Ben,

I recently purchased a Canon PowerShot G9 and I couldn't be happier. Its 12.1 MP and it has many features of a higher end camera without the bulkyness of huge lenses. In Macro, you can practically be touching the snake (or whatever your shooting)with the lens and get a great shot. This camera also fits perfectly in the price range you're looking for.

Here's a few shots I've taken with it recently.

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