Digital camera advice.

[Chino Kapone]

I am buying a new camera for my mom for Christmas. I am not camera expert and she is not very tech savvy. I am looking at a couple different cannons, or a Sony. I don't want to spend more than $400. And i don't want to get too much camera for her. She will probably mainly use this for family photos and what not.

I have to be able to get it at Best Buy so I can take advantage of their no interest for 18 months financing options.

So far, here are the options I have been looking at.

Canon powershot SX110is. It takes great photos, has a 10x zoom, but requires double a's.
http://www.pbase.com/equipment/image/102751253

Canon powershot 880is. It is smaller, takes amazing photos as well, has a rechargeable battery but only a 4x zoom.
http://i.pbase.com/g1/87/331787/2/104633258.yyGmq63Y.jpg

Sony Cybershot T700. This one takes great pictures, has a touch screen and has 4 gigs of memory built in. No need to buy a memory card. Really snazzy looking.
http://i.pbase.com/g1/87/331787/2/106390361.pLRvmCU0.jpg

Has anyone used these, or have any other suggestions for under $400??

Thanks

[Nothing Sound]

I have the Canon Powershot A590IS

Great camera for the $100 it cost.

[gleet]

I've always had good luck with Canons, going back to SLR days. Digital zoom is a joke and shouldn't be used. I prefer AA batteries because I can carry spares or buy them at the gas station if I am out in the boonies. I would tell you my current Canon model number but somebody misplaced it last week while moving a gun safe and it hasn't turned up again yet.

[Chin nuts]

I have the Canon SD800IS and love it. Whatever you get I highly recommend getting Image Stabilization especially for small point and shoots. If she has a Canon printer all the better getting their camera too. Olympus is another great brand, my older camera took regular AA batteries so you didn't have to worry about having a spare rechargable handy. Both good brands and very easy to use.

[oandapartycock]

That's not the particular Sony Cybershot but I've had a couple and constantly recommend them. Their battery life on their Li-Ion batteries is top notch (make sure it comes with one).

IMHO, you're spending WAY too much on a camera that's just going to be used as a point-and-click by a non-techie.

My brother has this one and loves it. Extremely compact and easy to take everywhere.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8942567&st=cybershot&lp=13&type=product&cp=1&id=1215217299809

Or get your mom one of these and buy yourself something nice if you're looking to get the $ amount over a certain level (bad credit advice though). The last one is barely over a $100 and comes with 22mb of memory. Great for when you run into a situation when you Memory Stick is full or you forget, is damaged, or lose it. Use the savings to buy her a high-capacity MS.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8746789&st=cybershot&lp=4&type=product&cp=2&id=1202649178806

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8696155&st=dsc-s750&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1198888712074

[Nortonsmeatytit]

That's not the particular Sony Cybershot but I've had a couple and constantly recommend them. Their battery life on their Li-Ion batteries is top notch (make sure it comes with one).

IMHO, you're spending WAY too much on a camera that's just going to be used as a point-and-click by a non-techie.



X2

the perfect "Mom Camera"

[Chino Kapone]

I have the Canon SD800IS and love it. Whatever you get I highly recommend getting Image Stabilization especially for small point and shoots. If she has a Canon printer all the better getting their camera too. Olympus is another great brand, my older camera took regular AA batteries so you didn't have to worry about having a spare rechargable handy. Both good brands and very easy to use.

I may just get a more afforadable camera and a photo printer. That could be the best solution.
That's not the particular Sony Cybershot but I've had a couple and constantly recommend them. Their battery life on their Li-Ion batteries is top notch (make sure it comes with one).

IMHO, you're spending WAY too much on a camera that's just going to be used as a point-and-click by a non-techie.

My brother has this one and loves it. Extremely compact and easy to take everywhere.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8942567&st=cybershot&lp=13&type=product&cp=1&id=1215217299809

Or get your mom one of these and buy yourself something nice if you're looking to get the $ amount over a certain level (bad credit advice though). The last one is barely over a $100 and comes with 22mb of memory. Great for when you run into a situation when you Memory Stick is full or you forget, is damaged, or lose it. Use the savings to buy her a high-capacity MS.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8746789&st=cybershot&lp=4&type=product&cp=2&id=1202649178806

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8696155&st=dsc-s750&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1198888712074


Thanks, i really appreciate it. Im gonna keep up my research.

[oandapartycock]

And thanks for the new sig.:icon_mrgr

Main things I'd be considering if it were my mom, after deciding on a price point are:

Internal Li-Ion battery that lasts.
Additional optical viewfinder to make it easier outdoors.
At least 3X optical zoom (not digital).
Simple menu system.

