Need opinions Fuji S9100

[Groucho]

Well, who knows. I just think that sooner or later, they'll have to start selling some actual image quality to the masses, and probably the only way to do that will be with bigger sensors. Probably not APS-sized, but maybe with about half the area of an APS sensor. It would be slightly larger but could still be as simple as any PnS, or as advanced as the best "bridge" camera. Properly marketed (and sensibly priced), they could sell the bejeezus out of them to people who would not consider a DSLR.

I also suspect that Joe Consumer walking into a "big box" store is not going to have any clue about the actual image quality difference (due to sensor) of a DSLR, I think that the DSLRs sell because they're SLRs, with better feel, construction, more features, and of course, interchangable lenses. They're probably also often bought because of the "they're more expensive so they must be better, and I can afford it so I'll get the best" syndrome. These are the people who never leave the "auto" setting of the camera.

This discussion is purely academic anyhow, I doubt any of the manufacturers are lurking here and taking notes! Supposedly Sigma is coming out with an APS-sized sensor PnS, but I'm sure it'll be a speciality piece as you'll probably have a hard time finding it in most stores.