Some of the modern, high end compacts produce images every bit as good as a pro spec DSLR. Quite a few full time pros will have a good compact for some situations.
I use two compacts, because I upgraded the old Canon S70 (shoots RAW) when the G10 came out and I felt I could make use of the new lens coverage (28mm - 140mm equivalent) plus the build quality was going to help it survive in the rough and tumble world it gets used for. Both of these cameras have a dive housing, for waterproffing them and so I can get underwater shots. I need the RAW shooting capability though, otherwise some of the others are just as good.
The S70 still gets used for doing work - I am happy to give it to someone else to use on a day. I use the G10, it is faster to use too, with much less shutter lag. I use it for a regular feature slot I do in a couple of magazines where the D3 and kit is too much in addition to what else I have ot take and carry.
Don't dismiss a compact for what it can do. Itis slower to use, granted, but the images are every bit as good as high end cameras. The G10 produces RAW converted jpegs at between 10MB and 15Mb apiece - the same file size as the D3.
There was a chap in the USA who did a trial between his Hasselblad and the G10. He shoots fine art landscapes for a living. He set up the tripod with the 'Bled on it and took a shot. He then rested the G10 on the top of the ' medium format camera and repeated the shot with the compact. Back in the studio he processed the pictures with whayever needed doing, this was a comparison of what was possible with the camera. Then he printed the result to 24"x20", marked on the back A and B.....invited a load of his customers and industry flks round for a coffee and asked them to vote which print they PREFERRED. The result was about 50/50 - which goes to show the compact DOES produce the results of a top end camera - the Canon G10 then was around $500, the Hasselbald that he used was nearly $25,000 - but the results were comparable.
A D5000 is not a Hasselbald, however good it might be. Enjoy it, but don't think it is way above a good compact, because it is only about the same.
Oh! and the Canon G11 is supposed ot be better than the G12. I don't know why, but it is what I have heard from various quarters, might be something to do with the swivel screen and how it survives. I forget, but it made my mind up not to bother changing the G10.
to me it makes no difference if its a compact or a dslr + lens (not including massive 300mm f2.8s etc ) since my pocket or a small camera bag are just as portable as each other for me personally.
