@ The Man

You can't ever expect anything close to a DSLR for digi cams. Even my G11 for $400 falls short but it is a great deal better than most digi cams. If you beat the cameras up, they won't last (why I don't pay more than $100 for my pocket cam) that is just the name of the game. Nikon IQ is not good on the cheap models and they are not made any better for sure.

The Canon's I watch for prices are the 700, 800, 1000 series cameras. They usually are the best of the canons. i.e. SD1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 750, 760, 770, 780 etc.

Panasonic really doesn't really have allot of models but all are good.

For as young as your kids are, really even a 7mp camera that has been out for a while would be fine and less than $100. And if they loose it... you are not out much.

My little pocked cam is an old 7mp Panasonic that a friend took to Europe and came back with great photos. In daylight and flash it works great and one would be very hard pressed to tell the difference on a 4x6 against a $400 digicam. Low light and major cropping is where it falls short.

Do a forum search. These threads list several different point & shoot models
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=63
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=2300
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=2541

Please advise what is good for $100 from those brands.
I have used powershots in the $150-225 range (on sale) in past and my first one died after 1 year, the 2nd I've only had for 1 year now.
Comparing the image quality to an Olympus the colors seemed truer, but IQ was way short of DSLR which maybe is true for that price point.
From some of the things posted here I was thinking a Nikon may have more longevity.
The S4000 is just $105 dollars and has touch screen, good reviews, 720P. If there is good Canon or Panasonic, I'm open to it.

Love it!

I have vowed never to pay more than $150 for a pocket digi cam and often track the "good" ones and wait until they drop way low in price. Canon has some great cameras in the past couple of years that are going for under $100 now that would be great for kids.

canon makes printers and copiers

panasonic, televisions , how are they going to help?

nikon makes cameras, and camera equipment,

sorry TaoTeJared, jut making fun, yes they do have good digicams, I have a TX1, all stainless steel and fits in my pocket.

goes fishing with me, have always been afraid to carry a dslr on the ocean,

Look at Canon and Panasonic. They have had great digi cams that are much better than Nikon in the past, current, and as it appears future.

Take a look at geeks dot com and tiger direct dot com. They are the best buy up artists for surplus and old stock... sometimes you find amazing bargains, and at others... well... They both had some older Nikon Coolpix models a month ago...

Want to get cheap cameras for my 6,10 year olds. Finding good prices on S4000, S6000 on Amazon ($100-150). Both have 720p video at least 24fps. Trying to understand difference in image quality there is between the two.