Re: I would like to buy another camera BUT
The problem with digital compacts is than none of them has a decent finder -- or even ANY finder. In order to rapidly and reliably compose a picture offhand, and not just aim the camera in the general direction, it has to have what I call an 'eye contact finder'. A hundred years ago, cameras came generally came with either a matte screen, which required a 'stand', black cloth and all, or a 'brilliant' finder which was a tiny belly-level thing which you did not see much in ("Aunt Agatha, wave your hand please so I can see where you are"). When around the First World War optical direct finders of the reverse Galilean type came in, as on the Leica I, they were a great leap forward. For the first time with a hand camera, you could aim the camera as intuitively as you aimed a finger, and see what you got.
And now three generations later we have re-invented holding the camera before you on your outstretched arms while trying to get the aim, just like with the Newton finders of the 13x18cm plate press cameras of Edwardian vintage. That's progress! Back to the Neolithic! But finderless cameras are cheaper to manufacture of course, and they do fit into a jeans pocket. Taking pictures? A secondary consideration.
The old man from the Age of the Brilliant Finder
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