Looking for a dead simple plain jane camera

[HydroSqueegee]

Im looking for a simple easy to use point and shoot digital camera for the technologically inept mother in law. Something that takes AA batteries and can take decent pictures without a billion different settings. fewer frills the better.

advice?

 

[FeuerFrei]

Probably a Kodak - they are geared/marketed toward women. Can't really point to any specific one as I have no experience with them.

 

[HydroSqueegee]

Probably a Kodak - they are geared/marketed toward women. Can't really point to any specific one as I have no experience with them.

My wife pointed out a Kodak Easy share, but im not so sure. The Canon A800 looks decent.

 

[ZippyDan]

isn't kodak on the verge of death?

 

[Kaido]

I would actually recommend a Kodak Playsport Zx5 for $99: (although it has an integrated, non-removable battery)

http://www.amazon.com/Kodak-PlaySpor...dp/B004FLL5BI/

Technically, it is a pocket camcorder. However, it also does 5-megapixel stills and is ruggedized (water/dust/drop-proof). It has a button to switch between stills and video, and a giant button to capture photos or video. It's not the best camera on the planet or the most megapixels, and it doesn't have an optical zoom (iirc there is a digital one), but (1) it's cheap, and (2) it's SUPER easy. Some sample photos on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48992536@N00/6518252411/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48992536@N00/6518252025/

I don't know if you could find an easier (or cheaper) camera. I got one for my sister and she loves it. Real easy to use. I'd also recommend setting her up with Picasa - plug in the camera, import, done. You can setup Picasa to auto-open when the memory card is plugged in under Windows, if I remember right. Really easy workflow.

 

[Kaido]

isn't kodak on the verge of death?

News is saying they may be filing for bankruptcy:

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9S2ARQG1.htm

I'd imagine someone would buy their camera business, especially since they have a large presence in retailers like Staples. Although Cisco bought Flip, and then killed the brand, so who knows?

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Don't go the Kodak way... As other have pointed out, the company has been painfully gasping for air in the past years. And I've yet to find a long-time camera user who had stayed with this company; everyone migrates to better stuff.

Any Canon A-series Powershot will do the trick.

Try the A480, the A495, or the newer models.

The Nikon COOLPIX series also uses AA batteries.

You should be able to find them at $90 or less...

 

[Throckmorton]

I had a Playsport and it didn't take good point and shoot pictures at all.

She should get a Panasonic Lumix, set the color to vivid, and snap away.