Wife needs a new one. As simple as possible. Maybe not uber simple. Just reasonably simple. Small is certainly nice. With so many available how does one choose?
You probably want one with a really good automatic sense, so you wont have to change a setting to go from bright sunshine to a dark dimly lit room. Other than that they all take pics big enough to blowup to a poster size without issue. A good zoom might be something she'd want.
You probably want one with a really good automatic sense, so you wont have to change a setting to go from bright sunshine to a dark dimly lit room. Other than that they all take pics big enough to blowup to a poster size without issue. A good OPTICAL zoom might be something she'd want.
Take a look at the Olympus cameras. They have one model (Stylus 720 SW or newest equivalent) that is quite small, takes high quality pictures, is waterproof to 10 feet, and the lens is internal (does not protrude outside of the camera even in telephoto mode). I have one and like it quite a bit.
Any company whose name you recognize probably produces the camera you want, Nikon, Canon, Sony, Panasonic. The bottom of the line camera will not have a powerful flash, so pics taken inside will be Facebook quality, not for printing 8X10. pcmag.com camera reviews are a good source for information. Personally, I avoid cameras using AA batteries as the flash eats them very quickly. Image stabilization is worth the money.
I have a very basic Canon pocket camera. Its about the size of a cigarette pack. I specificly picked it out as a carry aound camera because it has an auto shutter over the lens and the lens does NOT telescope out. I can take a pic and just put it back in a pocket. It actually does pretty good pictures and has a zoom. My only complaint about it is it does use a specific rechargable battery. I prefer using regular batteries. Even in my high end camera, i use AA Lithium cells. You can get AA/AAA rechargable cells if you really want them.
There are lots of good economical cameras at Best Buy, Sam's, and shucks even Walmart. I love my little Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS5, 10 megapixel. I've had it for many years, and it still works great.
Canon makes very nice pocket cameras. Their cameras have lots of "toys" available, but they can be ignored and the camera will work just fine as a "point and shoot". If you need it to do something more elaborate, the "toys" are there, and can be called upon. You don't have to be a rocket surgeon to operate them.
We had (have?) an Olympus that I thought was a complete PITA to use. All the pics I took with it were out of focus, although my wife knew how to talk to it.
Go to bestbuy.com or crutchfield.com and look at a few. They also let you make comparisons.
Just about anything you can buy will have more megapixels than you will ever need unless you are taking pictures for magazines or other professional activities. As others have posted, you probably want an "optical" zoom. (Digital zoom just takes the same image and blows it up. Kind of like enlarging a digital picture. You lose a bit of contrast when it's done that way.) Image stabilization and redeye correction are nice features to have. Some cameras also have face recognition built in. If the camera recognizes that it's taking pictures of a person or persons, it will optimize the settings. Pretty cool, and it doesn't add a lot to the complexity.
Some cameras have a pop-up flash unit, while others have the flash integrated into the main body. That, and the integral vs "retracting" lens are the two features that you will have to decide upon. Some cameras also have an LCD screen on the back that serves as a viewfinder, while others have a conventional viewfinder, and buttons to access different functions. The LCD is nice, but it adds to the complexity a bit.
I have a Canon Powershot, and have found that the battery lasts a very long time with the camera stored in my laptop bag. It has a proprietary battery (and a charger for that battery) but uses standard SD memory cards, as most of them do. I have never "used up" the battery capacity taking pictures.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 06-18-2014).]
Look into Bridge cameras... Better quality than a typical point-and-shoot (incredible optical zooms are common now) without all the unnecessary crap that going to a full D-SLR brings along that the average person will likely never understand, much less use.
I have one of the older Canon Powershot S410 and it works good for me. Takes good pics and has a setting to take close up. Not a bad flash either. I`m sure there is a newer Powershot that has replaced it.
I have 2 Nikon coolpix, one has a true optical zoom, the other is digital zoom. They are good enough for carrying a camera around . Better than a phone, but of course not as good as a DSLR ( or a real SLR )
[This message has been edited by User00013170 (edited 06-18-2014).]
Honestly, most newer smartphones will take better pictures than most generic point and shoot cameras. If you want studio quality pics, be prepared to spend a few hundred bucks, minimum. If you just want good to great quality, find a used smartphone on CL. Not only will a smartphone take good pics but their smaller than most cameras.
Sony Cybershot DSC-W50 (This model has the larger display) Works Great in low level lighting and is easy to use. I have the older Sony Cybershot DSC-W30
Side note:I would stay away form the any cameras that have facial recognition software (anoying!).
I have one of the older Canon Powershot S410 and it works good for me. Takes good pics and has a setting to take close up. Not a bad flash either. I`m sure there is a newer Powershot that has replaced it.
Same here except I have a Powershot A470. Been pretty bulletproof since day 1--way back when.
Found I could still get a new old stock the same that she has. Cannon Power Shot ELPH 100 HS. Seems fairly up to date yet. Hers was only a few 3-4 years old. This way she does not have to learn how to use a new camera.
Honestly, most newer smartphones will take better pictures than most generic point and shoot cameras. If you want studio quality pics, be prepared to spend a few hundred bucks, minimum. If you just want good to great quality, find a used smartphone on CL. Not only will a smartphone take good pics but their smaller than most cameras.
I have not found that to be the case. And all phones suck for flash... Phones are 'acceptable' for the occasional shot, but even the higher end ones like i have now, if i was out taking pictures id still use a "real" camera. ( my Nikons are pocket sized, take better pictures overall and battery lasts longer ). Lenses on phones are just not up to par.
Sure you can go out and get a DSLR too, and far exceed the little pocket cameras, but that goes beyond the topic of 'simple'
I guess I make the 8th person to say Cannon, but our is a little bit bigger Power Shot SX130IS but it is a little bigger, hell I think they all take video now even the smallest of pocket cameras. But like someone else said any of the good names are more than adequate for picture taking and they are all now super simple, go to a store that has a bunch set up that you can play with and see what she likes.
quote
Originally posted by User00013170: ( I miss film tho... )
So do I but most I miss the no waiting for the shutter to click of the old SLR cameras, the lag time is what kills me with the new digitals. Sure they are getting faster but nothing to compare to the old SLRs.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 06-29-2014).]
All of my film cameras are cannon and was always a loyal customer, but strangely enough my digital are Nikon ( and 1 china ). I did have one of the first digital consumer cameras, and it was Kodak.. ( DC 50 ).. It was like a new world was opening up, all these wonderfully grainy out of focus images, on demand..
Fairly simple inputs, and no easy to break parts. 
