and dozens of really cool features like Double Exposure, Pinhole Camera emulation, and so on. Its best virtue, perhaps, is the way that it handles low light situations. The fast f2.0 lens allows the use of a higher shutter speed, and the built-in image stabilization system virtually eliminates camera shake-but the most important and most noticeable asset is absence of signal noise. Panasonic has done a remarkable job of suppressing digital image noise, even at high ISO settings. If you use your compact camera for candid, available light photography, the LX3 is hard to beat.

Panasonic Lumix DCM GF1
The GF1 picks up where the LX3 left off and adds lens interchangeability and several other way-cool features. Attach Panasonic's 20mm f1.7 pancake lens and you've got a super-svelte combination that simply slips out of sight. Borrowing heavily on Panasonic's premier position as a provider of professional video products, the Lumix GF1 enables you to shoot HD (1280 x 720) movies in AVCHD Lite format (MPEG-4/H.264) with high quality sound.

For rich and flattering skins tones, it's hard to beat the Sigma DP2, which offers a full-size Foveon CMOS sensor and other pro features.

Sigma DP2
The DP2's claim to fame is its unique 14-megapixel Foveon X3 direct image sensor which is seven to twelve times larger than the image sensor found in most other compact digital cameras. The sensor measures 20.7mm x 13.8mm and produces images that are 2652 x 1768 x 3 layers and is the same sensor Sigma uses in their SD14 digital SLR. The pro-styled DP2 is very compact and light in weight and is very handsome when equipped with the optional accessory viewfinder and lens hood. It captures RAW image files, of course, and the RAW data format uses lossless compression for more compact file size. It also has a conveniently placed Focus Dial that naturally falls above the top of your right thumb. When you select Manual Focus from the Quick Set menu you can adjust focus with ease.