Why you don’t need a new digital camera or camcorder

Everybody knows those dads who are obsessed with the latest gadgets. Their new camcorders and digital cameras have all the bells and whistles, whether or not they're actually useful (is night vision ever really necessary?). Their commitment to having the latest upgrade might make you feel a little self-conscious about your seemingly bulky video camera – but don't let it.

While you may feel pressured to have the latest in terms of technology, the truth is that the fanciest gadgets in the world are useless if you're too wrapped up in the buttons, touch-screens and water-proof lenses to enjoy the occasion you're aiming to commemorate. Take pride in the fact that you're more immersed in the moment than your latest toy when spending time with your kids. And unless you're friends with Annie Leibovitz, nobody is going to be able to tell the difference between the photos taken with your basic digital camera over the photographs snapped by your neighbor's far-more expensive model.

However, that's not to say you should take your documentation duties lightly. Snapping photos and taking video is as much a part of fatherhood as changing diapers and playing catch. Your kid's first steps all the way up to when she walks across the stage for graduation should be captured. And after all, it's moments are captured, not what they are captured on, that really matter.