I have the same camera as Buck Magnet, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5. This is a great camera and it will take video as well. What ever you get make sure it has a image stabilizer, this helps with a high zoom pictures. A must in my book for shooting pics outdoors!
Here is a couple pics I've taken with mine:
close up of a small flower on my property!
The Agora. Zoomed in, 12x all the way, still pretty good quality and size! I took this from a top of the Acropolis in Greece.
