... Okay so no cheap lens. But still, any dslr or slt recommended for low budget beginner ?

You can live with EVF? 

Compacts are convenient outdoor but indoors/poor light and action (as in kids not keeping still)... its a bit more tricky. In pure pixel peep terms, ISO400 on compact is like close to ISO3200 on your 550D Also consider the shutterlag is considerably worst on compacts.
If cost is a major issue to you and you won't be spending money like water on lens --> NEX5 or better still the NEX5N with better color jpegs.

600D if you want swivelling screen (good for low angles and video)

550D if you wanna save that couple hundred linggit. Both shoots the same.
Strictly speaking, NEX-5N is still considerably slower than a 550D in terms of operation speed and AF

and...

550D + 18-55mm kitlens = 530grams + 200grams = 730grams
NEX-5 + 18-55mm kitlens = 288grams + 194grams = 482grams
= Difference 248grams

a can of coca cola weight 390grams.
IMHO opinion... primary different is the feel when shooting. With a DSLR like the 600D, the view through the viewfinder is like seeing the world through a small window while on the EVF equipped A55, it's like seeing the world through a small LCD screen.

Hi guys, I hope this is not a repeated question. Am helping my girlfriend to survey for cameras. I myself is not pro at all, only know the basic point and shot, so I hope everyone here can guide and advice me, thanks in advance.

Type of camera/lens/accesories: Semi-pro
Budget: Unsure, should be no problem
Your Location: KL
Preferable brand: Olympus/ Sony/Nikon?

Type of photography u want to do:
Lots of scenery shots (especially outdoors), foods, portraits, landscapes etc. Basically my gf wants a very nice DSLR-like quality pictures for daily activities. She have been complaining the normal digi cam not able to produce good quality pictures (in terms of colour, noise, brightness). U know how normal digi cam always look so good when preview but when put on computer it's totally different.

Specific models in mind: PEN series? I'm not sure which is the latest but I think Olympus came out first, then Sony and Nikon has a new PEN series too? And Canon S95.

Specific features wanted: Sharp DSLR-like quality pictures, able to have really nice colours, good specs for food pictures (make it look "delicious" with the hot vapour and whatnot), and HD video (either 720p or 1080p).

Basically, the key point here is a camera that is not too big (like DSLR size) to bring around. She travels around with a medium size handbag so preferable camera that are easy to carry around with. She wants to have the freedom to play around with the settings (ISO speed, aperture). Having the option to change lens is okay with her. Most important is to have sharp quality pictures, especially for outdoor landscapes and sceneries.

Hope this is not too much to ask, thanks again in advance!

  really? Cuz i might use the camera until i go to college/university.. (like buying only once in a lifetime.. no la.. maybe when i start working (after graduate) then i can afford another one myself la.. Problem now is my parents are buying a dslr for me and i don't really want to make a wrong choice.....i'm form 4 now currently)

Any other forums to reccomend besides FTZ, photo malaysia, and LYN?