It’s a little outside your price break but I got my wife a Nikon Coolpix P300 for Christmas and it takes awesome pics even in low light. Movies are good too.
$348 at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M8SVGG/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i06
It has been superceded by the P310 but P300 is still available at Amazon
We always had Sony before but this Nikon way outperforms any Sony we have ever had.
I think I’m through with Nikon - the one I have is just too much of a disappointment.