(nn ff) Need digital camera recommendation for mom

FAOL Community Sound Off
1

Hey folks,

My mom wants a digital camera this Christmas to take pictures of the family. She has never used digital. She has been a film user forever and still has an old Brownie box camera she used as a child. She doesn’t want us to spend more than $100. Any suggestions?

Thanks a bunch!

2

For Cary’s birthday I got an Olympus point and shoot … basic basic. Very close to $100, but don’t remember exactly. Got it at Wally world. Not much of a learning curve, and it takes wonderful pictures! Has zoom and macro.

3

Hey TF,
Why in the world would you think this place would be a good place to ask for opinions on
cameras? :slight_smile:

Mark

4

Tyrone,

Here is a link to the Wally World digital cameras that are under $100. You want a very basic point and shoot, and let the camera do the rest.

http://www.walmart.com/browse/Cameras-Camcorders/Digital-Cameras/All-Digital-Cameras/_/N-58czZaq90ZaqceZapsy/Ne-apsw?ic=48_0&ref=125875.244115+500000.500002&tab_value=5881_All&path=0%3A3944&tab_value=5881_All&catNavId=3959

Larry —sagefisher—

5

Marco, I don’t know what I was thinking. :wink:

Betty, thank you for the Wally World suggestion.

Sagefisher, thanks for the link. I did not know their was that much of a selection on digital cameras for $100 or less.

6

I like Canon and Sony cameras, personally. I’d also recommend NOT getting one that runs off AA-syle batteries, but to get something that has a “unique” rechargable battery. It seems that the AA-type rechargable batteries never keep a charge.

7

Put the lithium AA batteries in them and you will actually be able to operate in a wider range of temperatures with longer battery life than the OEM battery packs. You will also save money over buying the OEM long life packs if they are available for your camera.

One of my favorite winter cameras is a little Canon A580 Powershot that the late, great Harold Hattaway recommended to me. Consider picking up a little higher quality used camera from a reputable dealer on amazon or EBay too.

These are tough little cameras with that classic, great Canon quality. On Amazon used for under $100. We paid about $200 for ours. Look at this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0012YA4YK/ref=sr_1_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258342371&sr=8-1&condition=used

Stick with a brand name on these if you can as it does make a difference. Oh, Samsung cameras are made by Pentax.

8

If you have a Micro Center Store near by they have some great deals on refurbs. Refurbs have been repaired and 100% quality checked according to a friend who worked in the electronics industry. I had a little Sony that worked great until I got inverted in the river with it in my pocket.

I know there are so many knowledge phototogs here (of which I am not one) that someone may have a good suggestion. I want a viewer, the kind you look through, on my next camera. The LCD displays can be hard to see in bright sunlight.

9

i think you should go back to mom and ask her what shes gonna do with a digital camera before you decide what to buy.

snapshot of the kids/grandkids

general photography

sporting events/concerts

something to have in the purse for that just in case moment

10

If you have a Micro Center Store near by they have some great deals on refurbs. Refurbs have been repaired and 100% quality checked according to a friend who worked in the electronics industry.

I agree with that Uncle Jesse:cool:

My “main” camera is a SLR Canon 20D but there’s times I don;t want to lug around a full big SLR and 200mm lens so I bought a Refurb Nikon Coolpix from Microcenter about 5 yrs ago for $119. There’s still many times I stick that in my vest and use it on trips. Takes great pics and is super easy to use. Can;t bet the refurb cam’s from Microcenter, I love that store!:cool:

Steve

11

Thanks for the replies. I’ll have to check to see if we have a microcenter around here.

I checked out a Canon A480. The price is right and it gets good reviews. I am still not sure if that is the one for mom so I’ll keep checking out suggestions since there is time.

I’ll be checking out Olympus cameras latter on today at the local camera shop.

Again, thanks for the replies. Really good information.

12

just my 2 cents,

on that link that sagefisher posted, take a look at the Olympus FE-46.

That has a lot of nice features…such as 12 megapixels. (that’s a lot)

it has image stabilization…helps prevent blurry pictures.

it has face recognition…for better auto-focusing.

it has a 5x optical zoom. optical zoom is a real zoom…digital zoom is just cropping (or cutting) the picture.

good luck shopping for a gift…

Brian

13

Lots of good cameras in the $100 price range which surprised me. I settled on a Canon A480 in blue. It’s simple enough for what my mom wants to do with it and that is to take pictures of the grand kids and family events

Many many thanks for the replies and recommendations.