TheCatSite.com › Forums › General Forums › The Cat Lounge › recommendations for good "point and shoot" camera?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

recommendations for good "point and shoot" camera?

post #1 of 13
10/24/11 at 12:48pm
Thread Starter 
We need a new camera desperately, but we're pretty technologically challenged (as in, we still don't even use text messaging), so don't want anything that we need to do much more than just point and shoot. I've seen threads on here before discussing cameras, but I think they were about DSLRs (or something like that) where you can change the lenses, etc. Don't want that! (besides, I can't even find those threads)

Anyone got any suggestions. Naturally, we want something that will take marvelous pictures at the touch of a button. Which is best, using AA batteries, or a battery that needs charging, like a cellphone-type battery. (at least I have done a little research and seen there are both types available )
Reply
post #2 of 13
10/24/11 at 1:53pm
I would recommend pretty much ANY Canon camera. I have a DSLR, but a lot of my friends have Canon point & shoot cameras that take amazing photos.
Reply
post #3 of 13
10/24/11 at 1:55pm
I always had good luck with my Kodak Easy Shares. You can do minimal setting changes...as in put it for landscape pictures or indoors or closeups. On both of my old ones it only involved turning a wheel. And I thought they did good pictures. Plus they come with software that is easy to use to get them on your computer and things like that.
Reply
post #4 of 13
10/24/11 at 1:55pm
Best is always subjective. Those that take AA batteries tend to be larger, heavier, and with less capacity than those that take lithium flat cells all else equal. On the other hand, on vacation you never have to worry if you can't find the charger or the battery dies while you're out on an island with no ability to charge. AAs are available even in third world countries and rechargeable AAs are non-proprietary unlike lithiums. That is why most pros prefer AAs, but compact cameras will always use lithium for the weight/size advantage.

www.dpreview.com is your best resource to put in the features you want and see some of the results with reviews thats in your pricerange.

Personally, I would highly recommend a superzoom. These are similar to DSLRs in that they are a bit larger with big optics for great photos even in lowlight, however, they are integrated units without removable lenses and designed for point (or zoom then point) and shoot users with a maximum emphasis on automation.

If you don't need pocketability but don't want complexity, they are the no-brainer buys, and tend to be better values than DSLRs since the lack of interchangeable lenses simplifies the design.

PS: Canon, Panasonic, and Pentax are brands I personally like.
Reply
post #5 of 13
10/24/11 at 2:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MoochNNoodles View Post
I always had good luck with my Kodak Easy Shares. You can do minimal setting changes...as in put it for landscape pictures or indoors or closeups. On both of my old ones it only involved turning a wheel. And I thought they did good pictures. Plus they come with software that is easy to use to get them on your computer and things like that.
I had great luck with Easyshares until I bought a newer and cheaper one in 2008. I thought I was getting a great deal for $120, but I guess you get what you pay for. The whole thing was made of plastic, and my old flip phone took higher quality pictures! I was so mad. I think the more expensive ones still take great pictures, but DO NOT get a cheap easyshare. Ugh! We bought my mom a Nikon Coolpix for about $130 and it takes great pictures.
Reply
post #6 of 13
10/24/11 at 2:22pm
I have a Nikon Coolpix and it takes good pictures. It takes AA batteries, I have the rechargeable AA ones made by Duracell.
Reply
post #7 of 13
10/24/11 at 2:36pm
The best point and shoot pocket camera is the Canon 95S. Ken Rockwell, the most respected photography expert in the US has it listed as the only point and shot on his web site.

He says "I own and carry the Canon S95 IS, with which I can produce professional results anywhere. I've already published lots of images already from its predecessors, the Canon S90 (links to samples at that review.)

The Canon S95 IS is the best compact digital camera ever made because it has a super-fast f/2 lens, and a relatively big sensor for nice, clean images in any light."

