I used a Ricoh GR compact camera for a few years. It was fantastic. Since I had some flexibility in my settings beyond that of a "typical" compact camera, with dedicated controls for everything from exposure to macro to user presets, I really found it to be an effective tool for creating really great photos.

I loved that it weighed less than a DSLR.



I recently switched to a Micro 4/3 camera, the Olympus OM-D E-M5, with interchangeable lenses and a viewfinder, and I like the viewfinder a lot. I carry two lenses, a small telephoto and a 35mm prime equivalent. Good all-around lenses for a good all-around camera, which as a bonus is weather-sealed.

I got a Gopro Hero (the basic one) for christmas, so I'll mount that up for some fun on a few day trips and see how I like it. A chest mount was $5, which seems ludicrously inexpensive.