Digital cameras make taking and sharing family photographs fun and easy. From birthdays to barbecues, having a digital camera handy will ensure that you'll never again miss the memorable moments. Easy playback and viewing lets you instantly review your photos with family and friends, and simple downloading makes printing and emailing your snapshots no harder than a few mouse clicks.

If you're searching for a digital camera for family photos, there are three things you should keep in mind:

Speed
Many digital cameras suffer from a problem that may be new to film photographers: shutter lag. This term refers to the slight delay between the time the shutter button is pressed and the moment the picture is taken. When shooting candid family moments, particularly those involving fast-moving children, this delay can mean the difference between capturing an award-winning smile and the back of your child's head.

If speed is important, beware of cameras with noticeable shutter lag and slow autofocus (a brief scan of Digital Camera Shop's reviews will reveal which cameras score poorly in these categories).

Simplicity
Ease of use is another important consideration when choosing a family camera. While some digital cameras require hours spent studying the manual, there are plenty of cameras on the market that deliver high quality images right out of the box.

Choose a camera that everyone in the family can operate and your experience will be much more enjoyable - look for a model with automated features, few moving parts and an automatic built-in flash. Purchasing an easy-to-use model will minimize frustration and maximize the fun for everyone.

Movie Mode
Despite our advice to keep it simple, there is one advanced feature that no family photographer should be without: video mode. Even pocket-sized digital cameras can take short movies, some with sound, that are perfect for capturing family moments in motion.

Though video quality and resolution vary by camera, movies can bring first steps, birthday candles and bike rides to life better than any still image. Easy downloading to a computer lets you save your movies and share them over email. Note: If you anticipate taking frequent movies, you should invest in a memory card large enough to store your productions.

Recommended Family Cameras
Canon PowerShot S50
Canon PowerShot A70
Canon PowerShot A300
Kodak EasyShare DX6340
Sony CyberShot DSC-V1
Olympus Stylus 300
Olympus Stylus 400
Sony Cybershot DSC-P72
Sony Cybershot DSC-P92