You should be able to do in camera editing...but this might only work on -RW disks. Check in you owners manual for Editing and Erasing Footage. If you don't have the manual you should be able to download a PDF version from the Canon site here: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/c...

If you can see the photos on the camera then they should still be good. If you are using a card reader connected to the computer by USB there might be a problem with the reader and/or cable. Try connecting by using the camera directly with the supplied cable. And the reverse might be true...if you only have this problem when connecting using the camera...put the memory card in the card reader or printer (if it has a card slot). Another possibility is that the photos were stored on the internal memory of the camera (if it has internal memory) and not the removable media. If this is the case...there should be a copy to memory setting in the menu area some where. Note: If this is a MiniDV Camcorder and not a Digital Camera and you used the Photo button on top of the camcorder then the photos may have been recorded to the tape and not the memory.
I have had success in using file recovery programs on memory cards to recover photos, but until you know what is going on I suggest you don't use that memory card to minimize file lose. If you saw on the counter that the camera was counting pictures and you could scroll through them then the memory didn't need formated. The camera should have informed you in some way before the first photo was taken if it needed to format the card. If none of the above suggestions bring the photos up you can take the camera and the memory card to the Geek Squad and have them check it out...they really are pretty good.

It sounds like the SW series of Digital Cameras from Olympus. They are Shock Proof, Weather/Water Proof....ect. For more information follow this link to Olympus: http://www.getolympus.com/
Stop by your local BestBuy and give one a try, they are a rugged camera that take great pictures.

A D-SLR would be the BEST option however lighting is an issue here. Shooting at night or in low light conditions causes the camera to bump up the ISO (Sensitivity) as high as it can go (1600 is the average on compacts) and with the small sensor size on a compact this can cause a lot of noise. Using some large white construction paper cards to reflect the light from the Flash of the camera will improve this regardless of the type of camera used. Set the paper cards at 45 degree angles behind and to the left and right of your subject to fill in the dark areas. Side Note: I also post items on eBay and have found that the better the photos the better the sale. You would be very happy with what a D-SLR can do for your eBay shots.