Does anyone know of or have experience of a compact camera that does a fiar job without a flash?

I'm trying to upgrade from an Olympus 790SW, but don't really want to lash out on a DSLR.
a) They're expensive
b) Even if I could afford one i'm not sure i'd want to risk a £1000 getting flooded
c) They're huge.

I've had reasonalbe results from my 790, but the lens is small and at ISO400 and up it gets a bit grainy. At the mo I'm diving mainly in the Med and soon the red sea so the lights fair down to 20-25m.

The photos below show the issue I've got, just a bit 'noisy' in what should be flat dark areas and flat blue sea. It's fine for macro, but they're not generally the shots I want to take.

Can anyone recommend anything a bit better?

Karl

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa312/Muppetissimo/dt2.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa312/Muppetissimo/dt3.jpg

Hi

Have a look at the Digital distribution range that we can now get hold of at The Divezone. The F200 one that is available (see link- http://ddltd.co.uk/fuji/f200bundle.html) has a low noise signature.

Quote from website- "In addition to the new Super CCD EXR sensor, the F200EXR offers the most advanced technologies available, including Dynamic Range Bracketing, Dual Image Stabilization, Face Detection 3.0, and ISO settings of up to an unprecedented ISO 12800, allowing you to capture any shot, any place and at any time with the lowest noise signature to date".

Nice good quality camera bundles at a reasonable price, see what you think.

regards

M