Hi, well I would need to ask a lot of questions of you first such as what type of subjects are you most likely to be shooting, budget, zoom range etc. etc.
I use a Leica D-Lux-4 as my P & S, but the much cheaper Panasonic LX3 is virtually identical with the same lens, sensor etc. I only have the DL4 as it was part of the deal when I sold all my Leica R gear!:thumbs:
Both cameras have 10Mpx sensors, a lovely little Leica F2 zoom lens which ranges from 24mm to 60mm. It can be set up like a DSLR with Aperture priority exposure. The aperture can be easily set with a joystick on the rear face with the aperture selected displaying on the rear LCD as you change it.:thumbup:
It takes Raw images (I have set mine up to take Raw but it can also be set up to take jpeg). A small low powered flash, OK for close fill-in but that's about all. It does have a hotshoe which will take an external flash or an externally mounted viewfinder like a rangefinder camera. Otherwise you use the Large LCD screen on the back of the camera, ugh, but you do get used to it! :sleep006:
They are probably the only "system" P & S cameras, as there are lots of 3rd party add-on's available. I have the Panda tube , UV filter and lens hood on mine now, which makes it a little bigger, it is no longer a pocket camera.....I am trying real hard to turn it into a DSLR!!!!:wtf:
Image quality is really quite good with useable ISO up to 600, even 800 at a push. I usually keep mine down to 200 if I can.
It usually resides in my car, but it also accompanies my A900 with me on long trips.
It is perfectly adequate for up to 10x8 prints or web use. I usually rarely print at no more than 7x5 from it's files but have done the odd 10x8.
There are a lot of more expensive P & S type cameras just coming on the market with bigger sensor's so you might want to have a look at them before taking the plunge. However none of them are as compact and lightweight as my DL4 or FX3, but I am sure the image quality would be better.
Let us know what you get!