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/reco...ras.htm#pocket
Reply
post #8 of 13
10/24/11 at 3:32pm
I have a Nikon Coolpix S8100 that I like. I used to like the Sonys, but the last one I got was not good at all (blurry pictures, didn't take good pix when there wasn't a lot of light, etc.) The older cameras that I had that took the AA batteries just went through batteries and cost a fortune. I will always get the rechargeable kind now.
Reply
post #9 of 13
10/24/11 at 3:39pm
They have excellent rechargable AAs now though.

The best are Eneloop second generation. Rated for 1500 recharge cycles and they maintain I believe 85% of their capacity after one year and 75% after three years of storage so unlike old rechargables you don't have to worry about them draining to nothing in a few months if you don't use them.

http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-eneloop-...9495919&sr=8-1

If you get those, the best charger is this one IMO (charges based on voltage instead of a timer and has a super reputation):
http://www.amazon.com/Crosse-Technol.../ref=pd_cp_e_4
Reply
post #10 of 13
10/24/11 at 3:47pm
The best camera I know of (also one I'm getting) is the Sony CyberShot TX-10, it has all the features of a DSLR in a compact camera, also delivering 1080i video, in other words, Full HD video. I found a site where it is $250 although it's Australian only, Amazon sells it quite cheaply and if you do a Google search on the shopping part of their site and sort it from lowest price to highest you should find a good deal
Reply
post #11 of 13
10/24/11 at 3:57pm
I was asked to take pictures at an event a couple years ago and needed a good point and shoot for around 200 dollars. I spent like a week researching and ended up choosing the Canon Powershot Elph. I have the 1200 but there are newer models out now.

Personally, I find this camera amazing. For 200 dollars, (newer models are cheaper) it takes amazing pictures and I have plenty to prove it. I had an Easyshare but sold it to a kid because that's all I thought of it. However, it was a few years old, so maybe they've made improvements since then.

I always recommend Canon but I am sure they have crappy models too. It really depends on your budget...but whatever you decide, read lots of reviews online. It will save you money and headaches.

Also, the Elph has a rechargeable battery, that charges in roughly 1 hour and I get about 300-400 (even more sometimes) pictures from one charge without the flash and with the LCD on. It has tons of great features that make it super easy to take great photos. My model is 10mp, but you can change the size of images it takes to save space. I think the newer model is 12mp.
Reply
post #12 of 13
10/24/11 at 4:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kailie View Post
I would recommend pretty much ANY Canon camera. I have a DSLR, but a lot of my friends have Canon point & shoot cameras that take amazing photos.
I totally agree. I have a Canon Power Shot SX120IS and it's very easy to use and wasn't a whole lot of money.
Reply
post #13 of 13
10/24/11 at 4:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kailie View Post
I would recommend pretty much ANY Canon camera. I have a DSLR, but a lot of my friends have Canon point & shoot cameras that take amazing photos.
I <3 canon! I have a rebel xt dslr and am about to upgrade to a new dslr this winter. Everyone I know that has a canon has had great luck with them!

Quote:
Originally Posted by MoochNNoodles View Post
I always had good luck with my Kodak Easy Shares. You can do minimal setting changes...as in put it for landscape pictures or indoors or closeups. On both of my old ones it only involved turning a wheel. And I thought they did good pictures. Plus they come with software that is easy to use to get them on your computer and things like that.
I like the older Easyshares, but the newer ones are pretty crappy. Its pretty easy to get a lemon too.

My mom who is very technologically challenged finally made the leap to a digital camera last year before the beach. She got a Fuji Finepix one of the Z series but I cannot remember which
http://www.shopfujifilm.com/cat_digcam.asp
She loves it. it does take a rechargable battery (which I tend to prefer) and takes great pics and fits in her pocket. It was right around $150 but felt much higher quality than the others in that same price bracket
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: The Cat Lounge
TheCatSite.com › Forums › General Forums › The Cat Lounge › recommendations for good "point and shoot" camera?