Light rugged camera with more to offer than an iPhone

I'm looking for a new camera which suits my specific needs. My last two cameras have both been Lumix point and click cameras (my last was a LX100). I'm very happy with the series in general but I find the mechanism in the lens/body doesn't last well (I give them very heavy use) and I need to replace more frequently than I like. Should I stick with Panasonic, or is there something better for me out there?Here are my criteria:

1) I am a frequent and avid hiker, and I use my camera to journal my trips. There are often dirty, dusty or wet conditions.

2) I do not want a heavy camera. I like and want high quality pictures, but I wear the camera around my neck nearly constantly and can't do that if it's too heavy. I do want a quality level higher than I can get with my phone. Otherwise, what's the point?

3) I think I still want a point and click. I know how to use a proper camera, but for my purposes, I mostly want to be able to capture the sudden shot.

What would you bu y if you had this list of criteria? Is the new Lumix still my best bet? (Both of my Lumix cameras have died in the same way-- the mechanism which pushes the lens in and out when you turn the camera on gets dust/dirt in the gears and breaks. Too expensive to fix. I use my cameras *very* heavily, so it may not be a Lumix issue.)

posted by frumiousb to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (5 answers total)
Source: Light rugged camera with more to offer than an iPhone