Help! Digital camera advice...

[onelifecrisis]

I need to buy my GF a digital camera for Christmas. She assumed that because I'm "technical" I'd have some knowledge of cameras, but I don't know **** about cameras.

It needs to be a digital camera with two functions: zoom and snap. And that's all! She's... technically challenged. More functions = bad. It needs to be decent quality, though it's not like she's going professional with it or anything. And of course the price needs to be not too high. Around £100 ($150 USD) would be good, though I can stretch to more if it's worth it. Any suggestions??

Thanks! :)

[the_tyrant]

Point and click for GF?
walk into your local electronics store (or ebay), and grab the cutest camera you can find.

The truth is, if your not pro, pretty much every camera is good enough. So just grab one that you think will impress your GF.
If I were you, I would go and grab something exotic from Japan on Ebay.

[Gerald]

http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/

[onelifecrisis]

Really? I guess things have moved on. Last time I was looking at digital cameras was a few years ago and back then most of them seemed expensive and crap - a bad combination!

Okay, thanks for the advice tyrant, I'll see what I can find.

[Penguin]

My advice would be the Panasonic Lumix FS 10.
Its a good point and click cam, with advantages over the usual cams in this price range:

- wide-range lens: ideal for indoor photography

- ready fast , fast shooting: good for snapshots - still a problem with digital cams: the time between pressing the trigger and when the pic is actually taken

- works decent with the automatic program, even an auto motive support, however several programs available which are easy to use (snow, fireworks, etc.)

- has the option to make 720p videos (the "small" HD format)

- easy to use: it passed the Penguin's-mother-test. I have another model of the Lumix series (TZ 3, whicg offers some more options). I lended it to my mom on several occasions. Though calling her tech unsavvy is a slight understatement, she managed to work well with it, I switched everything to auto and :voilà , she took decent pics of her holidays.

Available at amazon.uk for 91 quids, 94 for the version in pink... :D

[onelifecrisis]

Excellent, thanks Penguin!

[McBeck]

If you are in the US I would suggest that you find a B&H store.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

Or in the UK try Warehouseexpress.
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/Home/default.aspx

I myself like the Canons - f.ex. - the IXUS line would fit you very well here.
Heres a pink one for 99£
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-canon-digital-ixus-105-is-pink-digital-camera/p1519467
"The Canon Digital IXUS 105 IS is offers a great combination of ease of use, high image quality and stylish IXUS design that stands out from the crowd. As is the norm for an IXUS, the 105 IS is remarkably slim, sleek and compact, yet it manages to squeeze in an optically stabilized 4x wide-angle zoom lens for versatile shooting options and Canon's DIGIC 4 processor for superb image quality with excellent colour, resolution and low noise."

But as others have said...in that range you should be OK if you stick the major brands. Maybe support your findings with some reviews.
www.dpreview.com (http://www.dpreview.com) is a great place to start!

[MaddogK]

Been shopping for one for a while, and being a Canon guy I keep going back to the EOS 5D Mk II, tho the T2i is a close second. I read recently that the sensor technology will change drastically in the next year so I may wait another year. Sadly the Nikon lenses are JUNK, or I'd be looking at a Nikon. The Panasonics do get some good ratings but I'd prefer to stick with a dedicated camera mfr instead of a general electronic brand. Cant afford the EOS 1D mk. 4 unless I win the lottery.

[Rhodes]

I got mine a canon SX 210 IS! If she was a bit more into photografy and use all the camera features, I would had bought the s95!

[TarJak]

There are some quality differences between makes and models so as long as you stick with one of the bigger names you'll get reasonable quality.

Canon, Olympus, Nikon, Sony are the best for colour white balance and sensor and lens quality. These are the main things that determine a digital photo's quality.

Larger sensors are better, but more expensive. The other consideration is batteries. I prefer a rechargable dedicated battery rather than the disposible batteries. Better battery life, but you have to remember to charge between uses. Be very careful if you get a disposible battery type because not all batteries will work. Lithium or Cadmium batteries only depending on the camera! Replacing batteries can get expensive as well.

Steer clear of the second tier players as build and component quality can be questionable. Samsung, LG I've had bad experiences with. Either the lenses or the colour quality was poor in several models I've tried out.

These guys do quality reviews: http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/technology/cameras-and-camcorders/digital-cameras/digital-cameras-buying-guide.aspx

[McBeck]

Been shopping for one for a while, and being a Canon guy I keep going back to the EOS 5D Mk II, tho the T2i is a close second. I read recently that the sensor technology will change drastically in the next year so I may wait another year. Sadly the Nikon lenses are JUNK, or I'd be looking at a Nikon. The Panasonics do get some good ratings but I'd prefer to stick with a dedicated camera mfr instead of a general electronic brand. Cant afford the EOS 1D mk. 4 unless I win the lottery.Whats the change in censor? Im looking to replace my 450D at some point

[Catfish]

Hello,
the Canon Powershot A80, A90 or A95 is a pretty good camera, but maybe a bit too much/"professional" (?) .
http://www.google.de/images?hl=de&source=imghp&q=Canon+PowerShot+A95&btnG=Bilder+suchen&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

http://www.epinions.com/review/pr-Canon_PowerShot_A95_Digital_Camera/content_155685195396

It is a succession of the same type improved, and the oldest A80 is probably cheap to get. We have the A80 privately, and use the A90 in the museum. Quality is very good, and the turnable display is very fine because you can make photos at the most difficult angles without having to twist and turn your body :D

With the "normal" setting it is all perfect for snapshots, but if you want to go further at some point it still has a lot to offer. You can also make films, but you will need a big chip to store it. But then flash rams are very cheap even in the Gb levels now, and you can use 4 ordinary AA batteries or likewise 4 AA accumulators, those 2500mA metal-hydrid ones last relatively long. While it certainly is no reflex camera with interchangeable objective lenses, there are some tubes and lenses for macro photography and wide angle (sold separately); physical zoom is up to 3x.

