Paladin. wrote on 05/15/14 at 12:01:36:old_rider wrote on 05/14/14 at 14:08:25:Was zoomed all the way in to 6x digital.... I don't have a separate button to push....
6x digital zoom is no better than simply cropping the picture in PhotoShop.
For shaky shots, use a tripod or simply prop the camera on something, and use the "self timer" to take your paws off the trigger.
Digital zoom IS photo shop
What you want is optical zoom, and depending on glass, it can get pricey. Of course your camera can't take a lens, but they have quite a few mega zoom PS cameras with CMOS processors now, and you can get them for the price of a low end lens.
If you find you want to continue, look at a "bridge" camera. It still is a fixed lens, but it gives you everything a DLSR does, except changing lens and getting dust bunnies
Also, no more shutter lag in the new cameras, they can focus and shoot just as good, if not better, than entry to mid level DSLR's.
Here is an example. I took this with a Fuji HS50 EXR. The little humming bird was about 10 feet away, I zoomed in, it focused faster than I could hit the trigger (almost) but it was quick enough to not lose my focus with shutter lag, as you can tell by the photo, and we know how hummingbirds love to move quickly
With a bridge camera you can shoot all manual or program priority , shoot RAW, whatever.... it really gives you a brush, and you get to paint the way you want.