I will tell yout hes most awesome camera under $400.00 (digital-wise.) Fuji FinePics S700. I will compete it with anyone else's similarly-bracketed digital camera on macros (with flash!), landscapes and general portrait pics.
Here is the best think about Fuji; there is never that crappy delay from when you snap the picture button and the photo is taken. Unless you specifically set it for a delay.. I HATE cameras that make you wait a second before it snaps it.. argh.