Hi,

I am doing quite a lot of research and reading to try to figure out my next camera move, and ask for some solid advice. I currently own a Panasonic FZ18 (which was an upgrade from a Canon S3 IS) and, although I like the camera very much, it doesn't perform well in what I need it most for: bird photos.

Image quality is fine, and the zoom is stupendous. However, the Pana has some sort of lag (and the Panasonic talk forum people tell me it isn't quite shutter lag): a slight delay between hitting the shutter button and the image being captured. Even when I am sure that I pressed the shutter with the whole bird in my viewfinder, the captured image will more often than not be of a pristine blue sky... Annoying, obviously. The "fixes" advised in Panasonic Talk didn't do the trick, so my best alternative right now is shop for a new camera.

I did extensive reading on the S100fs but found little info on its speed. I get the numbers (such as in the DPR review), but little about true hands-on experience. Although more subjective than measurements, to me they mean more.

Will I only end up with more blue skies, or would the D100fs be a worthy upgrade? I am willing to settle for a little less optical zoom if the camera has the speed to actually capture those elusive images.

Another issue is, obviously, chromatic aberration. I've read the forums and reviews and know how much of a negative this is to some people. I also know that choosing a digital camera nowadays is all about information to decide on which compromises to make. Because, simply put, there is, and never will be, the perfect digital camera...

So, to the kind folk of Fujiflim talk, here's a list of objective questions:
1. Does the S100fs have the speed to do what I want? I welcome any info on how this camera's handling, concerning speed, is.
2. Would it be more adviseable, right now, to wait for Fuji's next move (I read that they do lots of announcements in July!) instead of buying the S100fs?
3. Would it be better to get the Panasonic FZ50 (or whatever they launch in its place, since this model's lifespan is definitely ending) instead?

Thanks.
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ER