During our travels I take a lot of digital pictures. I chose to take still photos as opposed to movies because of conveinence. To capture good video you need a tripod and other equipment and it's time consuming. Still photos can be taken quickly. However, most still photocameras can be used to take video as well. I like the large capacity of the digital cameras. A 2 gigabit card can store over 600 photogrraphs. My current digital camera is a Canon PowerShot SD960 IS. It is a great "point and shoot" camera. It doesnot have the sophisticated optics, lenses, of a 35mm style camera. And indeed lacks some of the quality of the interchangable lense cameras, but it is good enough for my shots. Unless you are going to get in the commercial photography business or need the sduperior sharpness of expensive optics a "point and shoot" such as the Canon PowerShot is all you need. The Canon PowerShot has almost all the adjustable features that expensive film cameras do including shutter speed and exposure control. There are other features that only digital cameras can have such as a cropping feature right in the camera. It is also very compact measuring only 3.85 x 2.12 x .87 inches. This is very important to someone who travels with a carry-on bag only on airlines. I'm sold on this camera. It has served me well on my travels as well as around the house.
Video shot with Canon PowerShot
The harbor at Oban, Scotland, photographed with a Canon PowerShot
In closing I use a "point and shoot" camera to get the pictures I want with a minimum of fuss.
