Logic check???

I've been eying a nice point and shoot. My gear list is below, but as they say, the best camera is the one you have with you. As such I've been researching point and shoot cameras for a while (in fact I posted a thread several months back asking for input). Ideally I wanted a high-ish zoom level, quality lens, larger sensor than the low-end point and shoots, IS, RAW and any other features would be gravy.

Its hard to rank those features... IS seems like a given so my next top two features were larger sensor and high zoom. Unfortunately, in most cases this seems to put you into the SLR-like category, cameras like the G12. So I either have to give up zoom or go to a dinky sensor. Because Sony and Olympus have their EVIL cameras, nothing in the P&S line appears to have the larger sensors. So it kind of comes down to Nikon, Canon, and Panasonic. Nikon and Panasonic make P&S with hot shoes, which is kind of nice, but since I have Canon flashes it seems like a waste.

So after reading reviews, the S95 seems the best bet for me... which is where I kind of landed after my research a few months back.


SOOOOOO if I'm missing some glaring obvious model that has the larger 1/1.7 (ish) sensor, RAW, IS, AND a greater zoom range (7-10x) but is still in the "pocket size" category, speak now (please).

Compact-wise, your search landed you spot on.
The S95 is the best out there, in my opinion, if you're after a 1/1.7 sensor, RAW and f/2.0 that all fit together nicely in your pocket.
Slightly larger is Panasonic's LX5. Not as compact as the S95, has a wider lens, but shorter zoom. Some will say it's better than the S95. I have no experience to say.
The only other two compact cameras with a 1/1.7 sensor, RAW and zoom are
Canon's G12 and Nikon's P7000. They are both larger in size, and have a widest aperture
of f/2.8, as opposed to the S95 and LX5's f/2.0.
The P7000 has the largest zoom, standing at x7.1 but also has extremely slow writing times when shooting RAW (which you say you use).
Bottom line is where you started (best way to go, then you know you are right) - the S95.

Thanks for the response! Reality checks sometimes get me over the analysis paralysis hump (and help avoid buyers remorse).