[blazin]

Canon Powershot SD1100

3 time winner of Customer Choice Award @ Newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830120253


great camera for $150.

[mikepop]

http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?ty=1&ma1=1&mo1=538&p1=3299&ma2=24&mo2=530&p2=3257&ph=17

[Digital_Trauma]

just picked up a Nikon S210 for my girlfriend for Christmas. 8megapixel, 3X zoom, stabilization, 2.5" screen, and really small and thin body which is what she wanted. It's on sale at Best Buy for $119.00, down from $179ish. They have them in several colors as well. I love Sony cameras but the memory costs a little more (although not too much.) SD/SDHC cards are so cheap right now, I ordered an 8G SDHC for $18.87 from Amazon.

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/8740/8740302_sb.jpg
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8740302&type=product&id=1202429848737

[chiapeteater]

Just buy her one of these disgusting cameras........

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665531176

All I can say is holy sweet jebus thats a hell of a camera.

[Sinn Fein]

Woot has a nice camera on today... $119 + $5 to ship. It'll ship 2-day, so you'd have it in time for Christmas.

It's a 12 megapixel Pentax. It might be worth checking out. Staples sells it for $199.

www.woot.com

[WoodenPlank]

Personally, I stick with Canon. Ive seen too many problems with Sony (two major recalls in two years at one point recently), and saw too many returns on them when I was still in retail. I saw FAR less problems with Canon than any other brand.

[jsc315]

I used to hate Canon but the last 5 years or so they have made excellent camera with easy user interface. From there Cheep $99 ones to there $800 DSLR's. I think in general Canon makes better lens even in there cheaper cameras.

[LZMF1]

i am very satisfied with my canon g9. i think the current one is g10

[sobi]

I used to hate Canon but the last 5 years or so they have made excellent camera with easy user interface. From there Cheep $99 ones to there $800 DSLR's. I think in general Canon makes better lens even in there cheaper cameras.


While Canon (at least in SLR's) are definitely better cameras, the point and shoots that Sony sells will ALWAYS have a better lens due to their Carl Zeiss combination. There's no getting around that. That being said, I'd take a Nikon SLR over a Canon 10 out of 10 times with the current cameras.

As for the ponit and shoots, you're really ok with either one. Sony had some sensor issues in the past years (hence the recalls woodenplank was talking about), but they seem to have been resolved (to my knowledge, sony has switched over to cmos sensors, like Canon, from their shoddy CCD sensors). Sony is going to get you a better lens hands down, no contest. Canon is going to give you slightly better dependability, and IMO a better build.

[Myhairygrundle]

Bump.

Anyone who wants an entry level DSLR, check out this Pentax

http://www.wolfcamera.com/product/CLR541614400.htm?bct=%3Bciclearance


Mighty fine for about 250.00. It cost about 800 2 years ago.

Great starter DSLR.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e352/kegs1528/pentax-ist-dl-tm.jpg

[Garyisajoke]

I have a Sony Cybershot and it's pretty good. The color sucks at times, but it'll do the job.

If she's not looking for a ton of power and just wants a good, fun camera - try this:

Canon PowerShot SD1100IS

It has a fairly low price point, but it's a great camera. Very easy to use, as well.

[wyattj]

I have a powershot 1100 IS and it is a fantastic camera. there is nothing wrong with it. Not one bad shot (except my error). Day, night, potraits, landscape, sports. Low level light, zoom, close up. Everything rocks.

I bought from amazon, think I paid just over 200 for a camera, bag, rechargeable batteries, table top tripod, and an 8 gig card.
Andoma or something like that camera store from NYC.

[Chino Kapone]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0015DPJ5W/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=502394&s=photo

This is what i got her

[NikkorTheMonk]

Bump.

Anyone who wants an entry level DSLR, check out this Pentax

http://www.wolfcamera.com/product/CLR541614400.htm?bct=%3Bciclearance


Mighty fine for about 250.00. It cost about 800 2 years ago.

Great starter DSLR.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e352/kegs1528/pentax-ist-dl-tm.jpg


It's a decent camera. Only problem i see is it locks up a 32 degrees and will melt the solder welds inside the camera at 104 degrees. So if you enjoy skiing and you want to bring your camera then theres a possiblity that it will lock up or a day trip to the desert will do internal damage. Also don't leave it in your car or evil things will happen to it. Other then that it seems nice.

[weeniewawa]

powershot A650is

12.1 mp 6x optical zoom and takes AA batteries

not too small to get fingers in front of the lens

about 300$