Reference your reply to Steward Murray in this month's WDC (August 2011), there is, in fact, one new compact camera with an optical viewfinder available, from Jessops and a few other places, the Canon A1200. It has a 12MP sensor and a 28-112mm (equivalent) zoom lens. I bought one a couple of months ago, and it is a first class camera. Check it out, at £79.95 it is a bargain.