Small digicams are electrostatic devices and given the chance, will pull in dust like a powerful magnet to iron filings. Most people say they want to carry them in a pocket without a case, if possible. I have one I carry in a case, and another that fits into a small Coach 'clutch' pouch that zips up and fits into a pocket. The only serious dust problem I've had was with the Panasonic ZS100, but that dust (and a huge amount of it) originated at the factory.