Trying to use my phone while out riding isn't working out for me, so I want to get a dedicated camera for it. I'm not looking for anything "ruggedized", as these tend to be of inferior photo quality, and you end up paying more for the ruggedness than the quality of the camera. Of course I still want something reasonably durable, and able to withstand some light rain during handling and use. I'm looking for something that doesn't require a lot of manual adjustment and can take really good pics on automatic settings, but has manual adjustments available when needed for certain conditions and special shots. Budget wise I'd prefer something under $500, but I'd like to see options in the $500-$1000 range as well. I'm not looking for a full-sized SLR type, unless it's reasonable compact. I want something that can take really good quality pics, and be in the small to mid-sized range. I imagine that these days, spending that amount of money can get you a camera that can capture very near pro-quality pics.

So what camera or cameras should I be considering?