Home Forums Gear Photography Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

If you need the zoom, that would be a good way to go.
Also, Canon just announced the SX60HS
http://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/compacts/canon_sx60hs

I had a Panasonic FZ20 years ago, but found it too big for the bird vest and wanted a smaller pocket zoom. The image quality from the smaller sensor is not the same as the DX or FX dslr, but ok for the internet forums.