DIGITAL STILL CAMERA

Digital Camera Pros and Cons
Interesting topic - thanks to all. Here's my view, as a non-professional with many years use of a 35mm SLR with a wide range of interchangeable lenses: after about 8 months use of a low end (2.3 megapixel HP 318), the HP is all I've been using.

CON: The film camera gives higher resolution if needed (and it generally is not)
The digital camera is so automatic that it's difficult to try photograper's tricks like usng a low f stop to blur foreground or background. Seldom a problem for most shots.
In low lighting without flash, the "shutter speed" is likely to be slow enough to blur fast moving objects. But the film camera might not get anything, without flash.

PRO: The camera and "film" are so compact they can be carried everywhere.
The depth of field is great, since the focal length (without optical zoom) is low.
Shots are possible in much lower light than with most films and f stops.
Computer software makes it possible to enhance the photos (contrast, brightness, color balance) in ways that still amaze me. Tom Ogg, I coouldn't agree with you more!
It's easy to snap a quick shot and produce the desired zoom by cropping the picture - so you don't lose the opportunity while selecting zoom or making other adjustments.
Digital "film" (flash cards) is not affected by airport X-rays.
Flash is often not necessary in low light. So the distraction of flash is avoided, and the natural light gives great depth of field. With flash, only the objects at a narrow distance away are correctly exposed. Everything else is either bleached out or too dark.
You can preview your shots instantly, and redo them where desirable. You can erase second rate photos so that your flash card holds only the cream of the crop. No need to keep 1000 photos on your flash card unless you want to.

FYI: Use of flash, viewing photos on the camera, and downloading to a computer use up batteries quickly. Besides flash cards, you might consider rechargable batteries and a charger. I carry 3 sets of batteries in my case and have never run short of power.