Ultra-compact with a WIDE angle zoom lens?

[bikeboy]

Hello. I'm new here. I could fill out the questionnaire completely, but my inquiry is quite specific.

I've owned a 3-megapixel Casio untracompact for about 3 years and have been quite happy with it. However, I'm thinking about upgrading to more pixels, and am wondering if there's a camera in that size class with a wider-than-37mm-or-so (35mm equivalent) lens.

I do a lot of motorcycle touring. Which makes size and weight VERY significant - when all your gear is in a tank bag and a couple saddlebags, you need to economize on the packing. (I'm spoilt by the small size... my little Casio is rarely away from my side. Someday I'll take a photo of a sailor kissin' a good-lookin' gal on VJ Day and win the Pulitzer, simply because I have my tiny camera with me. Watch for my photo on the cover of Life Magazine!)

I like to photo-document my adventures. The majority of the photos I take are "landscape" type photos with the zoom at full-wide setting. It would be SWEET to have a 28mm (equivalent) lens.

I've noticed that new Kodak that has 2 lenses - a standard zoom and a fixed wide-angle. It may be a good choice... but it's sure funny looking. (Looks like a "Rolleiflex" digital camera!)

Any enlightenment would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!

[coldrain]

Panasonic FX01. Ultra Compact, and noisy like all Panasonics (they sharpen photos always, to make the photos and lesn appear to be sharper. But this also enhances and exaggerate noise and other artifacts).
If you can stand noise, it probebly is a nice camera.
Starts at 28mm.
Dimensions (W x H x D): 94.0 x 50.8 x 25.4 mm / 3.7 x 2.0 x 1.0 in

Panasonic LX1. Compact, very noisy, even more so than most Panasonics. Starts at 28mm, but also makes wide format photos.
Dimensions (W x H x D): 106.7 x 55.9 x 25.4 mm / 4.2 x 2.2 x 1.0 in

Leica D-Lux 2. Same form factor and lens and sensor as the Panasonic LX1. A little bit more expensive, but for that a lot better software and bigger memory card. It does a MUCH better job than the Panasonic on image quality, it does not do the Panasonic trademark over-processing of images, resulting in much better image quality (way less noise and other artifacts). A winner.
Dimensions (W x H x D): 106.7 x 55.9 x 25.4 mm / 4.2 x 2.2 x 1.0 in

Leica C-Lux 1. Looks like it is the Leica version of the Pana FX01. That probably means the same but with a lot less noise and sharpening artifacts.

Samsung A55W. Starts at 28mm. Very affordable. It cuts corners, for instance on LCD resolution. Jeff Keller did not like it much, but I think it deserves a little bit more credit.
Dimensions (W x H x D): 106.7 x 55.9 x 25.4 mm / 4.2 x 2.2 x 1.0 in
(Weird that it has the exact same dimensions as the two above, I took them off this site.)

Samsung Digimax L55W. Starts at 28mm. Well made and affordable. Has been tested quite good in some magazines.
Dimensions (W x H x D): 99.1 x 55.9 x 27.9 mm / 3.9 x 2.2 x 1.1 in

Canon PowerShot S80. Compact, starts at 28mm. Together with the Leica the best of the bunch image quality wise. Less barrel distortion than the Leica/Pana. Both are very well made and feel luxury. Great panorama shooting mode that lets you make a sequence.
Dimensions (W x H x D): 104.1 x 55.9 x 38.1 mm / 4.1 x 2.2 x 1.5 in

There you have it. Two ultra compacts, and 5 compact cameras that go wide. And there is of course the Kodak 570 you mentioned. But that one does not have stellar image quality. So, a lot to choose.

[dk_-]

is the leica D-lux 2 REALLY different than the panasonic LX1?

i've read that they're identical.

[CptOfGondor]

Some people say that the software/image processing algorithms are different.

[Pixel8]

Coldrain - thanks for the tip re Leica C-Lux vs FX-01. I like the features of the FX-01 (small, WA, decent movie mode, ) but am concerned about noise since indoor photos are a high priority. Is the software or the panny sensor the primary cause of its excess noise?
Has anyone done a direct comparison of the C-lux and the FX-01? $200 is a lot to pay for extra styling. Good looks and significantly better images are another matter. I'd want to see a direct comparison of the 2 before spending the extra $.

[ryanbrancel]

Although hard to find in the US, the "Ricoh R4" looks very intriguing. Basically the same size as the FX01, with a 28-200 mm zoom and I.S.

only US Seller:
http://popflash.com/item.cfm?id=$$^ZI^@
Reviews:
http://www.cameratown.com/reviews/review_listing.cfm/hurl/id|2368

[Duwenbasden]

Ricoh is like Samsung and Panasonic - Ungodly amount of noise.