Fujifilm FinePix F100fd

Pros: Great lens, image quality

Cons: control layout and no exposure comp in auto mode

Summary: I have owned and used more than a dozen digital cameras since 1996. At first it was just the novelty of having a direct digital image. Next it replaced my film convenient point and shoot. Then I got DSLR to replace film SLR. With the F100 I was looking to replace my DSLR for travel photos when I don't want to lug my DSLR around my neck for up to 8 hours a day. As such, I wanted the camera with the highest image quality for daytime and flash shots. Very high ISO performance was not a major concern.
On image quality, the F100 did not disappoint. Daytime image quality at low iso matched my DSLR for detail (not dynamic range which is not expected by a tiny sensor).
I posted samples pictures in the Fujifilm forum at dpreview.com
The image stabilization gives about a 1 to 2 stop advantage. Keeping all my daytime shots at or below iso 400 and indoor shots below iso 200 I get consistent good results. With image stabilization that's equivalent to iso 1600 and 800 on non stabilized cameras. I never was able to shoot such high iso in film so this camera is a marvel of miniaturization. The camera offers much higher isos but then the image quality drops.
The camera performance at the sweet 28mm equivalent wide alone is worth the purchase cost compared to fixed lens 28mm cameras such as the Ricoh GRD and the Sigma DP1 which cost more than twice as much and do not produce images with as much detail as the F100. I used to own the very expensive Nikon 28ti (still expensive used on ebay), a 28mm fixed lens film camera well regarded by even pros and I find that the F100 produces better shots consistently. The 5x zoom is nice but hard to control since it quickly zips from wide to tele. Anything in between may require more than one try.
My major gripe with the camera is the lack of convenient manual controls and lack of adjustments in any other mode except Manual. You cannot adjust, compensation, metering, dynamic range or focus mode in any of the very numerous AUTO or scene modes. I usually like to use AUTO with exposre ion for daylights scenes, manual for flash for indoors, and Natural for indoor no flash with compensations. Now in AUTO and Natural you are locked out of any image adjustments. As a result I have to use manual most of the time and with the current control layout with no dedicated knobs, I have to push a whole bunch of buttons each time my shooting situation changes.
The ultimate positive side is that this camera is always on my belt and I have the possibility not to miss any shooting opportunity with DSLR like quality without a DSLR. I used to lug a DSLR with me maybe about once a month when I went to an event of some sort.
It will not replace your DSLR yet when you want maximum dynamic range or very low light no flash or action sports shots from the grandstand where a heavy 200mm f2.8 won't be matched by any pocket camera for many years to come if ever.
I bought my F100 from Beach Camera for $15 less with free ship and I received my camera the next day. I am leery of Amazon free ship. I ordered an AA battery charger almost 2 weeks ago and still have not received it. Amazon free ship can take a month sometimes and that's a real bummer.