Camera help needed... please! :)

IMO, you can't go wrong with a Canon or a Nikon, it's just a matter of what gimmicks you want.  I'm not sure of the megapixels for these models, but I used to print 8x10s from a 3.2 camera and now everything new is 5 or more, so unless you will be printing big or cropping small, either should work.  The IS does help, but if the optical zooms are the same or similar, I'm not sure how much more the IS will help.  The farther you zoom, the more you will want the IS, but the best is to use a monopod or tripod.  I've had IS on both my cameras and it does have it's limits.  I like it, but it's never the deal-breaker for me.

I have the canon 750 one you mentioned and we LOVE it!  I like the 3" screen the best.  We got it about a year ago, so the 870 had just come out and was still pretty pricy, so it wasn't for us.  And actually, some really knowledgable folks told me the IS isn't really all it's cracked up to be. It only affects your hand shaking, so unless you have some sort of shaky-hand condition, it will be fine. Has nothing to do with taking a better picture of moving things, which is what I had been hoping for. 

I hardly ever get a blurry shot, and if I do it's usually because I'm not in macro mode and trying to zoom on something really close or something.

NicoleS

And actually, some really knowledgable folks told me the IS isn't really all it's cracked up to be. It only affects your hand shaking, so unless you have some sort of shaky-hand condition, it will be fine. Has nothing to do with taking a better picture of moving things, which is what I had been hoping for. 

That's a good way of putting it! 

 Well DH got trigger happy and just called to tell me he bought the 870 IS and we'll be picking it up tonight at Circut City. I think he want to show off his Frisbee skills, so stay tuned for new pictures of the triplets.

I think if I hate this camera also, it means I am the problem, and am the worst photog on the planet...

I have the Canon PowerShot S5 IS. I HIGHLY recommend it! It's less expensive than alot of the higher end cameras, but the pictures are, imo, the same quality. I'm in absulote love with it. I love the flip out and twist 2.5" screen, great for self portraits or pictures with friends. It has many shooting moods and all I can say about the zoom... great! My dream camera is something along the lines of a Canon Rebel XTi, but really this comes close. If you'd like some example photos that I've taken with it, please do ask! =]

we've had several Canons and been happy with all of them, so hope you like yours!  We stick with mostly point-and-shoot though the 750 has quite a number of options to change on it as well.  I'm not as familliar with the 870 but I know we looked at it, I think it was just cost at the time since it's really very close in style to the 750.

I will say, remember to explore all the features -- the digital macro and the mode where everything is in b&w but one color are really neat, I like all the different settings and use most of them frequently.  Of course, auto is fine too, but we have some striking photos with it due to the different modes.  The "kids and pets" one is nice for fast moving objects.  DH really liked the (nearly?) unlimited video feature as well since we almost never use the camcorder anymore.