Have you tried setting it up for second curtain flash?
http://digital-photography-school.com/an-explanation-of-2nd-curtain-sync-flash-or-slow-sync-flash
And if you use Lightroom, this might be worth a shot: (if you have an iPad)
http://lightroomkillertips.com/2013/the-first-issue-of-our-new-lightroom-magazine-is-out/
My understanding that the only way to set a higher flash shutter speed is to use a non-dedicated flash and set it up for "super fp mode". (Just be sure this is not an older non digital flash that will fry your camera's circuitry). But cant you get the result you want by playing with your camera's flash power settings?
Here is Wrotniak's take on it:
http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/43/e510-rev.html#FLASH
I went from jpeg to RAW when I finally had a camera that shot in RAW then back to jpeg for many of the reasons cited. But I'm back to shooting in RAW because I tend to make the "occasional" mistake out there and have been able to salvage some poorly exposed shots, actually turning them into some very nice ones, using Lightroom. Now I wish all the shots in my LR library were RAW.
Photomatix has presents too. Though most are nasty, IMHO.
Problem with today's point and shoots is they no longer have viewfinders. Personally I don't like holding a camera up and two feet in front of my face and what do you do in bright daylight?
I buy smaller, older cameras off of Amazon, some new, for nearly nothing. I've taken great shots with a small 7mp Kodak using manual and auto settings. But I would really recommend a bridge camera like my Canon S5. You can find them online for around $100.
If in Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline drive will be closed for the winter. Although probably snowed in, a great place to visit is Mt.Rogers, very scenic and rugged.
I just would like to point out that if you are considering using an older flash be sure it is low voltage across the hot shoe (they almost never are). They will fry your digital camera's electronic. I use some older zoom flashes but wirelessly, off the shoe, but no TTL, of course (anyway). Even cables can ruin your camera.
And if so, always use a voltmeter yourself. So many of these companies have changed hands or marketed different manufactureres under their own names you cannot trust their specification literature.
When I can afford a (used) OM-D it will be part of my kit. I still have my old OM-10 (from back in the days before hefty SLRs) and love the size and feel. And the looks. The IQ is way up there now, its gotten pretty snappy for an m4/3 camera, it has a nice EVF and will take my crop of Oly glass with the adapter.
Some of the other m4/3 cameras will mount a dedicated EVF on the hot shoe. I cant imagine working with just an LCD.
But recently I got to play with a FUJI X-100 rangefinder. That might trump the OMD. Fast manual focus (along with standard AF of course)
My old E-420 is probably small enough for when I want to take a walk around camera, though. Just have to be careful of the light and hold her steady. Part of the fun, anyway, right?
I shoot Olympus. It has two settings. Noise filtering is adjustable, works with all exposures. I turn that off because in camera noise filtering will diminish sharpness, I'd rather take care of that in Lightroom.
The other setting is called noise reduction, which removes noise created by a hot sensor on very long exposures (like bulb setting). I leave that on as I occasionally will take shots of the night sky (not the moon) and there is too much noise to PP effectively, even when shot at low ISO. Don't know if this setting is similar to what you are talking about or not.
Ever been to a professional ball game or watched one on TV? Lots of privacy rights being violated.
Mine is made by Winchester. There a few different brands on Amazon and eBay.
Yes. The gun rest. A simple solution that for some reason eluded me for years. I take it just about everywhere.
You post process? Noise reduction? The old s5 was pretty noisy above 400 and no RAW. I hear the sx50 is much better (and shoots RAW) but its still a fairly small sensor. Wish I could shoot that high with my DSLR.