High res digital point and shoot cameras are extremely convenient.
Some tricks:
You can use a hardware-store door-viewer as a wide field lens once you learn to hold it correctly.
You can also use a screw (in the camera body) and a string (which you step on) as a stabilizer. I haven't done this but its very clever.
Back in the day of silver and hiking with friends, I used to haul a 35mm SLR with a big wide angle zoom. Its nice not to have to open your delicate optics to change film in a dusty, windy environment.
