I have used SpiderOakONE for many years with very few problems. I've never had a problem that resulted in loss of data. The few problems that I have had were quickly fixed by a SpiderOak support person. Cloud backup is especially nice if you want to sync files among more than one computer. If you do that, it doesn't matter if your cloud service folds. You still have multiple copies of each file, so you can just sign up with another service. The only drawback to SpiderOak is that they no longer support 32 bit computers. But if you have 64 bit computers using MS Windows, MacOS, Linux, or any combination of those, SpiderOak works great.

I got good results in Iceland with a tripod and ~15 second exposure time. But, you don't really need the tripod. The northern lights are fuzzy to begin with, so a little camera shake doesn't hurt. Some people were getting decent results with their phone cameras! If want to put your friends in the foreground, use a flash. Your friends can walk away after the flash goes off.

I have used SpiderOak for many years. I won't say that I never had a problem, but tech support has always been good and I have never lost data. If you use more than one computer and are syncing your files, it doesn't matter if the company goes bankrupt. You still have your files stored in more than one location. You would not lose anything. You can just sign up with some other company. I think SpiderOak was the first to encrypt your stored files, but I think most other companies do that now as well.

These animals are similar in size and appearance to chipmunks. These photos were taken in Crater Lake National Park, where these squirrels are plentiful.

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The first image, of the two males, was taken with a Panasonic FZ-200 at Fisherman Bay on Lopez Island, WA. The remaining images, female and young, were taken at West Sound Marina on Orcas Island with the FZ-200 with an attached Olympus TCON-17 1.7x teleconverter. All are hand held.

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You should consider the Panasonic FZ-200 or the newer FZ-300. The big advantage of the FZ-200 is its fast lens: f/2.8, even at full 24X zoom. (If that's not enough zoom, they sell a 1.7X extender.) The FZ-200 also has a very good electronic viewfinder.

Panasonic Lumix FZ200 or the newer FZ1000. It will not have the longest reach, but it's great in every other way. If you need longer reach, you can buy a 1.7x extender.

I posted the same question last year and got pretty much the same answers. I'm sure the Canon SX 50 or 60 is fine. But, don't buy that until you check out the Panasonic FZ200. The zoom range is 'only' 24X, but it's f/2.8 throughout that range. (You can buy a 1.7X teleconverter if you need one.) The viewfinder display is higher resolution and much brighter than that on the Canon SX50. (I don't know about the SX60.) I have one and it's a great camera. Also, there are some excellent online videos about how to use it.

Great photos! I used to live just a few blocks away on Scott Street. I lived there when the B&O Museum roundhouse roof collapsed from the weight of snow in 2003. The damage was so extensive that many thought it would never reopen. I'm happy to see that it has been so well restored.

Taken through a window with a Panasonic FZ200.

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We recently bought the $200 version, which is the only one that Tivo currently sells that works with over-the-air TV. It's working great so far. You need to buy the Plus or Pro model if you want to stream to other TVs. (Or buy an extra attachment.) Potential Tivo buyers should be aware that Tivo makes a $50 model that, as far as I can tell, does everything that the basic ($200) Roamio does except that it has a smaller hard drive and will not work with a cable card. This model, called the Roamio-OTA is not sold directly by Tivo. Tivo makes it for Best Buy. Even with the smaller hard drive, it will store 75 hours of HD programming. This is a great deal if you need only over-the-air TV and don't plan to use cable.

If you are a Linux user, there are several good (and free) choices. I like OpenShot (www.openshot.org).

Last year I did the same kind of comparison that you did and reached the same conclusion. I love my FZ200. If you want more zoom, Panasonic sells a 1.7x teleconverter. (I don't have one, but I might buy it someday.) Of course, you will not have F2.8 with the teleconverter on, but neither will any other bridge camera with that much zoom.

Definitely the Panasonic FZ200. I love mine. The viewfinder is better than the other bridge cameras. If you want more zoom, Panasonic sells a 1.7x multiplier.

Thanks to all for the excellent suggestions. I'll check them out and will likely buy one of them later this week.