Digital Camera Christmas Present

Pete Zicato · 11-29-2011, 04:36 PM

Mrs. Z would like a new digital camera for Christmas. She's not looking for professional equipment. This is for snapshots. But it should take good snapshots.
She currently has a ~8 year old Fuji. The chief complaints are that it takes too long before allowing her to take the next pic. And she can't make anything out on the screen in low light.

Suggestions?

BigV · 11-29-2011, 04:45 PM

Need more info from you

budget.

size cellphone size/pocket size/35mm analog size? etc.

favored interface, does she like/dislike any other camera's she's used before (fuji?)

any camera will be a big speed improvement over an eight year old camera.

low light sensitivity is a good clue for something to evaluate.

How much zoom is desired? I have 5x on my camera, a relatively low optical zoom factor.

hm.. most other things are so close that they're indistinguishable.

I will say there's a new lightfield camera from Lytro for $499 that is very different but takes pictures that are always in focus. this is a five star geek factor for the technology, but might also be useful for a simple snapshotter.

BigV · 11-29-2011, 04:56 PM

http://www.dpreview.com/

is your friend.

Clodfobble · 11-29-2011, 05:45 PM

Key question: as a person who is used to using an older camera, does she like using the viewfinder window with her eye, rather than holding the camera at arm's length and using the video screen to aim?

Needing the viewfinder (which I strictly require, myself) limits your options considerably.

Pete Zicato · 11-29-2011, 06:50 PM

budget: I just started research with the above post. As little as necessary. Under $100 would be good. If it starts getting over $150, I might get her something else. (Rumors of layoffs are going around)

size: snapshot size, not pro size. Not looking for a 35mm lens.

favored interface: Doesn't like the fuji. Something that made the current mode obvious would be good.

zoom: Not really a factor, I think. Mrs. Z does not take a lot of landscape shots. When she does there has to be people in the picture.

Pete Zicato · 11-29-2011, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Key question: as a person who is used to using an older camera, does she like using the viewfinder window with her eye, rather than holding the camera at arm's length and using the video screen to aim?

Needing the viewfinder (which I strictly require, myself) limits your options considerably.

I think if she could really use the video screen in all conditions, she would prefer that.

classicman · 11-29-2011, 08:44 PM

I got a Canon Powershot SD 1200 Elph 2 years ago and I love it!
Has both types of viewfinders and takes great pics & short videos.

richlevy · 11-29-2011, 09:55 PM

If you get a Canon Powershot, you can download CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) and add about $30 worth of features that were locked out or never thought of by the manufacturer. It does not work for all models.

You can set it to take multiple shots with different exposure settings if you want to cover your bases or experiment with High Dynamic Range photos.

11-29-2011, 04:36 PM	#1
Pete Zicato Turns out my CRS is a symptom of TMB. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chicago suburbs Posts: 2,916	Digital Camera Christmas Present Mrs. Z would like a new digital camera for Christmas. She's not looking for professional equipment. This is for snapshots. But it should take good snapshots. She currently has a ~8 year old Fuji. The chief complaints are that it takes too long before allowing her to take the next pic. And she can't make anything out on the screen in low light. Suggestions? __________________ Talk nerdy to me.

11-29-2011, 04:45 PM	#2
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Need more info from you budget. size cellphone size/pocket size/35mm analog size? etc. favored interface, does she like/dislike any other camera's she's used before (fuji?) any camera will be a big speed improvement over an eight year old camera. low light sensitivity is a good clue for something to evaluate. How much zoom is desired? I have 5x on my camera, a relatively low optical zoom factor. hm.. most other things are so close that they're indistinguishable. I will say there's a new lightfield camera from Lytro for $499 that is very different but takes pictures that are always in focus. this is a five star geek factor for the technology, but might also be useful for a simple snapshotter. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

11-29-2011, 04:56 PM	#3
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	http://www.dpreview.com/ is your friend. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

11-29-2011, 05:45 PM	#4
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Key question: as a person who is used to using an older camera, does she like using the viewfinder window with her eye, rather than holding the camera at arm's length and using the video screen to aim? Needing the viewfinder (which I strictly require, myself) limits your options considerably. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

11-29-2011, 06:50 PM	#5
Pete Zicato Turns out my CRS is a symptom of TMB. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chicago suburbs Posts: 2,916	budget: I just started research with the above post. As little as necessary. Under $100 would be good. If it starts getting over $150, I might get her something else. (Rumors of layoffs are going around) size: snapshot size, not pro size. Not looking for a 35mm lens. favored interface: Doesn't like the fuji. Something that made the current mode obvious would be good. zoom: Not really a factor, I think. Mrs. Z does not take a lot of landscape shots. When she does there has to be people in the picture. __________________ Talk nerdy to me.

11-29-2011, 08:44 PM	#7
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	I got a Canon Powershot SD 1200 Elph 2 years ago and I love it! Has both types of viewfinders and takes great pics & short videos. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

11-29-2011, 09:55 PM	#8
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	If you get a Canon Powershot, you can download CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) and add about $30 worth of features that were locked out or never thought of by the manufacturer. It does not work for all models. You can set it to take multiple shots with different exposure settings if you want to cover your bases or experiment with High Dynamic Range photos. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

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