randy Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I have done a search so I have some information. just checking on latest "news" My wife wants a good small point and shoot digital camera. She needs it for her school. When kids are doing cool stuff she wants to pull it out and get a quick pic. I have commented (you never tell a wife) that most digital point and shoot camera's will not start up and focus quick enough for her needs. She stands firm in her resolve so my guess is come the end of the school year, I will get a new camera for use on the bike :-) in the meantime I need to buy a camera for her for christmas and then plan on my getting to use it this summer for the BRR, the unrally, and the nation BMWMOA rally. so suggestion are appreciated. Link to comment
ERdok Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Nikon Coolpix S550. Great pictures, affordable, compact, good battery life...( i really like mine) http://nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/ProductDetail.page?pid=26110 Link to comment
johnlt Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 You might want to consider one with a viewfinder for outdoor use. I have the Nikon Coolpix and it is great indoors but the screen is completely washed out when trying to use it in daylight outdoors. I cannot even frame my pictures, it is just a guess; but indoors it is great. Link to comment
Paul Mihalka Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I recently got a Canon A590 IS. Viewfinder, 2.5" screen, image stabilizer, $109.99 & free shipping from Amazon. For about $130 I got it with case and battery charger. I really like it. Link to comment
markgoodrich Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Hi, Randy, I think you've answered your own question. She has a very specific need, to get the camera up and operating quickly. It's virtually impossible to buy a bad digital camera these days, so your task is to find the quick-starter. I suggest you go to Bestcircuitfry'scostcoworld and tell the sales clerk what you need. You can also waste most of the day looking here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/technology/personaltech/11pogue.html?hp and here: http://www.dpreview.com/ Link to comment
swfraley Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 This, from KenRockwell.com, who agrees with you: No compact camera, at any price, is fast enough for photos of people, pets, news and sports. If your friends are willing to pose for photos, these cameras are great, but if they're moving, you really want a true SLR It's a good site, where you can spend endless hours reading about photography from a self-proclaimed expert. I'm no expert but after I bought my dSLR, I was really angry with myself for not buying one years earlier. That said, he also has recommendations for pocket cameras and such. If she wants a camera to pull out of her purse and grab a quick shot, and SLR is probably a bit much. These are great days for photographers -- Almost every digital camera today is better than almost any was just a few years ago. Link to comment
Sailorlite Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I also like the Canon A590IS as an all purpose point & shoot. A little more pocket-able is the A1000IS. Both use AA batteries and both can be used left handed while riding. (Amazon's a good place to buy, as is buydig.com). Link to comment
cali_beemer Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Canon, the only way to roll. We have had fuji, pentax and a buch of others but the best is by far canon. They will be a bit pricier than some other brands. I recomend a unit with image stabilization. Take into account the megapixels you need, because most cameras with higher MP count will be slower. Alot of people concerend with speed will choose some of the lower MP cameras. Link to comment
DonB Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Canon 590IS user here. For a P&S, it is very good. With IS (image stabilization) it is a little better. Cheap too, but with some of the more expensive DSLR features included. For $100-150, you can't go wrong here. Link to comment
jakfrost Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 +1+1+1 on the Canon recommendations. I was using a Canon SD870IS for a couple of years but it became harder and harder to pry it out of my wife's grip...she's a redhead with green eyes and temper to match. You figure it out...I took the easy way out and bought another one. Since the 870 wasn't available anymore I bought the SD880IS and it is even better than the previous model, which isn't always the case... It fits in my shirt/jacket pocket, takes outstanding pictures, has a 3" screen for viewing and is pretty hard to screw up in auto mode...No brainer. Jim Link to comment
randy Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 i forgot to mention I MUST have a viewfinder, not just an LCD. quick up to speed optical view finder IS around 3.0 optical zoom is fine 3meg - 5meg is fine wide angle is ideal so far the Cannon SD800 IS is looking good. but other suggestions are welcomed Link to comment
11101110 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 The fastest camera I have ever had was my Sony DSC-u30. Capable fo powerup and taking a pic in a second or less but no view finder and tiny lcd. Just a littel bigger tahn a matchbox car box. Too bad they don't make them any more. Link to comment
randy Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 ok, thanks for all the input, I think I have narrowed it down quick up to speed optical view finder IS around 3.0 optical zoom is fine 3meg - 5meg is fine wide angle is ideal 28 is minimum so far two models look good cannon SD800IS sony DSC-W170 both look good, I am heading out to the local camera shops to check them out. Link to comment
CraigC Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Check out the Canon Powershot G9, it is discounted nicely on the internet. Link to comment
randy Posted December 23, 2008 Author Share Posted December 23, 2008 craig thanks for the recommendation but 28mm is the max I am looking for the G9 is 35mm at the wide end. I think after all the suggestions and my own research it really has come down to the two cameras I noted above. Link to comment
Albert Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 My wife took this shot (and many many more) from the back of our moving RT . . . Shot with FinePix Z1 at 2008-10-08 Using one of these . . . http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/fuji/finepix_z1-review/ Link to comment
11101110 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 My wife took this shot (and many many more) from the back of our moving RT . . . Shot with FinePix Z1 at 2008-10-08 Using one of these . . . http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/fuji/finepix_z1-review/ where is that? I want to go there. Link to comment
motoguy128 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 +1 on the Cannon. From the different ones I've used and owned, they make the best point and shoot compact cameras. The last Nikon I bought was aweful...absolutly aweful in low light. Only useful in the daylight. Link to comment
Albert Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 That's heading north on highway 95 in southeast Utah. The bridge you can see up ahead crosses the Colorado river just as it enters Lake Powell. Utah is full of stuff like this that frankly, picture cannot capture. My wife took this shot (and many many more) from the back of our moving RT . . . [using one of these . . . http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/fuji/finepix_z1-review/ where is that? I want to go there. Link to comment
BeemerLover Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Randy, You might go to Digital Photography Review ( http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp ) and use their Buyers Guide where you can do a digital cameras features search. You can enter 26 different parameters and it will give you the cameras that match. Gael. Link to comment
Deek Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 I have done a search so I have some information. just checking on latest "news" My wife wants a good small point and shoot digital camera. She needs it for her school. When kids are doing cool stuff she wants to pull it out and get a quick pic. I have commented (you never tell a wife) that most digital point and shoot camera's will not start up and focus quick enough for her needs. She stands firm in her resolve so my guess is come the end of the school year, I will get a new camera for use on the bike :-) in the meantime I need to buy a camera for her for christmas and then plan on my getting to use it this summer for the BRR, the unrally, and the nation BMWMOA rally. so suggestion are appreciated. Look through the reviews for shutter time lag and in general how quickly she would be able to use a digicam. Like you I agree she will not be happy with a digital due to the lag time. Here's one place I use for reviews - -- DP Review. Link to comment
randy Posted December 23, 2008 Author Share Posted December 23, 2008 yes already did that, I love dpreview I choose compact or subcompact viewfinder <30mm wide angle I got three hits, sony 150 & 170 and cannon 800IS so that is my focus. I am hitting the stores tonight to see what I can find. Link to comment
elkroeger Posted December 24, 2008 Share Posted December 24, 2008 we got a nikon s550 last summer. 120% satisfied. The photo magazines raved about the panasonic (lumix) tz 5. But do what we did: got to your local high end camera shop and work with the guy to get what you really want/need. you won't be dissapointed. You will be dissapointed buying something at electro-world that looks like the model in the magazine, but isn't... and they won't take it back. whatever you get, be sure to get one with a HCSD card. Imagine a 32Gig SD card! Link to comment
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