Ask "musicalKeyes" to post some pictures her Lumix takes. The quality of the shots should be pretty much the same for all the lumix cameras. I know Im defiantely looking into buying that new one they just released though. I like to get nature shots too. Having 18x optical would make photographing hawks in flight and distant animals alot easier.
I also take a lot of nature shots, but I've been doing a lot of reading on this rebel and it sounds great but A LOT of money. So far its between those two. Tax returns are coming and I'm gettin' somethin nice for myself!!