The 18-55mm kit lens is compact. If you want more compact, consider a prime like the 40/2.8 or 35/2. If you want good optics, and want a zoom, it's not going to be 'compact' (although that's relative - my 24-105L is quite compact compared to the 28-300L I sometimes carry as a general purpose zoom). IMO, the best general purpose zoom for APS-C is the 17-55/2.8, followed closely by the 15-85/3.5-5.6.