There is one problem, the early digital processor of the A80 may break at some point showing an "ice-like" display and similar photos, but even with the guarantee long gone, any Canon distributor will exchange the old chip with the new improved one without charging.

Greetings,
Catfish

[MaddogK]

Whats the change in censor? Im looking to replace my 450D at some point

I'm pretty sure I bookmarked the article at home, I'll post a link when I find it. basically it described some QC issues with nikon optics, the optical sensor revolution between the major players, and an in-depth critique of the 5d's use of the optical mirror in canon's body since the stone age vs the digital viewfinder.

Very good article if I can find it. Of course it didn't mention the Sigma SD-1 (a preview of sensor tech yet to come)

[Takeda Shingen]

I like Canons for DLRs, but, and please don't hurt me, I think that the Nikon compacts are absolutely fantastic. Hard to go wrong with them.

[DarkFish]

Point and click for GF?
walk into your local electronics store (or ebay), and grab the cutest camera you can find.

The truth is, if your not pro, pretty much every camera is good enough. So just grab one that you think will impress your GF.
If I were you, I would go and grab something exotic from Japan on Ebay.Gotta agree with you here:hmmm:

Nowadays, pretty much all cameras are of decent quality (good enough for an amateur to not notice the difference). If your GF isn't very much into photographing, she won't notice any difference between let's say a €100 and €1000 camera.
Also pretty much every camera on the market has an automatic function, meaning that all you have to do to take a pic is push the button.

I'd say just take a good looking one:up:

[onelifecrisis]

Thanks for all the advice. :salute:

I've heard Canon are good (actually my own camera is a Canon EOS 300) but they seem a bit pricey to me. I'm on a budget, so I'm leaning towards Panasonic. I've never bought a Panasonic camera before but I've bought various other Panasonic goods over the years and they seem to me to consistently strike a good balance between quality and value. I hope some are still in stock in the stores tomorrow...

[Gerald]

So now you can ask your girlfriend, to upload their photos on Subsim, :DL

[Catfish]

Hello OLC,
then good luck and Merry Christmas,
still thanking you for the OLCgui :DL

All the best,
Catfish

[onelifecrisis]

Thanks Catfish. Merry Christmas to you too. :DL

[Kaleun]

Hi,

I've got a Panasonic (fz-38) - all good, the best thing about Panasonic is they know sh*t all about lenses, so they went and partnered with a known len/camera maker - they use Leica lenses, and as i can't afford a Leica this is the nearest i can get!!

Kaleun

[Jimbuna]

Thanks for all the advice. :salute:

I've heard Canon are good (actually my own camera is a Canon EOS 300) but they seem a bit pricey to me. I'm on a budget, so I'm leaning towards Panasonic. I've never bought a Panasonic camera before but I've bought various other Panasonic goods over the years and they seem to me to consistently strike a good balance between quality and value. I hope some are still in stock in the stores tomorrow...

If you like the Panasonic then you can't go wrong with the DMC-TZ5 I purchased one over two year ago and took it to the 2008 Texas SS Meet where it performed faultlessly and continues to do so to this day.

There is probably a newer version available now, here is a site where you'll get all the information you need to make an informed choice:

http://www.cameralabs.com/

The TZ5 review:

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_TZ5_TZ15/

[onelifecrisis]

Well I ended up buying a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS9 because it was on special offer (camera + Lumix camera case + 4Gb memory card = £124). That's a good deal, right?

(anyone who says "no" is going straight on my lottery hit list!)

[Jimbuna]

Not a bad choice...I'm sure she'll enjoy it.

Won't she? :DL

[onelifecrisis]

Not a bad choice...I'm sure she'll enjoy it.

Won't she? :DL

Yeah, she will, no worries there. :DL

[Madox58]

Add in to the Gift Box, a 1/5 of her favorite Drink?
:yeah:
Place it on top with something hideing the Camera stuff.
:03:

Her first thought will be....
'That ARSE! He bought me 'Place Favorite Drink Name Here'
and Glasses to serve it in!'
OHHHHH She will smile while thinking this!
But you'll see your DOOM in her eyes!
:haha:
:o
Then She pulls back the paper while visions of you burning at the stake
pass through her mind...............
:-?

Oh you Sweet Wonderful Guy!!!
A Camera? For ME?
:har:

It might get X rated from here.
;)

[Jimbuna]

Add in to the Gift Box, a 1/5 of her favorite Drink?
:yeah:
Place it on top with something hideing the Camera stuff.
:03:

Her first thought will be....
'That ARSE! He bought me 'Place Favorite Drink Name Here'
and Glasses to serve it in!'
OHHHHH She will smile while thinking this!
But you'll see your DOOM in her eyes!
:haha:
:o
Then She pulls back the paper while visions of you burning at the stake
pass through her mind...............
:-?

Oh you Sweet Wonderful Guy!!!
A Camera? For ME?
:har:

It might get X rated from here.
;)

I hope so....and fortunately he'll have a camera to aid him in posting the photos here :O:

:03: