On Sat, 6 Dec 2008 19:02:35 +0000, Robert Sneddon
wrote:

In message , SMS
writes

b) why the P&S makers even feel compelled to include the ability to
shoot at high ISO when they know how poorly their products will
perform.

Bad shot versus no shot at all. The pixel-peeping purists who infest
this august forum can't understand it, perhaps but nearly all the
pictures taken on any given day are not shot by would-be Ansell Adams
types, but are for the memories of the location and the time. A noisy
P&S picture is better than no picture at all, and few people are willing
to lug a heavy complex DSLR around with them when they are going out
somewhere not expressly to take pictures.

And that is perhaps the best reason to have a p&s, to have a camera in
your pocket with you at all times.

But that doesn't in any way suggest that a p&s should replace your
dslr, rather it should merely be a supplement.