Pulled the trigger on the Canon SX50 yesterday for $329. I will let you know my experiences...seemed a simple and affordable solution with 50X zoom which should more than serve the functions I need it to. Thank you all for the feedback and direction - as always, you guys taught me a lot and saved significant research time for me!

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

[Linked Image from i1261.photobucket.com]