geezer7 Loc: Michigan

My wife and I have hiked the Tour of Mont Blanc twice. It is a 105 mile 11 day trek with accommodation in mountain refuges and occasionally in small hotels in villages. We carried all our gear in our backpacks and since we are now both 70 we try to limit the weight. We are planning on hiking the GR5 (Geneva to Nice - actually we will only walk half which should take about 14 days). After this long preamble, I will get to the point!
We have a Canon S90 which we bought in 2010 and found it great for trekking because it fits in a small case which I can attach to my clavicle strap and can access it without difficulty. Last year we bought a D7100 and enjoy it but it is both too bulky and too heavy for our proposed trek.
My question is whether we would benefit from an upgrade to our S90? Generally we would be interested in landscapes in good light. Our experience is that long telephotos are not very useful for this application.
I know the Canon SX50 is a great camera (my son-in-law has one) but too bulky for carrying on a clavicle strap.
I would appreciate any suggestions. Would successors to the S90 offer much advantage?
I would like to keep under $500 and am comfortable with refurbished. I like to shoot in raw.
We wrote a report of our experience and a link follows:

http://hiking.topicwise.com/doc/MontBlanc2012

I'm looking forward to your suggestions.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

One option might be the XZ-2 ($239 refurb)

http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/outlet/reconditioned-cameras/xz-2-reconditoned.html

http://robinwong.blogspot.com/2012/10/olympus-stylus-xz-2-review-street.html

http://robinwong.blogspot.com/2012/10/olympus-stylus-xz-2-review-seven-collar.html

http://robinwong.blogspot.com/2012/10/olympus-stylus-xz-2-review-macro-and.html

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Reading your question the G15 from Canon sounds perfect, price, shoots RAW, relatively small, light enough, I carry mine as a walk around camera if there is any chance of wanting a real camera. BTW kudos for doing that kind of hike at 70, not quite there yet and I doubt I'd enjoy that long of a hike or that my wife could even do it, Bob.

RJNaylor Loc: Delmar, New York

or the Canon PowerShot G1 X. It sports a 4/3rds censor and is $400 new. The newer model Mark II is $599. Here is a review of the MarkII:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/7400735014/enthusiast-compact-camera-roundup-2014/3

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

It's 1.5" not 4/3. The Lx-100 has the 4/3 sensor.

RJNaylor Loc: Delmar, New York

Thanks! I had forgotten that ...

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Now I forget...is 1.5" larger than 4/3? So many darn new sensor sizes out there nowadays.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Listen to this guy. He knows small quality cameras.

RJNaylor Loc: Delmar, New York

Yes. 1.5" is the diagonal of the sensor vs. 1.34" for the 4/3rds and .58" for the 1/1.7 that is in many of the compacts .

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

The Canon S90 that you already have - you won't find anything significantly better in the same size class for $500 or less. When the S90 originally came out, it cost around $600, and that really wasn't so long ago. Pocket cameras today are not much better than the ones from five years ago. Unless your camera isn't working as it should, just continue with it, forget about looking for upgrade.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Another option would be to just go with the S110 or S120, which replaced the S90. I use a S110 for work and love the compactness.

Not too much of an upgrade, but you'll at least be familiar with the menu system.

Budnjax Loc: NE Florida

I have a Canon S100 that would be perfect...small and easy to use but with great results. This model, or one similar should fit your needs.

geezer7 Loc: Michigan

Thanks for the replies. Would I see much improvement in going to S120? I may want to print up to 16x20. I recently printed some S90 photos at 11x14 and was pleasesd with the results. I am not even close to being a pro so my standards aren't as high as many of the outstanding photographers on the forum!
I was away from home for a couple of hours so haven't had a chance to look at the links provided by Clint. I'm leaning toward making do with the S90 but want to explore other options.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

IMO, 16x20 is likely going to be borderline with the s120. I print 16x20 and 18x 24 with my m4/3 16mp sensor, and that's somewhat pushing it. It's not to say that it can't be done, but you're only talking about a 12.1 mpx sensor. You might be better off looking at the Rx100. It's just as small, has a larger sensor, and has more mpx, which will make printing at 16x20 much easier.

richosob Loc: Lambertville, MI

I can't give you any information on cameras BUT, to do this much hiking at 70 years of age is just marvelous. Please accept my congratulations on seeing the areas of the world. I mean I'm 66 and cant make it to the bathroom. God Bless you, keep it up.

Rich