I used a Samsung NX2000 for a few years and found it to be a pretty decent compromise. I travel ultra light so the smaller the better. I used to have a Nikon D7000 with a 70-300mm, 50mm f/1.8, and the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 (which is probably the best ultra-wide zoom on the market, from a cost vs performance point of view). Unfortunately, that would have taken up half of my backpack, so I sold it all and bought the Samsung NX2000 with a 20-50mm kit lens in a fire sale (€80).

It was a decent camera. The image sensor was fantastic for a camera of its size and price, 20MP CMOS with APS-C crop. The depth of field was pretty shitty, the controls were awkward, and there was no viewfinder, but the dynamic range was good and it shot Raw, so I was pretty happy with it for the price. After I got it wet in Pakistan, the light meter stopped working, I had to shoot at 1/4000 in direct sunlight, and changing the aperture didn't affect the exposure, so it's definitely not very weather resistant! Not a bad servant though.

Eventually I lost it in Georgia, leaving it on a bus after going on a wine tour. So I went down to the bazaar and bought an emergency camera, a Nikon D3100 with the 18-55mm kit lens. It's not bad, but not great either. Eventually, when I have the money, I'll go for a Fuji X100, which has Leica size and performance, but a proper viewfinder that looks through the lens. It also has a pretty amazing selection of wide-aperture lenses. Much cheaper than a Leica as well. I'd suggest it to you as a compact option as well.