Simple Quality Digital Camera

[imported_Superdude]

Long time lurker, 1st time poster... Love ya, love ya show...

I need to get a quality camera for my parents that is somewhat easy to use. I was thinking about a Canon SD450 which I own, however it takes blurry pics once in a while. I need something that is easy point and shoot, and will print with quality for 13x19. I want to spend about $250.

Cliffs:
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Need recommendation for a camera for my parents for about $250.
Must be easy to use

 

[yhelothar]

Fuji F10.. Near SLR quality in a compact P&S

 

[Scarpozzi]

Canon SD series is your best bet. All smaller cameras can get motion blur easily. Canon has a lot of features and their customer service is the best in the industry. I've had to send in 2 Digital Elph cameras and a camcorder to them and they repaired everything free of charge even though it was my fault for dropping them. (this is in a 4 year period of time)

 

[vi edit]

If I was to go Canon, I'd go with the "A" series. It's a bit bigger so that makes it easier to hold in older hands. Buttons are also easier to use. Also does a bit better job capturing light than the smaller SD series.

 

[Tifababy]

I did some research and just bought the SD450 yesterday. With a 10% off coupon at buy.com, I got the camera, 1gb SD card, USB SD card reader and an extra battery for $308 shipped, it was $304 for just the camera after tax at best buy.

Edit: I should also note that I was in the market for a ultra compact camera that we'll take with us hiking while on vacation. I compared sample photos online and my old canon G2 looked better in almost all cases.

Here is a good place where you can compare similar sample pictures from different cameras.

 

[tfinch2]

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.as...rodid=11119965&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=

 

[imported_Superdude]

Thanks for the replies!!! I think I will go with the Canon A series... Thanks again for your input!

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
If I was to go Canon, I'd go with the "A" series. It's a bit bigger so that makes it easier to hold in older hands. Buttons are also easier to use. Also does a bit better job capturing light than the smaller SD series.

Agreed. It's incredibly easy to use, accepts regular AA batteries (rechargeables FTW) and has some manual controls.

Canon PowerShot A530 should be a perfect fit

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/a530.html

 

[Mr N8]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: vi_edit
If I was to go Canon, I'd go with the "A" series. It's a bit bigger so that makes it easier to hold in older hands. Buttons are also easier to use. Also does a bit better job capturing light than the smaller SD series.

Agreed. It's incredibly easy to use, accepts regular AA batteries (rechargeables FTW) and has some manual controls.

Canon PowerShot A530 should be a perfect fit

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/a530.html

I 2nd this recommendation. Excellent price, excellent quality and features, easy to use.

 

[tfinch2]

I just picked up an Olympus IR-500 from Outpost for 99 for my girlfriend

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Olympus-IR-500-...26QQcategoryZ30016QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

She's gonna love the 2.5" flip LCD, which is basically the only reason I got it.

 

[dr150]

Go either with a Panasonic FX01 or Fuji F10.

The Panny is my recommendation (currently the top selling model in Japan) b/c it sports a WIDE 28mm lens. The width is fantastic for capturing vistas while on vacation or capturing group photos indoors (i.e. tight quarters). The 28mm width is a Godsend in such a compact form factor (99.99% of compacts have 35, 36, 38 mm widths). In addition, it has OIS (optical image stabilization) for taking blur free pics in low light or to reduce accidental camera shake. It takes the universal device SD card which are cheap nowadays. Has a sharp Leica lens (from Leica...not the formula to make the lens as Sony does with Zeiss). It has a fantastic video mode and a battery that lasts 300 shots--rare for small cams. The LCD is bright, big (2.5") and high resolution. With all these amazing features and uniquenes, it's no surprise the FX01 is so popular when it recently hit the market, Street price is ~$275 but has features that people would buy at $500+.
http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/st...11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=panasonic_dmcfx01
http://reviews.cnet.com/Panasonic_DMC_F...ck/4852-6501_7-31736744.html?tag=uolst


The Fuji F10 is my second choice. It's bigger and take the dumb XD card which are MUCH LESS universal among devices than the SD card and much more expensive. These two things alone are deal killers for many compact p&s consumers, HOWEVER, it has fantastic (class leading) low light capability due to high ISO modes that contain acceptable amount of digital noise/grain. The picture quailty is very good, but has issues (like most compacts) with purple fringing (daylight contrast effect) and dynamic range (high contrast shots--strong lights w/ shadows). It's still in the first tier of picture taking. The Panny, however, takes better pics but bowing in the HIGH ISO category to the Fuji. The Fuji is at 36mm...very narrow.....which is typical for compacts.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=fuji_finepixf10

You won't go wrong with either, but since your parents are older (i.e. less steady hands), the camera shake feature of the Panny is the deal maker.

ALWAYS REMEMBER that these are compact cams, NOT DSLRS. Some ultra-finicky reviewers have UNREALISTIC expectations of compacts and compare them as such!.....or they're novices and don't know how to work around an issue....a good photographer can make most cams (even mediocre compacts) sing. That said, there will always be trade-offs of some form or other with performance/size. Kepp that in mind and you'll be a happy camper.....