I recently posted a blog about some fatherhood hardware upgrades I've gone through lately. I recently swapped one Canon PowerShot for another, upgrading from a SD450 to a SD 890. I was convinced by a couple of factors: the 5x zoom with image stabilization, and a nod from my favorite gadget geek: David Pogue. What do you use/want for getting those priceless kid pics?

Ugh! Buyers regret! Just read a pretty mediocre review of my new camera on CNET. Now wishing maybe I'd gone with the cheaper SD750. Why do I do this to myself? I haven't even received the camera yet. Bright side: Costco is pretty amazing about exchanges. If I don't like the new guy, I'll just trade him in.

Hey Daddy Clay,<br><br>I have 2 things that are(were) important in choosing a 'happy snap' camera: optical zoom (as opposed to digital) & instant picture (no or VERY little delay from pressing button to picture taken).<br>Beyond that, in my opinion, it is all 'feature' choices (although the IS feature is nice).<br>We have a few cameras in the house, as I, my wife & 4 of our kids have cameras (2 of the kids ones are hand-me-downs). When I get home, I'll look then up and let you know what they are- they all do a decent job.<br>I am lucky enough to have scored a Canon Rebel XSi as an anniversary present. I recommend that one for sure.

I have two cameras that I use. I have a point and shoot Canon SD1000. It's similar to the SD750 but still has a viewfinder. It's a great camera to put in your pocket and take anywhere. I also does video clips that are good enough to post to the internet.<br><br>I also have a Nikon D50 DSLR. I love this camera. The quality of the pictures is fantastic and it is so easy to use. Interchangeable lenses, external flash and other options make this a great camera.<br><br>I have been thinking about getting a video camera as well. But I still haven't decided if I need want one. Both of our families live in another province (26 hours drive or $1200 plane ticket) so it would be nice to create good movies of christmas and birthdays to send home. I have been looking at the Canon HF-100 for this flash recording media and HD video. Canon is suppose to be releasing a new model the HF-11 in September so maybe the HF-100 will drop in price.

Robin-<br><br>How do you like the SD1100? Wifey has a new camera on her Christmas list, and she's up the spout, so I figure I'd better supply her with one prior to our new arrival.<br><br>Specifically, she wants a camera that has image stabilization and works fairly well in low light-her current camera (a Pentax Optio S4) does not do either. Neither of us are all that knowledgeable in photography, so we don't need all the manual-controls type stuff.<br><br>The SD1100 was rated second in a recent consumer reports review. A sony had made the top spot, but I don't like the proprietary memory stick stuff-especially since we already have a bunch of SD memory around.

I actually have the SD1000, but it is a great camera. The SD1100 has a few extra features such as image stabalization and is 8.0 MP instead of 7.1 MP. If my SD1000 needed to be replaced I would definately get the SD1100.<br><br>I haven't really seen a point and shoot that does really well in low light yet, but the IS will help with that. The SD1000 takes great photos inside with just the lights on. I would recommend buying it and getting her to try it, at least you can take it back if she doesn't like it.<br><br>I agree with the memory issue and Sony. Everything in my house uses SD. As well, Sony usually has a proprietary connector for the cable rather than a standard USB connection. I have a Nikon D50, Canon SD1000 and Canon HF-100 that all use the same cable. This makes it a lot easier when travelling to get the photos and videos off the gear.<br><br>Robin

Clay - we just bought a Panasonic DMC-TZ5K digital camera. It has two baby modes (soft flash to bring out skin tones) and face recognition (makes sure the face is always in focus). Plus it sports a sweet Leica lens. Leica is well known for making some of the world's best optics.<br><br>So far so good - the wife printed off some pictures today. Can't wait to see what they look like on paper.

I use a nikon d80, because i'm a gear geek and i can use it for work and skateboarding photos, i would highly recommend it as far as dslr's go.<br><br>my wife got a panasonic DMC-TZ5K, its awesome, great pics, and super small, you can fit it in your pocket, its the camera that comes with us everywhere, generally because she forgot it was in her purse, its that small.

So after doing more research, I bailed on the Canon SD 890 and went for the SD 750, even though Canon has already released a new version of that camera, the SD 790. Here's my thinking -- everybody agrees that the 750 is a great little point-and-shoot, and it's dirt cheap because of the new release -- $140 less than the SD890.<br><br>Here's a pain in the ass addendum: even though Costco.com hadn't yet shipped the SD890, they couldn't just cancel the order and substitute the 750. So they have to ship me the camera, and I have to take it to the store and return it to get my refund. FU. Killing the planet, one package at a time.

I'm using a Canon Rebel XTI, 10.2 mp, probably one of the best i've ever used, you can literally do anything. For the movies were using a Sony Handycam DCR-SR45 hdd/flash combo, does great movies plus with a 4gb card it'll take better then 10,000 stills at 8mp. The battery on the Sony doesn't last all that long, but were going to get a bigger one just for time inbetween charges. The Canon does great stills, but the Handycam for it's size does it all, highly recommend them both.<br><br>Bri-

I've been pretty happy with my Samsung NV10 Point-and-Shoot. 10 MP has the anti-shake, good zoom, and all around good camera. Bought it on my way through Singapore one year. I do, however, really want to get a decent DSLR some day.<br><br>I also use a Sony Handycam (HDR-UX10 if I recall the model correctly) for video, and love it. Now I just need to become a better videographer.

