Best compact camera for a Tour? Help me decide.

[FredHiltz]

Take a look at the Canon S95, Panasonic DMC-LX5, and Nikon P7000, all pocket-size and offering the kind of IQ you are looking for. Reviewed at http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q42010highendcompactgroup/.

I have been happily using the Canon S90, predecessor of the S95, while hiking, biking, and skiing since late 2009. IMO it is the closest thing to a DSLR in your pocket yet made. I shoot RAW exclusively and run the Canon RAW converter in my netbook when on the road. Slower than the big desktop at home, but OK. The most time-consuming part of the workflow can be done in batch while I change for dinner.

The S95 lacks an optical viewfinder and a hot shoe, both of which you can get on the G12 at more weight. Their sensors are identical, and their IQ are both excellent, as the review indicates.

Fred

[whittierider]

Also, the reason for the higher MP is for upload onto a site called iStockPhoto.com, which has a high standard.

I just had a look at their site and the final picture requirements are actually easily met - RGB J Peg at 1600+1200 pixels.

So that's less than 2 megapixels.  Yes, that's easily met.

[Stevenp]

Fred, awesome info! It looks to me like the best option. I just don't know what a hot shoe is?

So that's less than 2 megapixels.  Yes, that's easily met.

The way istock works is that you sell photos and yes, 2 megapixels is the smallest size which sells for very cheap, but it goes up from there and the larger the photo, the larger the amount of money you make per photo. XL is about 12MP and that is what I am shooting for.

[jsieber]

Fred, awesome info! It looks to me like the best option. I just don't know what a hot shoe is?

Hot Shoe is where you would mount an external flash.