Cameras

[TheIrishman]

I bought an HS-20EXR in July of 2011...It still does amazing HDR in camera

And the Fuji in camera HDR doesn't look cartoonish like some that people do in post production(photoshop). They're great for landscapes.

[Les Nessman]

I can't justify going over budget, so the HS-30EXR sounds about ideal. Probably going to break out the Amazon gift card stash and get it.

[TheIrishman]

I can't justify going over budget

Your statement right there answers the question for you. You can't touch a DSLR body(unless used) for under $300. You might as well get the most camera for your buck. There are a few smaller cameras(canon G series) that are very capable, but even those are over your budget. For normal family photo taking, it's hard to beat a bridge camera.

[Mike OTDP]

It's outside your price basket, but I've been looking at a Sony NEX-6 awfully close. I like the super-compact form factor. I'm not a big camera person...might snap up one of the Nikon 3100s just because I'm a Certified Cheap SOB.