The S80 is a favorite point and shoot camera of the professionals. It has a lot of settings that you can use as a step toward getting an dSLR. It does let you set on manual or does things like Macro photography. I used it in Alaska and London to walk around when I wasn't shooting with my pro camera.

VOYAGER:
MC to FLL 11/07
MC/Dover 6/06
MARINER:
BCN / Ven 10/11
Alaska 2001|2006
Panama Canal 2003
NAV
Caribbean 11/06
Bermuda|New Eng/Canada 6/04
PG 5/05
OCEANIA
Nautica |Ist/Athens 6/07
Regatta|Baltics 6/08
Riviera 2013 Crossing -Istanbul to Miami