Currently own a Nikon P310, would a RX100 be a massive upgrade?

[Kmodo]

At Christmas we bought a Nikon Coolpix P310 as we was fed up of the pictures from the S3. I am happy with the pictures the P310 has done but am aware that it is nowhere near kind of quality that a dslr would produce.

I will be going to Iceland for a couple of weeks in May and backpacking around China in July\August.

Carrying around a DSLR sized camera with lenses is not going to be happening and so did some googling and came across the RX100.

Would the pictures from a RX100 produce obviously better pictures than the P310? (So much so that even non photographers would be able to instantly tell the difference? Your Dad, Nan etc).

The rx100 is really expensive but then I can't see myself going to China again and so would really like to get some photographs!

Hopefully somebody can advise, I can only relate to graphics cards like the titan which might be 4 times more expensive but is nowhere near 4 times faster, diminishing returns etc

 

[Kmodo]

The Rx100 is definitely better but a massive upgrade? not really.

I have said this a few times recently but I would look at an entry level micro four thirds (m43) camera . These are very small and light, have a bigger sensors the the RX100 and have some very good lenses. Cheaper than a RX100 to boot.

Nikon 1 series also worth a look in, excellent auto-focus performance, very small size.

Thanks. Is there a m43 camera that you would recommend or is highly rated? Is there an all rounder lense that I could take with me? Or would I be forced to carry a bag full of lenses?

Just done a google shopping for Nikon 1 and there is v1 v2 j1 j2 etc?

 

[Kmodo]

woah, thanks for all that information! I will now look into the EPM2 as your photos do look very impressive and clearly of a much higher quality than my nikon P310

I notice you mentioned that you normally leave the kit lense on. From looking at pictures of the EPM2 with what I believe is the stock lense, it looks pretty big. Does that not not make the camera really bulky and impossible to pocket without taking the lense off?

 

[Kmodo]

That comparison looks more than reasonable. I think the 14mm lense will be fine, having used smart phone cameras for years I have got used to not using a zoom anyway!