DSLR vs. Average Digital Camera?

I was wondering if I could buy a digital camera for about 200-300 dollars that would match the quality of a DSLR camera? What is the difference of a good digital camera, and a DSLR?

To answer the second part of your question here are some of the differences and features between the two types.

DSLR:
High resolution
Fast response (Picture is taken within a fraction of a second from pressing the shutter button)
Interchangeable lenses
High continuous shot rates
Manual controls
Durability
Optical viewfinder

Normal Digital Camera:
Portability
Price
Live preview on the LCD
Some have large zoom ranges
Many different choices
Many are high resolution

this lens does not include everything, but I feel that these are the big ones

Fuji F30 has the best low-light performance, which is one of the major selling points of SLR.

Yes a friend of mine just got a Kodak Easyshare P-880
with 8 Mega pixels. Great camera. I use a EOS Canon Digital Rebel XT, which is an SLR but lots more money.
Go to http://www.kodak.com and check out the P-880.Lots of SLR Quality in a point and shoot. You can see some of my work at http://rraber.photosite.com Taken with the Canon SLR.

I doubt you could "match" the quality of a DSLR for $200-300. You could get some nice pictures, but you would not be as happy overall with the camera or the results. Several people answered a similar question less than 2 days ago, so scroll through the answers and see if you can find the question and you find the reasons why not.

Not going to happen. Your average dSLR is far superior to your average digital camera. The only fixed lens digital camera that is of similar quality is the Sony DSC-R1, which runs about $900.

for a 4x6 print of a scene in good light (i.e. outdoors)
you won't notice a difference.

but other posters have already answered some of the detailed differences.

The image quality of many of the better compact cameras is starting to get quite good. Cameras like the Fuji F30, Canon SD700IS or even the little Panasonic FX07 which is in your price range, can rival that of a DSLR- or at least you have to look really closely to tell the difference.

But features and performance wise- there's a reason why people choose to pay for and lug around a DSLR.

You can't match the quality of the *camera* for that price, because the advanced features of the DSLR cost money to manufacture. These features enable the DSLR to make good photos in a wider variety of operating conditions.

However, in most cases, a compact digital camera by a major manufacturer (Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fuji, etc.) will make *photos* that are every bit as good as a DSLR. It's just a bit harder to do it.