Help! Digital camera advice...

onelifecrisis · 12-21-10, 07:56 AM

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 · 12-21-10, 08:04 AM

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 · 12-21-10, 08:09 AM

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

onelifecrisis · 12-21-10, 08:10 AM

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 · 12-21-10, 08:37 AM

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...

onelifecrisis · 12-21-10, 09:35 AM

Excellent, thanks Penguin!

McBeck · 12-21-10, 09:45 AM

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-...amera/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 is a great place to start!

MaddogK · 12-21-10, 11:03 AM

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 · 12-21-10, 02:18 PM

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 · 12-21-10, 02:37 PM

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...ing-guide.aspx

McBeck · 12-21-10, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Catfish · 12-21-10, 03:41 PM

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&so...l=&oq=&gs_rfai=

http://www.epinions.com/review/pr-Ca...t_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

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 · 12-21-10, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBeck

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 · 12-21-10, 04:57 PM

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 · 12-21-10, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Gotta agree with you here

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

12-21-10, 07:56 AM	#1
onelifecrisis Maverick Modder Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: England Posts: 3,895 Downloads: 65 Uploads: 3	Help! Digital camera advice... 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! __________________ Freedom of speech - priceless. For everything else there's Mastercard.

12-21-10, 08:04 AM	#2
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ My own open source project on Sourceforge OTP.net KGB grade encryption for the rest of us

12-21-10, 08:09 AM	#3
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Just a link, http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/ __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

12-21-10, 08:10 AM	#4
onelifecrisis Maverick Modder Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: England Posts: 3,895 Downloads: 65 Uploads: 3	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. __________________ Freedom of speech - priceless. For everything else there's Mastercard.

12-21-10, 09:35 AM	#6
onelifecrisis Maverick Modder Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: England Posts: 3,895 Downloads: 65 Uploads: 3	Excellent, thanks Penguin! __________________ Freedom of speech - priceless. For everything else there's Mastercard.

12-21-10, 08:37 AM	#5
Penguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Rheinische Republik Posts: 3,322 Downloads: 92 Uploads: 0	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...

12-21-10, 09:45 AM	#7
McBeck Admiral Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,027 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	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-...amera/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 is a great place to start! __________________ "I like subcommanders...they dont have time for bull**!" Proud member of the Subsim army of zombies Becks website

12-21-10, 11:03 AM	#8
MaddogK XO Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Chicago, Ill. Posts: 409 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ May fortune favor the foolish

12-21-10, 02:18 PM	#9
Rhodes Silent Hunter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Figueira da Foz, Portugal Posts: 4,515 Downloads: 110 Uploads: 0	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! __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/16416646@N05/

12-21-10, 02:37 PM	#10
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	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...ing-guide.aspx

12-21-10, 03:41 PM	#12
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,765 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	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&so...l=&oq=&gs_rfai= http://www.epinions.com/review/pr-Ca...t_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 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

12-21-10, 04:57 PM	#14
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	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.