As noted, there are a number of choices, in the compact zoom range I have had many, Konica, Pentax, Minolta, Canon, and Nikon. Pentax models have good lens, they seem to be holding up better than Minolta or Nikon. Down side is that DX coded film must be used as with DX the camera default to ISO 50. Second is the longer the zoom the slower the lens, Pentax made zooms that range from 38 to 80 to 105, 120, 135 and even a 180, but each each the lens become slower and slower, the 180 was F11 or 16 at the long end. I have the Pentax WR with short zoom, the WR stands for weather resistant 38 to 85mm. I also have a Konica wide, 28 to 50, great lens. Early model point and shoots had fixed lens, 28, 35, 38 or 40mm. These first generation models were not DX coded, so the camera can be fooled into bracketing for backlite scenes. Many had filter rings with the meter inside the filter ring. My current fav is a Chinon Infrafocus with 35mm 2.8, problem is that it is rare to find one with a working flash. In terms of fast lens, Canon 1ist generation Sure shot, with 50mm 1.7 (?). Just keep in mind that although Yashica, Contex, Konica, Rollie, and Minolta made expensive models with great lens, still bring high prices, most point and shoot were consumer grade and were not built to last.
