[Tom Swaman]

Arizona,

I agree with your comments. However, there are those times when it is handy to hae a quality shirt=pocket camera to memorialize a passing scene when the ole dSLR is in the bag, the other car or wherever. Remember the Rollei 35. This was available wioth a good 28mm lens and it took great photos. And then there was Contax and a Ricoh that could do similarly. I am certain that I have forgotten a few.

The sad part is that the digitals use a sensor smakller than the old 35mm film, do not need a winding mechanism or room for a film casette and I do not believe that there is a true, high quality digital compact comparable to any of the 35mm film cameras mentioned above that are available at any price, with or withour RAW capability. And, you are so right, these cameras are noisier than loud, in general!!!!! And, sad to say, many of the newer toys pack more pixels into a smaller area and neglect the resulting impact on noise. So, it is the photographer's fault for patronizing the crappy manufactured toys.

IMHO,
Tom