I am so geeking on this purchase that I've been tracking the UPS package. Do other people do that?

I refer to it as ScorpioticNeurosis. Not geeking.

I have a Canon 350D (Rebel X in the US?). Sometimes I wish I had a small compact so that it would always be with me. But the rest of the time I think a (D)SLR is a lot more fun. <br><br>I bought myself a 70-200mm lens for christmas. I have been greatly surprised how good it is for taking closeups of the kids playing. The added distance results in me not disturbing the kids in their play. It also gives the oportunity to focus on the subject and cuts out a lot of the background...<br><br>We also have a Sony handycam. But it sits too much on the shelf. I find it too much of a hazzle to actualy make and edit the video... The kids will probably be sad about the lack of video when they get older. My dad had a small film-camera when I was a kid. And it was really fun to watch it when we were a little bit older...

I love having a compact, but I do find myself jabbing the little thing right in my kids faces to get the shots I want. I have to sort of stalk them to get a good candid. It's like a sport.

I totally agree with the idea that editing the video is way too much hassle. I just doesn't happen. I'm lucky if I find the time to import the video in to my PC at all.<br><br>However, speaking as someone who has dabbled in video production for about 20 years now, I can pretty confidently state that most dads/moms/families don't really understand how to use the video medium, and that is the real crux of the problem.<br><br>Most folks break out the video camera only for special events like the 1st birthday, dance recital, summer vacation, etc..And then they proceed to shoot hours upon hours of continuous non-stop video during the big event. But the reality is that these special events are painfully boring to watch on video.<br><br>And, usually, the videotape sites on the shelf and they give themselves a big ol' guilt trip about never getting around to editing the video to make it interesting or cut out the bad parts.<br><br>In my opinion, this is totally the wrong approach to the video medium.<br><br>When I break out the video camera, I shoot no more than about 5-10 minutes of video, and then stop. Since I know that I am never going to get around to editing the video, I am simply very judicious with the record button. Shoot 2 minutes, stop. Shoot another 2 minutes, stop. Shoot another 5 minutes, put the camera away.<br><br>And it's the everyday stuff that makes the best video. The babbling of the first few words, the tickling and giggling, the first solid meal, the first crawl, etc... These are the best and most interesting moments.<br><br>I find that with this approach, I feel no guilt or need to edit the video. And our family *really* enjoys watching these short clips later on. If the clips are really brief, you can sometimes even convince the grandparents to watch the video with you.<br><br>Anyway, that is what works for us....

Also...I would like to add that with the old Super 8 film cameras of yesteryear, you were FORCED to keep your clips short because you ran out of film!! Today's high capacity batteries and long videotapes are bad, bad, bad...!!!

My wife bought me a Kodak EasyShare V803. While this camera takes GREAT pictures. My 19 month old will barely sit still long enough for the camera to take the picture. I love all its special effects and features but it takes way to long to capture the picture...and sadly I DON'T HAVE ALL DAY

I'm glad that your EasyShare V803 takes great pictures. We have a EasyShare 603 that takes okay pictures close up, but taking it far away I get very bad pictures. We take it to weddings and we do not get good pictures that way. The camera always focuses on the wrong objects. I do agree too that it takes forever to take some of the pictures, especially if you want it to focus beforehand. If anyone has any tips to make pictures on this camera better, I would like to hear them.

Daddy Clay<br>As a professional photographer I always check out the reviews done by Steve's Digicams.com.<br>He does a complete overview of most of the point and shoot digital cameras as well as the pro gear.<br>He goes through all of the features and has examples of shots taken with each camera.<br>The site is well laid out and user friendly.<br>It's a great place to compare camera performance before buying.<br>here is the link if you are interested www.steves-digicams.com/

I'm going to check this out, hoping to get some clarity on which camera to pick. I know have two on my desk that I am trying to choose between.

I've used dpreview.com a lot, but I'm going to have to check out Steve's... Need to convince the wife to let me get a DSLR later this year and need to figure out which one I want.

Canon & Sony for ambient light. Nikon & Olypus for flash. Which do you use more? Keep in mind very few users are completely 50-50. Most people are 70% flash users. While the heavy shooters are 55%-45% on either side.

Honestly it depends on what we are shooting. If it is higher action like gymnastics or bike riding the DSLRs come out. (D80 or D50) If it s Outdoor swiming and liesurely stuff its the Kodak Z712. The kids get to use the sony W1 that I keep in the car or in the backpack . Although one of my backpacks is made for DSLRs and my laptop. So I'll pack that on a whim. They all have manual setting features and really crisp lenses.

I purchased my wife a Nikon D40 last year and it's really easy to use and takes great photos. She has lots of lenses; prime, etc. and she has really learned how to take some mean photos. I'm even learning how to get some great captures. In the end, though, it's not really the camera, it's the photographer. My wife took photography up as a hobby last year and took some classes, plus one of our close friends is a pro-photographer who has actually had some of her photos featured in Nikon ads. We try to practice when we can and with every photo we see improvement. So whatever camera you get, in the end it's the photographer and how hard they are willing to work to get those great captures.