My opinion is that you can't get all 3 of compact size, good in low light, and big zoom range in any current camera..

To narrow down your choices, my number one question would be: can your low-light requirements be met with image stabilization? Image stabilization can give you sharp photos in low light without having to increase the ISO (and hence the noise), but only if the things you're photographing are fairly still..

If your answer to this is "yes", then you've got a few options. As you mentioned, Panasonic make some nice compact cameras with image stabilization and extended zoom ranges. Canon has the A710IS which would also fit the bill.

If you answered "no", then your options are much more limited. IMHO the best low-light compacts are the Fuji F30/31fd/40/20. They're much better in low light than any competing compact, but you're back to a basic 3x zoom..

I have a Fuji F10 (predecessor model to those listed) and I'm pretty happy with it's low-light performance..

Here's a comparison of the A710IS, F31fd, Panasonic TZ3 & your S45 for size comparison: http://www.dpreview.com/...xf31fd%2Cpanasonic_dmctz3%2Ccanon_s45&show=all. There are review links for all of them at the top..

Chris..

Hi Chris,Thanks for replying..

I feared that it was not possible to to get all of requirements in a very compact form..

It would probably mostly be "social shooting" and pictures of building and landscapes in the dark. I took some night photos while visiting Rhodes recently and they turned out horribly..

Would image stabilization not be a good thing in any case? To be it sound awful useful!People would normally qualify for still objects, would they not?.

I like the Lumix you showed me in the link, but I am afraid the images does it too much credit. It looks quite small on the picture but from the specs it is only a tad tinner than my S45..

I do not like the Canon A710 IS. Why did Canon cut away the S-series. It seemed like the best PowerShot series in regard to features and size..

I have head good things about the new Fuji cameras. They look nice too, and quite compact. Is it much better than the other ones in regard to image quality..

I have added the Ricoh camera to the list:.

Http://www.dpreview.com/...xf31fd%2Cpanasonic_dmctz3%2Ccanon_s45&show=all.

It would be really nice to see a DPReview of the darn thing. Some reviews says it is the greatest compact camera at the moment and others bash it for it lack of image quality..

Again, thanks for your input.-Rasmus.

Edit: Is there anywhere where I can find the cameras next to other objects, such as coins or similar, to get a better feeling of the size of the cameras?..

It would probably mostly be "social shooting" and pictures ofbuilding and landscapes in the dark. I took some night photos whilevisiting Rhodes recently and they turned out horribly.Would image stabilization not be a good thing in any case? To be itsound awful useful!People would normally qualify for still objects, would they not?.

Image stabilization _is_ always a good thing, but people aren't always still enough in low light for it help. I'm talking about using IS to get pictures in the 1/10th - 1/5rd of a second range, and only the most carefully still person won't be blurred at that sort of shutter speed..

I like the Lumix you showed me in the link, but I am afraid theimages does it too much credit. It looks quite small on the picturebut from the specs it is only a tad tinner than my S45..

You're right, it is only a little smaller..

I have head good things about the new Fuji cameras. They look nicetoo, and quite compact. Is it much better than the other ones inregard to image quality..

At high ISO (400+), the Fuji F30/31fd/40/20 are much better. In good light it's pretty much a wash..

I have added the Ricoh camera to the list:.

Http://www.dpreview.com/...xf31fd%2Cpanasonic_dmctz3%2Ccanon_s45&show=allIt would be really nice to see a DPReview of the darn thing. Somereviews says it is the greatest compact camera at the moment andothers bash it for it lack of image quality..

Ricoh are a big unknown - it's pretty hard to find reviews of their cameras anywhere. But a quick search on the Ricoh forum gives this link: http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~parsog/ricoh/01-intro.html#r6reviews.

Edit: Is there anywhere where I can find the cameras next to otherobjects, such as coins or similar, to get a better feeling of thesize of the cameras?.

Http://www.steves-digicams.com/ has a picture of the cameras next to a cd for it's reviews, and the reviews here on dpreview often have a picture of someone holding the camera..

Chris..

As another poster has eluded to, you might have to compromise on some feature..

So basically it's a pick 2 of these 3 features deal:small,large zoom range,good low light high ISO performance.

I have a Panasonic TZ3 that I'm happy with. it's got a 10x zoom (28-280mm) OIS lens, fits in a pocket (but it's a little bit heavy feeling) and decent ISO performance to 800 ISO. Unfortunately it suffers from that watercolor look if you view images at 100%, so no major cropping if you're going to print the photos. Luckily with that nice lens you can usually get a nice tight zoom of your subject so it fills the frame thereby eliminating the need to crop..

At 7.1 MP I can print the entire photo (not cropped at all) to 8x10 and not notice degraded quality at all. Check out the review on this site and look at the sample pics so you can judge for yourself if that is acceptable quality for you...

Hi Chris,.

Image stabilization _is_ always a good thing, but people aren'talways still enough in low light for it help. I'm talking about usingIS to get pictures in the 1/10th - 1/5rd of a second range, and onlythe most carefully still person won't be blurred at that sort ofshutter speed..

I see. You are of course right. For night photos of still objects this will work nice, though..

At high ISO (400+), the Fuji F30/31fd/40/20 are much better. In goodlight it's pretty much a wash..

If I would not want greater zoom I would definitely get a Fuji. A guy I know has one, and it is quite nice..

Ricoh are a big unknown - it's pretty hard to find reviews of theircameras anywhere. But a quick search on the Ricoh forum gives thislink:http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~parsog/ricoh/01-intro.html#r6reviews.

I was already aware of the site. It is very informative. I think I will wait for the R7 and see what it has to offer. It seems as there comes a new model twice a year, so hopefully it will be here in a couple of months. I might have better image quality..

Http://www.steves-digicams.com/ has a picture of the cameras next toa cd for it's reviews,.

Thanks for the link..

I have a Panasonic TZ3 that I'm happy with. it's got a 10x zoom(28-280mm) OIS lens, fits in a pocket (but it's a little bit heavyfeeling) and decent ISO performance to 800 ISO..

Hey,.

Thanks for the info. I think size is quite important to me, so I guess I will pass on the TZ3. I will have to see them in real life first, though..

Thanks for your replies,Rasmus..