Quick advice?

Ann McRae

Youngest son wants a point and shoot for his birthday (today - told us last night). Since I'd much rather support this than more video games, I am going to buy him one today.
It needs to be:
relatively tough - he is 12
around $200cdn
use either sony memory sticks or CF cards.
he would probably like some video capacity.

Opinions requested.

Thanks

ann

controld

I saw the Fuij Z3 in Shoppers today for $209 (from $299)... not sure what media it takes though. Good features in a small package for that price though.

- Mike

Tee Why

I hear good things about the Canon A430 and about $150 or so online.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=12905

cmason

controld wrote:

I saw the Fuij Z3 in Shoppers today for $209 (from $299)... not sure what media it takes though. Good features in a small package for that price though.

- Mike

Well if you want Sony Memory stick, you will need to consider Sony cameras. I am not sure there are many P&S with CF card support. You should visit ww.dpreview.com for info on models.

If you are open to SD cards (cheap now), I usually recommend Kodak point and shoots. They dont get good reviews with the camera crowd around here, but they are absolutely 'grandmother' proof. They have made it very very simple to use, very simple to download the images, and to email them. Of course any self-respecting 12 yr old likely has plenty of computer skills to get images off the camera, but it is a consideration.

Phyxius

I'm a big fan of three brands, Nikon, Canon, and Olympus. For top of the line pro you should for sure check out Nikon and Canon. However, for affordable quality P&S I'd stay far away from Canon.

Canon has a problem with overcharging on the low end p&s cameras, my honest opinion sorry!!

I haven't personally used any of the new Olympus cameras, but what I know about them from a few years ago is that they have terrific image quality at very affordable prices. I don't know what their line-up is like now though.

I just bought a Nikon L6 for my brother for Christmas. At $179 US it's a little more than you we looking to spend, but pretty close. It has 15 easily accesible programmed modes and a nice BIG viewfinder, 23mb of internal memory, and is very transportable. It works off of standard AA batteries and uses SD removable memory. (Sorry not CF or Sony).

Movies are possible though

HeldDown

Canon A430: $179.99 @ Black's.
Nikon L2: $189.99 @ Black's.
Fuji A400: $199.99 @ Black's.

Can you tell I sell cameras for a living?

Ann McRae

Well, this was one of those incredibly rushed purchases that I hope I do not regret.

I had a very short window to research (so I skipped that!) and buy, between work, driving my oldest to his soccer commitments and actually getting to Best Buy.

Of course I quickly learned that the new gen of small P & S use really small media and my existing cache of memory sticks are useless.

So I bought the Sony W30 for $229cdn. Boy do you ever get a lot of features for that price!! It has good options for changing settings etc. It is really small though and so it feels uncomfortable in my hands.

We will see what kind of images it produces - I do not think my kid will care too much. And it has a really nice movie mode, and the ability to play the movies on TV.

Thanks for all the advice, even if I didn't have time to mull it over very well I do appreciate it.

ann