Curious- what compact do you use?

Since my Optio E50 wet walk about I don't have a pocket camera to use at the moment (I don't like my Panny DMC-LZ7, it's just too slow!)

Hows the RZ10 Gwyn? I'm getting nearer to buying one as I type.

A P70.

An interesting question - when is a Leica lens not a Leica lens :

I believe that Panasonic uses Leica designed lenses, rather than Leica made lenses.

My Panasonic bridge camera is nothing to shout about in the IQ department, a long way behind the X70 - a camera that does not claim to have any exotic heritage.

True, but the lenses are made to Leica standards, enough that Leica are a) happy to put their name to them, and b) rebadge and sell some of the same cameras as Leica cameras.

Played with one of the new Lumix Bridge/interchangable lens jobbies at work recently, and the macro is stunning. But... It's not a compact, so I'd keep my FX (Or similar) and my K10 thankyouverymuch!

Don't take it for granted. The worst compact film camera I ever owned was the Leica AF-C1 - the lens was easily beaten by any of the top marque rangefinders of the 1970s.

I don't doubt it to be honest, there's tremendous variation in quality in all marques, and the lens is the single most important factor. I'm lucky, in that the compact I have does have some great glass in front of the sensor.

I'm very happy with it. Apart from one thing. It doesn't have 'Pentax' on the front!

Pentax Optio M50 8mp - great for me when visiting model railroad exhibitions where space is limited - generally lives in the car.

None - I replaced a Powershot G with Panasonic GF1 and 20/1.7 pancake lens. Delighted and would not go back to tiny sensor again. I love the control over depth of field with larger sensor. And with a cheap adapter I am able to use old MF Pentax primes with ease. It's clearly not as portable as a proper compact but the image quality is in a different league - and that pancake lens is a real goody.

I've got a Panny LX3 too. Wonderful camera. And pretty small given what it can do (though not as small as some). I tend to wear it in a case on my belt, which is better than in pocket. (In any case, my trousers are too well tailored!) The images that it produces - particularly given the small sensor - are exceptional (though they don't quite rival a DSLR - or not my K20D). I tend to use RAW for extra leeway - though the in-camera processing is actually very good (Dynamic B&W mode in particular). The lens is very good and fast - with the IS it makes it good in low light. Before I bought it I did wonder if the lack of reach would be a problem, but I can't say it's been a problem at all really - I just adjust (even though with the K20D I'm using more telephoto than WA these days).

What I don't like is the limited control over DoF - one reason to go m4/3 perhaps, though I'm thinking that while it might be a bit bigger than a Pen or GF1/G1, I might as well opt for a K5 & a small prime for further enhanced performance/control. The other negative is the noise - I try to stick to ISO400 and under. M4/3 or a small DSLR offer much more flexibility here - and the K5's apparently stellar high ISO performance has me drooling.

In fact, much as I like the LX3, I'm actually thinking of selling it and putting the proceeds towards a K5 when I'm next in the UK around Xmas. Let me know if you're interested (1 year old black LX3 bought from SRS - 1 careful owner:wink - though you wouldn't be able to get it till late December!

Since 2003 I've been using my Optio 550.

Canon PowerShot SD100. Chosen because it has an optical viewfinder, used SD cards and is the size of packet of cigarettes.

So far so good HG.

I've not had much time to test it thoroughly - too busy with the K5, but I do like it. It has proper SR and 10x zoom. Slips into an ill-fitting trouser pocket very nicely. And sits very nicely in the hand. The green isn't too horrific either .

There are lots of things you can set yourself as well as a huge range of modes to play with. I haven't tried the video on it yet, as I'm only using an old, slow SD card in it at the moment.

Still use a Nikon 8400 which I bought in 2004. 8mp, photosites not too tiny, 24-90 equiv zoom and built like a tank (which is important since it goes climbing with me). I'd like something a little smaller and lighter but as my eyes get worse with age I need a viewfinder with dioptre correction. Which not many do, other than the Canon G10/11 which I've played with but don't rate as enough of an improvement to bother splashing the cash.

Nikon 35Ti. It's film, but has a nice titanium body, a sharp 35mm lens and stunning analogue dials on top. That camera has been to hell and back with me and still works beautifully.

I'm a massive fan of compacts... as someone said, the best camera is the one in your hand! Had a PowerShot S60, only 5mp but was excellent, finally died after taking well in excess of 20,000 shots!

Had a G9 which was great too but a bit big to be a pocket camera - went walkies off the table at a wedding!

I'm now using an S90 which is a great little camera, it's just about the perfect blend of being tiny and still having lots of control over the image making process.

Well my Nokia 5800 has a "Carl Zeiss Tessar" lens in it