The Pocket Camera as Visual Notebook

Pocket Camera as Visual Notebook
Dogs and Signs. Toronto. April, 2009 Fujifilm F200EXR @ ISO 200
 
Many painters carry a sketch pad with them to outline painting ideas. Writers and musicians keep a notepad or audio recorder handy to capture fleeting thoughts and inspirations that may come along at unexpected times.
Similarly, many photographers always carry a camera. This can be a DSLR, but frankly the bulk and weight are such that these are often left at home rather than slung over a shoulder when walking out the door. Frankly, walking ones day-to-day life with a large camera hanging from ones neck is rather geeky.
The solution is a pocket camera. In the days of film Rollei had a line of wonderful pocket cameras – I still have my 35SE, though I haven't used it in years.
The top of the heap in pocket digicams today are the Canon G10 and the Panasonic LX3. Both feature raw mode, very good lenses, and are capable of producing high quality prints up to 13X19". But, each has an Achil...