I am interested in a fairly high-speed camera. Will the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 suffice?
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is a nice camera but it’s not a DSLR. It’s an advanced point & shoot or superzoom. I’ve never used one myself so I can’t speak to its speed but any camera of that type will have some shutter lag and recycle time. A similar camera is the Canon S3 IS or newer S5 IS. A DSLR would be quicker but you are looking at substantially more money, around 500 bucks minimum for an entry level box.