Canon Powershot S5 ??

 no idea about that particular camera, but i used this site... http://www.testfreaks.com/digitalcameras/canon-powershot-s5-is/

when i was researching a camera. it gives links to several "pro" reviews and links to the cheapest places to buy online.

edit: plus it gives you links to several other similar models by the same and different manufacturers, so you can compare if you want.

IMO, the Canon S5 is probably the best non-SLR digital camera.  That said, I think action shots are tricky to master.  I'm using a Nikon DSLR currently with a few good lenses and I'm still learning what works and what doesn't as far as action shots.  My novice experience has been that if I have good natural lighting, I get way better pics (even on the auto or sport setting) than I do tweaking all manual settings and this is true for the SLR and the non-SLR cams I use/have used.  My favorites action shots are from the Nikon D40 and my old Canon S1 (the S5 is the latest generation of that camera).

I have it, and I love it! Action shots are going to be tricky no matter what, I think,  but it does a decent job. It also takes nice movies. 2 of my favorite action shots:

 Thanks everyone!  The problem I have now is that the shutter speed is kind of slow so I've missed the shot before my camera has captured it.  Is this shutter speed pretty fast?

(great shots there Cita)

 Yeah, it's pretty good. That was my main complaint with my old camera, too. Another thing I like is it has really fast recovery from its auto power-saving mode. I mean, the camera isn't going to be fool-proof - there are still sometimes delays if using auto-focus, and the reload time between pictures is good but not perfect. The "sports mode" where it takes lots of pictures in quick succession works well, but it's not going to get you perfect pictures depending on light etc. (It's doing a really short shutter speed on auto settings, I think, so if you're in a low-light condition you might not get the picture to come out as well as you want. Photoshop would probably take care of the worst of it, though.)

Another unrelated thing I really like about the camera is its zoom and its image stabilization. Both work really, really well!

My biggest complaint about the camera is its size - I wish I could get all those features on something pocket-sized, but alas, I did know what I was getting in to. It's not at all too heavy or bulky to use, but if you're doing something where you don't want to be wildly conspicuous snapping photos, it's a little awkward. (For example, I feel weird bringing it to parties!)

I need to get new batteries, but if you want, I can take some test pictures or something for you this weekend. Sounds like a fun excuse to play with my camera, which I haven't done nearly enough lately. 

Cita

I mean, the camera isn't going to be fool-proof

I think you should get some new batteries (this is a downside in my book I like the lithium ones) and play but not for me 

I have a point and shoot compact camera ( 2 in fact) so this would be more for those times I want 'better' pics.  My p&s are good but the lag time between shots kills me and one has only a 3x zoom which isn't enough.

The price on the S5 has been dropping that is why I am looking into it.  Thanks again

kpwlee

 Thanks everyone!  The problem I have now is that the shutter speed is kind of slow so I've missed the shot before my camera has captured it.  Is this shutter speed pretty fast?

(great shots there Cita)

It's a loaded question.  You can easily adjust the shutter speed in manual or other types of settings, but if the shutter is faster, the ISO might be higher to compensate for less light and most non-SLR digital cameras get very "noisy" at ISOs above 100 and 200 (even though the S5 will go up to 1600).  That's an issue with point-and-shoot digitals in general: noise at higher ISOs.  Again this is my very novice understanding, but this is why pics generally turn out much better with good lighting.  Then you can still use a faster speed at a lower ISO.

kpwlee

 My p&s are good but the lag time between shots kills me and one has only a 3x zoom which isn't enough.

Is this when it shows the picture?  This can be adjusted (or eliminated) on most cameras.  On my Canon S1, I set it to not show my picture at all unless I held down the shutter button after taking the pic (then when I released it, the pic was gone).  For some reason it seems digital cameras are always set to display the pic for 2 seconds or so.  I've used the S1's version of continuous shooting and it is pretty quick so I imagine the S5 is as good or better.  Also if you were using a flash on a lower end camera, the flash needs to recharge before it can fire again so that will cause a lag. 

 I've been eyeballing this camera also.  As you know I have the S1 and it's still a pretty good camera.  Something went wrong with the flash sync or possibly the auto-shutter-speed and I can't take pics inside or in low light.  That's not a design flaw, I don't think - I abuse electronics.  lol  Otherwise it's a lovely camera - it's not quite pocket-sized but I wasn't looking for that.  It's excellent for what I got it for - a high-end point-and-shoot.  I knew if I got a DSLR I'd nevereverevereverever use it if there was any learning curve involved in making the most of it.

It takes terrific movies.  Don't judge by the movies I post.  I shoot in the lowest resolution possible so I don't have to worry about running out of storage or taking hours to upload to YouTube.  It takes the Compact Flash card, which are a bit harder to find and slightly more expensive, but I find the quality of these cards to be superior, and the storage and transfer rates are more stable. 

I used to use an SLR and when the SI is behaving, I'm very happy with the results.  It used to take terrific action shots, even when fully zoomed out - even many DSLRs with long lenses can be cranky doing that.  It has always been slow in low light - not recovery time, that's always great, but focusing..  I think they fixed that in later permutations of this camera, however.

If you are a manual-reading type you will not go wrong with this camera.  The only mistakes I made with it early on resulted because I misplaced the book for a while and the menus and whatnot are not very intuitive.  Once I found the manual I did a lot of noisy hand to head application and haven't had a problem since.

 I think that I'm going to get the S5. I had the S1 and really really really miss it. My pocket point and shoot takes lousy pictures in comparison. We were camping this weekend and one of the people with us had the S5. It blew my sunset pictures away. I almost cried. The S1 was the best camera that I've ever owned so I know that I won't be dissappointed with the S5.

 OK how does the S5 compare to this one Kodak Z1012

I appreciate all the responses will post a longer reply later

 Kodak uses much less quality parts in all their cameras.  I didn't look at that model, but if you want a camera at the level of the S5, get the S5.

 Thanks Lies - I just reread your other responses re noise, ISO's etc and can confirm that I haven't a clue what you are talking about LOL how's that for ignorant - this is why I am even hesitant to buy the S5.

We have a Sony p&s (3x zoom) that takes OK pics and decent video but the zoom limitation stinks.

We have a Panasonic p&s with 12x zoom and the zoom shots are VERY noisy but at least you can take them

The Sony is slightly better at action shots but not much.  If you try to take a pic often the moment is gone before you get the shot due to the lag.

All I want is to be able to capture things faster and with more clarity - and it needs to be pretty straight forward

My S1 had a 10X zoom and my Panasonic has a 12X.  The problem is that the more you zoom, the more likely the photo is affected by movement or instability in your hand.  I took a lot of pics on safari with my S1, at full zoom, but that was in African sunlight at noontime so the exposures were fast enough to make up for any shakiness in my hand.  When I'm taking pics of the dogs moving, I really can't zoom in past 3-4 on either camera an get a sharp pic unless the light is optimal or I'm willing to play around with manual settings.

The S5 is the best camera in it's class, so you would not go wrong to upgrade to that, but decent pics of running dogs in varying light conditions is sometimes outside the scope of what any camera can offer on it's own.

If it helps, I can post a few pics of moving dogs I've taken with each of my cameras (and I typically just use AUTO with no flash or the SPORT settings so I'm not going full manual or anything).