Honestly, no, it won't Not a knock on the S3 IS specifically but unfortunately no P/S will. The 2 types of photography you just mentioned hit on 3 of the compact camera's Achilles heels - Slow autofocus, poor low light performance, and low continuous shooting speed. Now if the night shots are NOT of moving objects and you have a tripod, maybe ok. To me, it sounds like you are in need of an entry level DSLR. It will be faster and provide MUCH better image quality at anything over 100 ISO. If you want to keep price to a minimum and keep a huge zoom range and image stabilization like the S3 has look at a Pentax K100D Super + 18-250 Pentax or Tamron (same lens).

If you want to save a little you can drop to Tamron 18-200. I like this combo over Canon/Nikon because it will give you IS cheaper and the K100 has 11 autofocus points over 3 I think on D40 and Rebel, and that makes a big difference on birds in flight. Here are some shot (including Pelican) I took at the beach a couple of weeks ago using a older Canon 10D and the Tamron 18-200..

Http://forums.dpreview.com/...forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=25708936..

Thanks for posting a recommendation. Your photos are beautiful, that is what I want to be able to do..

I'll see if I can find the camera you recommend..

Thanks again..

M..

Thanks. Find a good SLR deal like I mentioned and learn the modes, take it off Program and experiment and you will learn to...

Merh wrote:.

What about a nikon?.

N75 SLR 35mm.

How about a digital camera? .

Charlie DavisNikon 5700 & Sony R1HomePage: http://www.1derful.infoBridge Blog: http://www.here-ugo.com/BridgeBlog/..

LOL - I take it you don't like that Nikon..

Hey, give me a break, I am a newbie with an awesome view and I want to be able to capture some of it..

I'm not rich by any means and need something that will take good photos and not cost me my paycheck..

Love the images on your blog/site.

I want to grow up to take photos like that. ..

Merh wrote:.

LOL - I take it you don't like that Nikon..

No, I'm an old Nikon guy. I like it OK. It was just a joke....

Hey, give me a break, I am a newbie with an awesome view and I wantto be able to capture some of it..

I'm not rich by any means and need something that will take goodphotos and not cost me my paycheck..

Love the images on your blog/site.

Thanks..

I want to grow up to take photos like that. .

Shux! Blush....

Charlie DavisNikon 5700 & Sony R1HomePage: http://www.1derful.infoBridge Blog: http://www.here-ugo.com/BridgeBlog/..

Nikon would be great, just more expensive than some other options since due to lack of AF motor in D40 the D80 is really what I consider the starting point for Nikon if you are building a multi lens system around it...