Hello! Looking for a new camera, probably a low end (maybe SLR) Nikon only because the last 'troublefree' camera I had was a Nikon. I wish all (camera) manufactureres had a substantial selection module on their web site! something like this guitar selector [URL]http://www.selectsmart.com/FREE/select.php?client=electricguitars[/URL] or the Gates belt design simulator (need to sign up): [URL]http://www.gates.com/dfproweb/index.cfm[/URL] Having had a very bad and expen$ive experience with a fujifilm (Fine?)Pix-s1500 product I am extremely cautious in finding a replacement. Here are some of the problems encountered and some inclusive features I'd like from my next camera. Focusing ======== The fujifilm doesn't have manual focus so it has always been impossible to shoot through a window because it locks on the window pane and all else (outside) is severely out of focus! - I set up a zoomed (outdoors) nightshot including a shoreline settlement with its lights and the full moon rising only to find that after having pressed to the autofocus detent, upon pressing further for the actual exposure the focus went and slewed to a blurr. This has not cleared and pretty well makes the camera unusable ever since. - I want a camera with manual focus in addition to auto. - Preferably with an auto focus feature that also serves as a rangefinder providing distance information only - Preferably with a compensation feature to be used with autofocus (such as already exists for exposure) so that I might adjust autofocus +/- 20% in 1% steps Exposure Control: ================= The usual auto/apperature/shutter priority features with exposure compensation/bracketing i.e. for example I want to be able to set up shutterspeed priority with auto exposure CORRECTED by a desired compensation % OR a bracketing sequence. Movies: ======= - INAUDIBLE MECHANICAL FUNCTIONS such as zooming and all others. The Fujjifilm-s1500 sounds like a factory on the soundtrack even without active zoom motoring during filming - wide range manual framerate selection (down to 1 frame per minute) between 1 & 30 fps in 1 fps increments between 1 & 60 fpm in 1 fpm increments - SOUND-ZOOMING allowing the sound from a distant source to dominate and to partly suppress ambiant sound - auto or manual but variable sound sensitivity OR limiting that doesn't produce a distorted overkill in even a light wind Power: ====== Standard (preferably 12vdc or else 6vdc) plus a wallplug adapter plus an external DC adapter (cigarette lighter adapter for automotive 12vdc battery) for one-week timelapse photos. What is better, a widereange optical zoom or changeable (telephoto) lens? Is there some rule of thumb to relate say a 15x zoom to XYZ mm telephoto? Are there sharpness/distortion advanteges? Does the gps feature in Nikons include a timestamp independant of camera setup? Thanks for any info