I'm recommending the Canon G15 lately. It's a large size pocket camera with decent controls and takes a very good picture!
On the used side, my Canon 40D is a perfectly good camera, and a used 40D body probably won't set you back too much. (I just upgraded to a 6D, the wife has the 40D so it's not on the market! :-)
Another possibility would be the Canon S50X. It's not a pocket camera, it handles more like a traditional SLR but is smaller and without interchangable lenses. A couple of the best photos I've ever taken were with a predecessor, the S5. The flip-out LCD is neat for those lean-over-at-stupid-angle shots that I can no longer hold myself still for....
Another option (Kevin will call me a heathen for this) is to get a high end smart phone. The camera in my new Moto Droid is pretty decent for snapshoting, it's 10 M pixel and it's quick.
Birds would tend to drive me to the S50X. It's got a very long optical zoom.
no subject
On the used side, my Canon 40D is a perfectly good camera, and a used 40D body probably won't set you back too much. (I just upgraded to a 6D, the wife has the 40D so it's not on the market! :-)
Another possibility would be the Canon S50X. It's not a pocket camera, it handles more like a traditional SLR but is smaller and without interchangable lenses. A couple of the best photos I've ever taken were with a predecessor, the S5. The flip-out LCD is neat for those lean-over-at-stupid-angle shots that I can no longer hold myself still for....
Another option (Kevin will call me a heathen for this) is to get a high end smart phone. The camera in my new Moto Droid is pretty decent for snapshoting, it's 10 M pixel and it's quick.
Birds would tend to drive me to the S50X. It's got a very long optical zoom.