Rcomendation: First Didital camera, Older person

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expat

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I'm looking for a first digital camera for an elderly person.
The Camera will need to be quite simple, point and shoot, not too many drop down menus and preferably run on common batteries.
Reliability is the main factor here (I don't want them to get discouraged)
Any Ideas?
 
I would go about twice as far into your pocket and find one with 10.0 mega pixel. Under $100 will find you a decent one not too confusing to use.
 
Price range?
You can get a lot nicer camera for $100-200 range than you could have just five years ago. Problem is most digital cameras are not super easy to navigate the menus. But you can just use the camera without dealing with 98% of the menu.

I have had the same digital Kodak for years. I just splurged on this "Nikon L110 26194 Coolpix Digital Camera" which is a poor mans higher end camera. I will be going commercial fishing in Alaska in June and will be getting some awesome pictures this time. No more 3 times zoom, 15 times zoom here I come.
 
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What's the price range? A few Christmases ago we gave an older couple who aren't very tech savvy a Nikon point and shoot and they're pretty happy with it.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Your-Choice-Ni...l-Zoom/14034824

My sister and I both have Canons and we like them. The auto modes work fairly well.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Canon-10-MP-A2000IS/10669035

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Canon-4259B001AA/13848734#Specifications

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Canon-4258B001AA/13848733

I'll add that you should stay away from Kodak. I have one and the pictures do not come out as sharp or nice as my Canon which is older or my sister's comparable Elph.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fujifilm-AX200-Black/14006030

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fujifilm-AX100-Silver/14006028
 
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Thank you, I would think the price would be under $125 by virtue of the nature of the camera. I would pay more, but only for 'Quality' not features.
I hope this makes sense.
My Gut feeling is to stay away from Kodak, for no other reason than I used one once, and did not like it.
Thank you for the advice so far.
Please keep it coming :-)
 
For old geezers and geezettes, go for at least a 3 inch viewfinder.

And like you said, simple operation. With most point and shoots, there will be at least one automatic or intelligent mode for picture taking that makes things simple. Go to a camera store and handle several candidate cameras and see which ones are easiest to put through the simple picture taking and reviewing steps. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the mainstream camera companies or Panasonic or Sony.

I share your concern about Kodak, they are a marketer of rebadged cameras, not a camera company. Some of their products are good, some aren't.

Don't sweat the megapixels, a 7 Megapixel sensor can handle more detail than the optics in a $125 camera can deliver. I think just about everything has 10MP or more now, which serves no purpose in a camera with low priced optics.
 
I bought a 10MPx Fuji A170 last December for $80. to complement my Canon A720IS. Both use AA batteries and SD card. Simple and easy to use and has a 2.7" screen. The Canon is bulkier but takes nicer and clearer pictures in general than the Fuji, especially on dark days or inside when not using the flash.

I bought my GF a cheap Samsung for $89. a while ago and it's still going strong but again, as with the Fuji, can't compete with the more expensive Canon.
 
I'm looking at the Panasonic's, seem like quality cameras with simple controls.
Anybody have an opinion?
 
Originally Posted By: expat
I'm looking at the Panasonic's, seem like quality cameras with simple controls.
Anybody have an opinion?


We have 3 Panasonics, all have been excellent trouble free cameras. None of them were bottom of the line cameras but I hear those are good too. My old Panasconic Fz10 12x zoom, 4 MP still takes good pictures but I don't use it because I have switched to pocket size cameras and it's about the size of a compact 35mm with a good sized lens.
 
I bought a few cameras for older people. They seem to like the kodak camera.

They can be had at Walmart for $70 and they are very simple to use.

I bought one for my father, with a memory stick.

Then I showed him how to take the memory stick to the print shop at Walmart, and order prints that he wants.

No computer necessary.
 
My first digital camera was and is still a Kodak. It is getting kind of old, but it has always taken real nice pictures.

But it was time to upgrade. I will use it for certain things that do not require my newer Nikon. I just took a bunch of pics of an outboard control for a boat and took lots of pictures so I could have a reference while reassembling it.
 
There are a bunch of cameras out there and as many suggestions as what to buy to go along with them.

As for point and shoot, I have a Nikon DSLR that does just that or if you are willing to study and experiment, do more than you would ever want to know or thought possible, as far as taking photos.

Good luck in your purchase!
 
Originally Posted By: expat
I'm looking at the Panasonic's, seem like quality cameras with simple controls.
Anybody have an opinion?


Panasonic makes great point and shoot cameras.

My favorite is the DMC-LX3, it has a 24mm wide angle lens with a Aperture range all the way down to 2.0. For low light situations or pictures taken outdoors at dusk, the more light the lens collects the better.
 
I really like canon, therefore I'd recommend something like this.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Canon-4258B001AA/13848733

The biggest advice I can give is not to make the same mistake many do, and associate megapixel with photo quality. More megapixels does not equal better quality, I can't stress that enough.

Dcrecource is my favorite camera review site, I'd recommend checking them out as well.

http://www.dcresource.com/
 
Sony, Kodak and Panasonic are easy to use, but Kodak is not reliable and Sony is overpriced. Panasonic is middle of the pack.

Go to a store and let him/her try a few and see which one makes sense for the user.

If you want quality compact P&S, I have a Fuji Finepix F200fd with that 1/1.6" sensor and EXR sensor. That thing takes picture in the dark without flash very well, and also very great in bright sun with shadow environment (dynamic range). I'd say this is the easiest for me to use without going to a DSLR for only $300.
 
Thanks for your input guys, I ended up with a Panasonic Lumix FS7
+ case that I got for $95.
It looks like it will do the job, Fingers crossed!
 
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