What Enthusiasts Compact Camera?

[Mr Will]

I'm looking for a new camera at the moment but am a little out of the loop as to what is available these days, so thought I'd see if there is anything you knowledgeable chaps would recommend.

Both my parents are professional photographers, so I've grown up around SLR's and appreciate the quality and control they offer, but I've got fed up with the bulk and never having one with me when the need arises. Instead, I want something that I can stick in a pocket and have with me much more of the time for capturing family/holidays/nights out/etc.

Low light ability is more important than a massive zoom (I can still get my hands on an SLR if I ever need a long lens) and I'm a bit of a geek so features like GPS are nice to have, but the primary requirement is quality (and by that I don't mean megapixels!)

In my brief Googling so far, the Fujifilm FinePix F550EXR and Panasonic Lumix LX5 have caught my eye, but what else is there I should be looking at?

[Mermaid]

LX5 is an excellent choice with its F2 Leica lens. The Canon S95 is also worthy.

[GetCarter]

LX5 or S95 - I went for the S95 as it is proper pocket sized. With me 24/7 - in a jeans pocket!

Edited by GetCarter on Sunday 17th July 18:14

[Fume troll]

Mr Will said:

Low light ability is more important than a massive zoom

S95 is also very good in low light. These were all hand held.

Mr Will said:

but the primary requirement is quality (and by that I don't mean megapixels!

Same sensor as the G12, it's great.

The S95 and LX5 are compared here.

Cheers,

FT.

[Mr Will]

Thanks guys, glad to know I'm not barking up completely the wrong tree!

Does anyone have any experience/opinions on the Fuji? Its a good chunk cheaper and adds a few nice toys (GPS in particular) but does it get close to the others in the areas that really matter?