thanks everyone. I replied to this hours ago and somehow I must have pressed the wrong button. Lucky it wasn`t the big red one.... I have looked at all the suggestions given above and my brain is starting to hurt. I do think the panasonic FZ200 might get the nod though. PASM modes, hotshoe, Raw capability, 3 Fn buttons, constant f2.8 aperture thru 25-600mm (35mm equivalent), 0.1s shutter lag...etc. So once again thanks.