AF P&S that focus as you half press the shutter?

[sevo]

Come to think of it, those are all expensive compacts.. Could it be that the cheaper ones have a single motor that extends the lens and actuates the shutter in a single action?

Having the motor trip the shutter (at various AF positions too) would add more expensive mechanics. In a purely electronic design, there is no difference in production or development cost between either scheme. They probably settled for it because of lower wear and battery consumption, as the motor and gears are only strained when an actual picture is taken (so they can dimension the parts for a few hundred rather than several thousand actuations).

 

[GarageBoy]

Thanks!
I'd love to give the Minilux a whirl, but those horror stores...