Another vote for Canon.
I just got the Canon PowerShot A80, as I haven't had the chance to take many scenery photos and such, the only ones I have are of the dogs. I had the A60, which is just basically an older version of the A80..... The A60 took WONDERFUL pictures, and doesn't cost as much as the A80 does. It's only 2MP though, while the A80 is 4.

Both of them have video/sound, B/W, sepia, options to change the different lighting(as if you were using daylight, fluroresent lights..etc), and some sort of white balance type dealy which turns pictures blue. I don't know what the actuall use for it is, but it's neat They also take great close-ups. I can get almost literally up the dog's noses and see every "scale" on their nose.

When I got my A60, I taught myself how to use it basically.... it's the same with the A80, but I actually plan on reading the manual...... one of these days.