I purchased the Optio M20 in october 2006 and it has all the feateres I wanted in a camera (small, AA battery, video recording 640x480...)

Except I can't get it to give me nice pictures. I'm really just a point and shoot, and unfortunately the M20 does not deliver. I also have a Pentax *istD L (I know it's an SLR, but man the color and sharpness is amazing with that camera).

So since I don't want to throw it away, I would like to know how to take nice pictures (mostly kids pictures, 2 and 7 years old) and pictures at family reunion etc. I'm not trying to take amazing art photo or anything like that but the pictures I take seem to be a tad out of focus and the color seem a bit grey. I tried playing with image size and quality (no difference there). I tried lowering the ISO, made a dif at 64 but then you almost need a tripod (not practical with kids, I mean they will stay put for 10 seconds, but not more).

So I'm wondering if there is something wrong with my camera or is the M20 like that. I've been reading reviews that go both ways.

So I would like to know (without having to use a tripod, what kind of setting I should do to get the proper focus and the right color).

Thanks in advance.