Looking for a simple camera

Thomas LawrenceThomas Lawrence Registered Users Posts: 17 Big grins
edited September 28, 2011 in Cameras
Looking for a simple digital camera for a relative who is not into technical. Basically point and shoot without much thought other than look through the viewfinder.

Suggestions?

Comments

  • ThatCanonGuyThatCanonGuy Registered Users Posts: 1,778 Major grins
    edited September 26, 2011
    You need a viewfinder, not a screen? Because the point-and-shoots that do have viewfinders, don't have very big/bright/easy-to-see ones IME. Does the relative prefer viewfinders over Live View (screens)?
  • Thomas LawrenceThomas Lawrence Registered Users Posts: 17 Big grins
    edited September 26, 2011
    Screens are ok.
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,156 moderator
    edited September 26, 2011
    Is this to be used:

    Indoors without flash?
    Indoors with flash? (Is powerful flash important?)
    Scenics/landscapes?
    Vacations?
    Sports/action? (If so, which?)
    In rainy or dusty conditions?
    Image quality? (More than snapshots.)
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • Chuck289Chuck289 Registered Users Posts: 43 Big grins
    edited September 27, 2011
    My Canon SD4000IS is pretty simple. Very few buttons so someone who isn't familiar with cameras wont get confused. Canon S95 if you want to spend more.
    My SmugMug page
  • ljmcoreanljmcorean Registered Users Posts: 4 Beginner grinner
    edited September 27, 2011
    newer sony cybershots take great pictures and easy to use.
  • Thomas LawrenceThomas Lawrence Registered Users Posts: 17 Big grins
    edited September 28, 2011
    Thanks. The camera will be used in mostly family occasions, vacations, parties, some outside some inside; picture quality is not that important but pictures must be clear.
  • ThatCanonGuyThatCanonGuy Registered Users Posts: 1,778 Major grins
    edited September 28, 2011
    There are many options; here is one of them:

    http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=202889
  • time2smiletime2smile Registered Users Posts: 835 Major grins
    edited September 28, 2011
    get a waterproof one, Olympus make some good ones, great for family and you dont have to worry about getting stuck in the rain.
    Ted....
    It's not what you look at that matters: Its what you see!
    Nikon
    http://www.time2smile.smugmug.com
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,156 moderator
    edited September 28, 2011
    In a basic, around $120USD, digital P&S the model that seems to be a sleeper is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2. While there is a slightly more expensive "big brother" to this model (namely the DMC-FH5), the DMC-FH2 (FH2 from here on) is the better performer in terms of sharpness and low-light, high-ISO noise levels.

    At the end of the CameraLabs review of the FH5 and FH2, they declared the cheaper FH2 the winner:

    http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_FS18_FH5/verdict.shtml

    All of the Amazon user reviews are 4 and 5 stars.
    http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-FH2-Digital-Stabilized-2-7-Inch/dp/B004HW7KAU/ref=pd_cp_p_pw_4

    While the FH2 is far from perfect, it does have optical image stabilization, a very nice ISO 1600 and a usable ISO 3200 (extremely good for a CCD). It has a Leica branded 28-112mm zoom (equivalence) and an "Intelligent Multiple metering" mode. Close focus to 2 inches. There are both standard definition video and 720P video modes. (Video is recorded as M-JPG, so it isn't as compressed as other cameras with an MP4 compression, but it's more compatible with simple video software.)

    All in all, it's about as good as it gets at this price point and better than the competition it would seem.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
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