I just got this camera -awesome camera, awesome lense! (12x optics) though only 4.23 megapixel it does the job well enough to be called a "camera" and not just a $500+ plastic digatal toy, also has a MANUAL FOCUS mode -yep,
manual! Works perfect with Linux USB mass storage -not just read only either.
I paid $529, unimpressed with the measly 16MB SD memory card that was included, and the lack of a protective (e.g. UV) lense, I soon found myself willing to fork out a small bundle on accessories like a 256MB SD card, spare battery, etc. I will certainly purchase the wide angle and telephoto lense adapters when the cash flow improves here.
"Sports mode" means a lot fewer blurred action photos, and the camera includes "Panning," "Portrait," and "Macro" modes that appear to work quite well (at least for the first day of testing): for me the Macro mode will do a full frame of a 2" object that is about 2" away... not bad at all I think...
One of today's "Portrait mode" shots in full qulaity storage: (warning large pic)
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/...3/p1000026.jpg