The Rob Galbraith site has a specific forum, "Compact cameras used by pros" which has extensive discussions of exactly this subject.

JC

Just would like to know what people take when they travel small and indiscreet. I've been looking at all the digital options and am sorely tempted to go and purchase a used Contax G. My reasons: I can put iso 1600 in the contax; it looks fairly consumer; the lenses are incredible; AF; decent zooming viewfinder.
I know, I know, Alex Majoli shot award winning pics with a Oly 5050, and now packs a 5060 too. Unfortunately in Edmonton we trade day for night a good part of the year, so low light shooting has to be considered. Any thoughts? Will we ever see a compact, affordable digicam with low-light potential?