My journey into digital photography as a rewarding hobby started with a Panasonic FZ18. A great start, a great camera, plenty of highly favourable reviews. 18xoptical zoom (leave the digizoom out of it) and intelligent ISO.
Unfortunately, for me with the desire to photograph animals at 50 yards plus it wasn't quite the right tool and I jumped/slipped/fell/ran down the slippery slope of full-blown DSLR and a lens for every day of the week.
So, I keep the FZ18 for rare occasions when I don't wish to be burdened with a DSLR & lens, occasions which don't happen quite frequently enough. The trouble for me is that I regard myself as still a novice with the dslr so 97% of the time that's what I reach for.
Don't get me wrong, it's a great little camera with all the operator controlled settings of a dslr and, I'm sure, capable of providing stiff competition, not only if yo u want a point and shoot. It's pocketable, shoots macro, provides live view, has intelligent ISO.
I ought to let it go but I haven't yet been brave enough... it's something of a friend!
Bridge cameras then? Depends what you see yourself doing. Good luck