I think one of the best inventions ever is the Digital camera. Now that I am a father I spend so much time taking photos of my daughter and if I didn’t have a digital camera I would be spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars on film.

I actually have 4 digital cameras, the Xacti C4 (it is dead now but I can’t make myself get rid of it. I will most likely give it a digital autopsy and see how it ticks.) I also have the Canon SD800is and the Canon Z850 Digital video camera that can take stills and my showpiece camera the Nikon D80. With those cameras in my arsenal I am more than ready to snap shots this Christmas.

I use my cameras every day with my photo-a-day project but I am also participating in weekly photo project like photohunters and green thumb Sunday as well as Trevor Carpenter’s December Challenge. The D80 has been great for that project but I am kinda itching for an upgrade, maybe to something like a Nikon D3. That would be one kick butt camera.

There are so many things that you can do with a digital camera, I find and try projects from PhotoJojo and other places however just getting out and experimenting is fun.

Many people ask me advice for the right camera to buy for a loved one. I ask first, “What sort of photos are they going to take?” If they are going to take snapshots of the grandkids then there is no need for an over the top digital camera get a nice point and shoot. If someone is getting into photography to make a business then get a DSLR. I then ask, “what is your budget?” Then I tell them the cameras I have and how they have worked very well for me. Then I say get the one with the highest numbers like Megapixels, and Optical Zoom, optical is very important because digital is only so good.

Once you have the digital images sharing them is so easy. I’ve set up accounts on Flickr, Zooomr and Buzznet to host my images, interact with other photographers and get more ideas. I’ve printed images out into book and other items and Allison and I are going to use some digital images to make some Christmas ornaments too.

If you haven’t gone digital yet, what are you waiting for? Cameras are inexpensive and easy to use, buy one and get snapping.