Digital camera recommendations - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

Kevin M · 2005-05-07, 09:00 PM

In two weeks, my grandparents are taking a cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary. I figured a digital camera would be a good gift, since they finally have a computer (this one actually) and still use an old 35mm.

So, what's a good computer n00b-friendly camera, that will take decent, printable pics, for maybe $200? Not a firm price cap, but one I'd like to stay at if possible. Better pictures are more important than more features. What do you guys think?

BOO · 2005-05-07, 09:20 PM

anyone else like/recommend the ELF's ??

Dean · 2005-05-07, 10:00 PM

Fuji e550... Should be able to find for about $250.

It's basically the compact Point and shoot version of Scott's and my camera.

Very nice.

Kevin M · 2005-05-08, 01:16 PM

So what makes it a good choice to buy for my 70 year old grandparents? From what I can tell, pretty much anything at the price will take good enough pictures, I'm more concerned that it's VERY easy for them to download and get prints made.

Dean · 2005-05-08, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAN SUVS

So what makes it a good choice to buy for my 70 year old grandparents? From what I can tell, pretty much anything at the price will take good enough pictures, I'm more concerned that it's VERY easy for them to download and get prints made.

Good point. I think you shoud check out cnet.com, or pcmag.com for some reviews. I am guessing they will all be equally bad in terms of ease of use, but the options on teh Fuji may be overwhelming.

You probably want something with minimal options/features.

Evo Mike · 2005-05-08, 05:24 PM

well for 250$, you're probably going to get something like a 3 megapixel or maybe even a 4 if you're lucky and shop around places like ebay etc. Cannon makes good camera's for the price AND their software is VERY user friendly (great for elder people). Sony will probably be out of the price range. The fuji e550 is a pretty good deal. but i dont think the software is as easy to use as the canon. I'd definetly stay away from sony simply because the memory cards are frikin rediculous, and the image mixer it comes with is retarded. I'll do some looking and post back some cameras in the 250$ range

Evo Mike · 2005-05-08, 05:30 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...513486975&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...513478090&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...513478089&rd=1

http://reviews.cnet.com/Nikon_Coolpi...?tag=pdtl-list
http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_PowerS...-30994105.html
http://reviews.cnet.com/Pentax_Optio...-31000719.html
http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_PowerS...l?tag=pdtl-img
http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_Cyber_S...l?tag=pdtl-img
http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_PowerS...l?tag=pdtl-img

tysonK · 2005-05-08, 07:00 PM

Kevin I would make sure the buttons are manageable.

I remember the cam Eric got that he had to take back because the buttons were stupidly small. Sometimes form over function is really nice to have.

I like my Canon. It has nice manual features, and a nice screen. One of the nice things about Canon($200 and up) is most of there digicams look similar in touch and buttons to the old 35mm.

I know the Kodak that Eric has now is a bit hard to navigate.

hardboiled · 2005-05-08, 07:10 PM

Ban SUVs,

I would check out Canon or Nikon digital cameras. I have personally used both brands of cameras, and they are great quality. Right now www.newegg.com has the Canon PowerShot A95 which is a 5.0 MP camera for $269.95. Also, another good camera is the Canon PowerShot A510 with 3.2 MP going for $177.95

These two cameras are great for anyone and produce really great pictures when printed from an ink-jet printer. From, what I read Canon and Nikon spend the most money on research and development. Check out www.dpreview.com and www.newegg.com

If you have any questions you can PM me.

Mark

Kevin M · 2005-05-08, 07:16 PM

On Yahoo shopping, just looking around, I found a bunch of 5 mp cameras for $170-180 bucks. I figure those take good enough pictures, so if the automatic modes work well any of them would be good options. I'll check out the ones you lnked to on Cnet Mike.

tysonK · 2005-05-08, 07:17 PM

And remeber a 5mp camera is going to fill up the 32mb flash memory very quickly. If they use teh highest resolution.

I say get the 3.2MP and a big Compact Flash card and they can take tons of pictures and not worry about changing cards and the like.

ScottyS · 2005-05-09, 12:20 PM

Resolution: 3mp is plenty for enlarging to 8x10 (any need to go bigger?). I have done several 8x10's with a 2.1mp, but it has a nice big glass lense.

Prints: Best done by uploading (or bringing a disk in) to Walmart, Walgreens, or even Costco (I think). Same per-pic prices as 35mm, they will mail you the prints, and the quality is very high (I send mine to Walmart). No real need to spend the big bucks on printers and cartridges that are constantly breaking.

Camera: Better lense > bigger MP. Every time. Tyson has the formula down.

Ouch, two weeks pretty much leaves eBay out, huh?

2005-05-07, 09:00 PM	#1
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	Digital camera recommendations In two weeks, my grandparents are taking a cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary. I figured a digital camera would be a good gift, since they finally have a computer (this one actually) and still use an old 35mm. So, what's a good computer n00b-friendly camera, that will take decent, printable pics, for maybe $200? Not a firm price cap, but one I'd like to stay at if possible. Better pictures are more important than more features. What do you guys think? __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2005-05-07, 09:20 PM	#2
BOO EJ205 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, Nevada Posts: 2,076 Car: 12+tires Class: Spec. without hard work, nothing grows but weeds	anyone else like/recommend the ELF's ?? __________________ LOL.. The other White Meat ... lol ------------------------------------------------ subaru(STi) is a boys car, mitsubishi(evo) is a man's car - Jeremy (Top Gear) GC,GD,GM

2005-05-07, 10:00 PM	#3
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Fuji e550... Should be able to find for about $250. It's basically the compact Point and shoot version of Scott's and my camera. Very nice. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2005-05-08, 01:16 PM	#4
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	So what makes it a good choice to buy for my 70 year old grandparents? From what I can tell, pretty much anything at the price will take good enough pictures, I'm more concerned that it's VERY easy for them to download and get prints made. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2005-05-08, 05:24 PM	#6
Evo Mike EJ251 Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 513	well for 250$, you're probably going to get something like a 3 megapixel or maybe even a 4 if you're lucky and shop around places like ebay etc. Cannon makes good camera's for the price AND their software is VERY user friendly (great for elder people). Sony will probably be out of the price range. The fuji e550 is a pretty good deal. but i dont think the software is as easy to use as the canon. I'd definetly stay away from sony simply because the memory cards are frikin rediculous, and the image mixer it comes with is retarded. I'll do some looking and post back some cameras in the 250$ range __________________ I Can't Believe My Friends.... Drive WRX's....

2005-05-08, 05:30 PM	#7
Evo Mike EJ251 Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 513	http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...513486975&rd=1 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...513478090&rd=1 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...513478089&rd=1 http://reviews.cnet.com/Nikon_Coolpi...?tag=pdtl-list http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_PowerS...-30994105.html http://reviews.cnet.com/Pentax_Optio...-31000719.html http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_PowerS...l?tag=pdtl-img http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_Cyber_S...l?tag=pdtl-img http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_PowerS...l?tag=pdtl-img __________________ I Can't Believe My Friends.... Drive WRX's.... Last edited by Evo Mike; 2005-05-08 at 05:37 PM.

2005-05-08, 07:00 PM	#8
tysonK warehouse SECCS Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SoCal... Posts: 6,253 Car: 04 Evo 99 Cadillac Class: street de le mod	Kevin I would make sure the buttons are manageable. I remember the cam Eric got that he had to take back because the buttons were stupidly small. Sometimes form over function is really nice to have. I like my Canon. It has nice manual features, and a nice screen. One of the nice things about Canon($200 and up) is most of there digicams look similar in touch and buttons to the old 35mm. I know the Kodak that Eric has now is a bit hard to navigate. Last edited by tysonK; 2005-05-08 at 07:05 PM.

2005-05-08, 07:10 PM	#9
hardboiled n00b Join Date: May 2005 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 3 Car: 2005 2.5 RS, CGM	Ban SUVs, I would check out Canon or Nikon digital cameras. I have personally used both brands of cameras, and they are great quality. Right now www.newegg.com has the Canon PowerShot A95 which is a 5.0 MP camera for $269.95. Also, another good camera is the Canon PowerShot A510 with 3.2 MP going for $177.95 These two cameras are great for anyone and produce really great pictures when printed from an ink-jet printer. From, what I read Canon and Nikon spend the most money on research and development. Check out www.dpreview.com and www.newegg.com If you have any questions you can PM me. Mark

2005-05-08, 07:16 PM	#10
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	On Yahoo shopping, just looking around, I found a bunch of 5 mp cameras for $170-180 bucks. I figure those take good enough pictures, so if the automatic modes work well any of them would be good options. I'll check out the ones you lnked to on Cnet Mike. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2005-05-08, 07:17 PM	#11
tysonK warehouse SECCS Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SoCal... Posts: 6,253 Car: 04 Evo 99 Cadillac Class: street de le mod	And remeber a 5mp camera is going to fill up the 32mb flash memory very quickly. If they use teh highest resolution. I say get the 3.2MP and a big Compact Flash card and they can take tons of pictures and not worry about changing cards and the like.

2005-05-09, 12:20 PM	#12
ScottyS EJ205 Real Name: It is real! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: RNO Posts: 2,367 Car: 1998 Impreza Wagon, 1991 Legacy Turbo Sedan, 2003 Nissan Xterra Class: tvFree Yes, I'll fix it for you. Again.	Resolution: 3mp is plenty for enlarging to 8x10 (any need to go bigger?). I have done several 8x10's with a 2.1mp, but it has a nice big glass lense. Prints: Best done by uploading (or bringing a disk in) to Walmart, Walgreens, or even Costco (I think). Same per-pic prices as 35mm, they will mail you the prints, and the quality is very high (I send mine to Walmart). No real need to spend the big bucks on printers and cartridges that are constantly breaking. Camera: Better lense > bigger MP. Every time. Tyson has the formula down. Ouch, two weeks pretty much leaves eBay out, huh? __________________ "Trend Number One is that people aren't getting any smarter." Dogbert

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