The truth of high ISO
DPReview have placed a new article on their site giving the low-down on high ISO in compact cameras. The article was written to provide consumers with some information about what is actually possible and, more importantly, what isn’t.
If you’ve ever wondered why DSLRs produce better images at high ISO and why the Pro at the football match isn’t using the latest hyper-zoom compact to take their pictures, then take a look at this piece. 
Seriously though, it does contain a lot of interesting information on exactly what technologies manufactures are using to make ‘usable’ images at high ISO on these tiny, tiny sensors.
The conclusion is pretty damming…
"If, however, you’re an enthusiast photographer looking for a pocket camera capable of getting even close to a digital SLR, you’re out of luck - you’re going to have to accept some level of compromise."
Personally, I’d really like to see a major manufacture (like Canon) spend some serious R&D budget on developing a new, much, much larger sensor for compact cameras that can accept light at oblique angles. Leica has proven that this is possible to a certain extent with the M8 and making a mass-market chip that was capable of large oblique angles would change the face of digital compact cameras forever.
Being able to slap an APS-C sized sensor into a compact camera would allow the capture of high ISO images, at high quality, low noise and high detail. Just the same as a Canon 400D or a Nikon D80. Sure, it’s going to be expensive at first but as the number of units increase so the costs will drop.
Bring it in as a ‘Pro’ compact and then, as it gets cheaper bring in more prosumer and then consumer models. Sigma certainly feel this market exists with their DP-1. Unfortunately, this is a conventional sensor in a small body and hence the huge lens needed to get it working.
A sensor allowing oblique light would allow a smaller lens to be fitted. Remember all those tiny APS film cameras? Okay, it’s going to be hard to do but just think of the market share they could corner by getting this problem solved.
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