SG - I really need to have the camera in my hands by next Friday, so the Panasonic is out. I'm really leaning toward the G11 at this point.
ravenheart - Everything you said makes perfect sense. If I had not lost my camera, I'd be posting the same pictures asking which settings I need to use on my camera to make them turn out better. (Yeah yeah yeah...

) The "no flash" option isn't possible unless I am able to balance the camera on the fence and if the animal and person showing the animal doesn't move - which is very rare. They just end up a blurry mess. I'm unable to watch the video at work, but will check it out when I get home. Thanks for rambling... I appreciate it!