Techies and camera buffs: Need a reccomendation on a digital camera

[FinePhilly]

It's not for me. It's for my mom. Her and my dad are going shopping tonight intent on coming back with a digital camera (finally).

I know there are tons of research and opinion sites out there, but the sheer number of digital cameras available are just staggering and I'm not sure where to start.

For myself personally, I have had 2 Olympus cameras and I've loved them both. I just upgraded to bigger megapixels but stayed with Olympus.

Here are the key things you need to know:

1. They are looking to spend around $250 - $400.
2. Mom wants something with a good zoom.
3. Mom is kind of a technophobe, so it has to be easy to use. She probably won't be downloading pictures herself very much. Probably just taking them to a wal-mart or something and putting the camera card in the machine and printing them out. I can't see her getting into learning about digital editing and stuff like that right away.
4. She wants something fairly compact and easy to take everywhere, but with good resolution and good memory card size.


Reccomendations? Suggestions on where I should start researching?

 

[unregistered]

 

[FinePhilly]

Go here for a vast amount of consumer info:

http://www.dpreview.com/

Well that should keep me busy for an hour or 5.

 

[islandman]

My office-mate bought a Nikon S4 about 2 weeks ago and has been raving about it. He's very much the technophobe as well and appreciates its easy-of-use and large 2.5" lcd screen.

FYI - it has a swivel-lens design.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/CPS4/CPS4A.HTM

I believe he paid about $320 for it.

 

[bunnislippers]

It's not for me. It's for my mom. Her and my dad are going shopping tonight intent on coming back with a digital camera (finally).

I know there are tons of research and opinion sites out there, but the sheer number of digital cameras available are just staggering and I'm not sure where to start.

For myself personally, I have had 2 Olympus cameras and I've loved them both. I just upgraded to bigger megapixels but stayed with Olympus.

Here are the key things you need to know:

1. They are looking to spend around $250 - $400.
2. Mom wants something with a good zoom.
3. Mom is kind of a technophobe, so it has to be easy to use. She probably won't be downloading pictures herself very much. Probably just taking them to a wal-mart or something and putting the camera card in the machine and printing them out. I can't see her getting into learning about digital editing and stuff like that right away.
4. She wants something fairly compact and easy to take everywhere, but with good resolution and good memory card size.


Reccomendations? Suggestions on where I should start researching?

canon...

something like a canon sd1000 or sd750 would be good and they generally take SD cards which are generally about the cheapest and easiest to find (a 1gb for around 30-40$)

 

[unregistered]

 

[FinePhilly]

My office-mate bought a Nikon S4 about 2 weeks ago and has been raving about it. He's very much the technophobe as well and appreciates its easy-of-use and large 2.5" lcd screen.

FYI - it has a swivel-lens design.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/CPS4/CPS4A.HTM

I believe he paid about $320 for it.

Epinions user seem to like that one. That's a definite possibility.

 

[islandman]

Epinions user seem to like that one. That's a definite possibility.

Whichever you purchase, I think it's a good idea for it to have image stabilization. Nothing will turn a technophobe off her new dcamera faster than a set of blurry pics.

I don't know if the S4 has that.

 

[FinePhilly]

Hmmm....the Panasonic Lumix DCM- FZ7 is looking like a contender.

http://www.epinions.com/content_223949065860

 

[DEEJACK12]

The digital camera I started of with was the Fuji Camera. There are cheap and it just point and shoot.

http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/digitalShowcase.jsp

 

[Gord]

There is a ton of choice at that level of point and shoot

To be honest if she is not going to do any downloading or manipulating then teh choice is even bigger

I wouldnt waste money on chasing loads of pixels as it would be a waste if all you are doing is printing in Wallmart - 4 mega pixels would be ample

at that level personal preferance will be the one thay you go for ie which camera you like the look off - they all will have some sort of zoom option etc etc

Just go into a decent camera shop look and pick one that looks good !! Canon , Nikon , Olympus are all top models

 

[FinePhilly]

There is a ton of choice at that level of point and shoot

To be honest if she is not going to do any downloading or manipulating then teh choice is even bigger

I wouldnt waste money on chasing loads of pixels as it would be a waste if all you are doing is printing in Wallmart - 4 mega pixels would be ample

at that level personal preferance will be the one thay you go for ie which camera you like the look off - they all will have some sort of zoom option etc etc

Just go into a decent camera shop look and pick one that looks good !! Canon , Nikon , Olympus are all top models

Well, I think she'll eventually regret a low MP because she IS a photography enthusiast and she did quite a lot with her professional quality film camera.

 

[bunnislippers]

 

[FinePhilly]

Who are you and why are you making rolling eyes in my camera thread?

 

[bunnislippers]

Who are you and why are you making rolling eyes in my camera thread?

oh, you're not ignoring me?

 

[FinePhilly]

oh, you're not ignoring me?

No. I'm not ignoring you. I just don't have anything nice to say about Canons. Bad experience with one of them via a friend of mine.

I figured, "If you don't have anything nice to say......."

You know.