Advise about a digital compact

Good afternoon all. I would appreciate some advice from you reagarding a digital compact camera.
My son has managed to break our compact camera the other day - it was a Canon Ixus (can't remember the model number). I didn't use it much but my wife and the rest of the family did use it quite a bit. I am now thinking of buying a new camera and not really sure which one to go for. I have no experience with the Pentax models although would really like to get one rather than the Canikons. Ideally it should be pretty idiot proof BUT also sophisticated enough to have control over as many settings as possible. I would like to be able to shoot RAW as well.
Any ideas?
Thanks and regards.

In the Pentax range only the Q will shoot in RAW and offer you the control you require. The X90 will offer the control, but no RAW. I use an X90 for all my eBay pictures, for which it is very convenient.

However, how about the WG-1? I'm quite enthusiastic about being able to carry a camera anywhere, anytime and still get good results. The waterproof models add another dimension in that they offer photography in situations where hitherto cameras have not been possible. Rain, underwater, sand, dust.....

I've just been looking at the Optio W90. No RAW option but it seems to be bomb proof.

I wanted a compact that shot raw but you are very limited in this area. Pentax had nothing at all so in the end went for the Panasonic LX5 which is a superb little camera with all the features you could ever wish for. Others I looked at were the Canon S95, G12 and one made by Olympus (can't remember the model number).

If I wanted to go beyond snaps for Facebook etc I'd be thinking along the lines of the Q or Canon S95.

If I wanted a really cheap, relatively good performing compact, some of the latest Pentaxes are a steal though. If I wanted waterproof, I'd go for the WG-1. They don't stand up to the IQ offered by the backlit CMOS sensors available in the Q and other high end compacts though.

From a pentax perspective I would echo John's thoughts on the WG-1. I have one of these and whilst it clearly has some limitations against a DSLR, I have been pretty impressed with the pics I have managed to get, especially with a bit of PP. I can confirm that it has so far stood up a range of things... seawater (snorkelling), sand, being dropped, tropical storm etc. no problems, and when it gets grubby I just wash it in the sink! It won't shoot RAW but as long as you don't push the ISO the quality of pics is actually pretty good considering the teeny sensor/lens combo. The zoom range goes so far physically and then a bit further digitally. Personally I don't use anything beyond the physical zoom as the quality does appear to drop beyond that. There is a fair degree of control as you can dial in EV compensation and adjust the settings for highlights and shadows, with plenty of pre-set shooting modes as well. It also focusses down to 1cm and has a useable macro function. Certanly worth a look I would have thought but if you don't need weatherproofing then a similar spec less the ruggedness would probably be cheaper. I have examples of PP'd WG-1 shots on my flickr and within recent threads here if you want to check them out (recent thread of pics of New York had some in as I recall)...

EDIT - link to NY thread with some sample shots...


Regardslink

The Canon s90, 95, 100 are great cameras; pocketable, good controls, fully manual etc.
Have a look at these:

1. do you want a jack of all trade? (pocketable, massive zoom etc) If so look at the Group test for 'compact super zooms' http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q210grouptravelzoom/

2. do you want an 'enthuasiast compact'? If so then look at the group test http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q42010highendcompactgroup/

3. do you want a bridge camera (probably not) http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q110superzoomgroup/

Cheers,
pa

Thanks very much for your great advice chaps. I will follow up on the cameras that you have pointed out.
Regards.

I second the Panasonic LX5 - I have to confess it is so good for 'general tourist wandering about stuff' that since I got it the K7+17-70 combination gets much less use! Metz also make a well priced (£70) little flash that does bounce (24 AF-1) which makes an extremely useful combination.

Oh and it is nice to have a camera with LX on it again

Don't forget that the Ricoh GR series offers the RAW option. I have the orignal GR, an excelent quality camera. I think the series has reached GR4 (or maybe 5) now.