Best Compact - c£200?

[photoman500]

Hi although i'm six months in with my Canon 600D and loving every minute of it, i also need to upgrade my compact as the one i have is a few years old, not that great and starting to fail on me. I'm really into taking pics so want something i can have on me pretty much at all times.

Ideally i'd like to spend around £200 for it - there are a few models i have looked up online:

- the Lumix TZ20/30 - looks good but i have a real dislike of touchscreens, also one or two other aspects worry me slightly

- Fujifilm F550 - again the reviews i've seen point to some significant failings - eg turning off the 'beep' turns off the flash - also video unfocussing when zooming

- Canon G12 - yes, above my ideal price range but with Andy Rouse swearing by it i did go as far as handling one in a shop, but it's too big to really put in your pocket so maybe not ideal

the main usage would be to take stills, i rarely bother with video, though occasionally it can be useful - mainly city shots with as much experimentation as the camera will allow some countryside and trips

i've a slight preference for something that shoots both raw and jpeg though a prepared to go for j-peg only if all other requirements are met

any recommendations?

any help much appreciated

 

[Phil Young]

Of you could stretch slightly more, take a look at olympus' xz-1

Matches the G12 IQ and is a bit (a lot) more portable...is also has a f1.8 lens and shoots RAW

If not perhaps a second hand nikon P7000 which will be slightly cheaper.

For Jpeg only the Nikon P300 is very good and within budget...

 

[4wd]

Canon SX220 would be a good choice in that price range.

 

[photoman500]

Thanks for your comments - Phil the Olympus does look good, although 4wd, as you say within the budget the Canon does look a good bet also - all useful, cheers