Anyone who has children can tell you that some digital cameras simply aren't worth what you pay for them. By the time you finally get that perfect shot lined up, the subjects have moved, the lighting has changed or worse yet, your picture has turned out blurry despite the rock steady grip your camera is in. Fortunately the slowness as well as the quality associated with many digital cameras has been conquered with the Canon Power shot SD1100 IS.

The Basics

The 1100 IS isn't what you might expect in a camera. Sleek styling and sound construction mean this camera fits in your pocket or purse with room to spare.

Don't be fooled. The 1100 IS offers 8 megapixels, instead of the older 7.1, to give you the absolute best quality for a camera this size. Because of this, the pictures you take will turn out crisp, clear, and bright.

Navigation is intuitive using a toggle wheel. You will be an expert at it after a few uses. In addition easy presets make it a simple point and shoot.

The only downside we can see to this camera is that it doesn't have manual exposure controls, but at the end of the day, the average camera user isn't going to miss this as they're snapping photos of family reunions or capturing little league moments.

Ease of Use

Most people want to pick up their digital, aim, and shoot. Everything after that is icing on the cake. And with the 11OO IS, you can do just that.

Just a button press or two will get you where you need to be, and even those who aren't familiar or comfortable using technology will be able to master this camera.

The buttons to navigate are all on the right side, so if you're left handed, you'll have a bit to get used to. But with the menu and selection buttons big enough for larger hands and easy to press, it doesn't make it hard to adjust.

Long Term Quality and Durability

This isn't the sort of camera that you'll need to replace in a year, we were pleased to discover. The camera's small design does not mean it is not durable and easy to hold.

Image Quality

You'll get surprisingly good quality from this little camera, and the zoom (3x) gives you a decent bit of depth and clarity from such a small piece.

The face detection that's built in improves the focus and exposure when taking pictures of people, as well as a white balance and flash output. What this means to those of you who didn't follow is that you're less likely to make your friends look sheet-white when using flash. Vibrant colors and great details, with fairly correct skin tones.

Overall

The bottom line on this camera is that for everyday, casual use, it's great - and even amateurs who dapple in heavier things can appreciate the preset features and quality that you get.

While I will still recommend a serious SLR camera for those looking to become professional, this camera will help you improve your skill and capture great moments forever.