My wife and i got some mula for Christmas presents and a $200 gift certificate to Best Buy for switching to Verizon FIOS.
Like to buy a camera for around $300.

What would you recommend for something light weight that takes real nice pics without a bunch of gadgets we' never use?

Thanks

pentax and olympus make waterproof models in that range.I have an older pentax 6meg waterproof and have no problems at all.I've had it underwater on the end of a pole in the nauset surf shooting movies of bait and blues and the speaker even works.they're definately the "beach camera".the new ones are 7meg and a larger screen on the back.the pentax model is w-30[the newer one].in january there will be some deals to clear inventory so keep an eye out.

Olympus Stylus 770 SW 7.1-

That is the one I just got for this upcoming fishing season, waterproof to 33'

Sale: $307.99

You got to decide if its a pocket camera or if a little bigger is OK. I went for the in the pocket size and got a Kodak 875 for only 150. If I went for a bigger model , I'd have gone for one of the cameras with the 10 or 12 or 15 X optical zoom with optical image stabilization. They are enough bigger though so that you can't just shove it in your pocket. IMO optical zoom is better than higher pixels as long as you have about 8 mpix or so minimum.

we have a sony cybershot, 6MP, its around 200 dollars, but the quality is absolutely amazing and it even records movies.

I have a pentax optio W20 that was purchased about a year and a half ago. If the W30 were out at the time I would have gone for that instead. The W30 has a view finder where as the 20 doesn't. No view finder (I think that is what it is called) is tough because it makes you rely on the led screen. The camera is over 7mgp and does way more than I can figure out.

I have the pentax w30. No view finder. Solid little camera for the $$. Only complaint i have is it struggles taking a photo in low light/dark conditions. Haven't found out how to tweak the settings to minimize it just yet. Took great photos above and below the water on lat trip to south pacific.