Best Point & Shoot for Mom?

[disneygirlinnj]

My mom has finally agreed to step away from her film camera and go digital. But it's my job to find one for her.

I was thinking of the Canon PowerShot SD1200...any thoughts? Anything you guys think will be better for around the same price? Maybe even cheaper?

** edited to add: B&H is selling the SD1200 with a 4gig card and carrying pouch for $217.

She doesn't need fancy. Just one that will take quality photos in program mode. Oh and doesn't use AA batteries.

Thanks!

 

[VVFF]

Sit her down and ask if there is anything frustrating about her current camera. If anything is important to her, size, grip, color(It can be!), brand, features. Does she just point and shoot or does she appreciate some manual control?

And just because you mentioned it,

http://www.butterflyphoto.com/prodi...am=95911566&zmas=1&zmac=18&zmap=CANSD1200ISPK

use Bing.com cashback to get an addition 6% off the price. A 4 gig card are cheap so I think this is the better deal.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

Thanks VVFF!!

Mom just wants EASY and basic. No manual controls needed. Turn on. Point. Shoot. The end. I'm going to be the one downloading them to the computer and printing them out for her.

Nothing TOO tiny because she has arthritis but a 'normal' size digital point & shoot is fine. I have a Pentax Optio W60 that I use for underwater shots and she doesn't mind that size.

 

[annnewjerz]

I don't know anything about the particular Canon model you listed above, but I do have a Canon Powershot SDXXX Digital Elph and love it. Even though I'll be sticking with Nikon when it comes to my DSLR now, I think if I was to ever purchase a p&s again, I'd go with a Canon. I've had Sony, Fuji, Olympus and Canon and the Canon is/was by far my favorite.

I think any Canon p&s will suit your Mom's needs. I didn't use any modes on mine and there were no manual controls---just turn on, point and shoot.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I don't know anything about the particular Canon model you listed above, but I do have a Canon Powershot SDXXX Digital Elph and love it. Even though I'll be sticking with Nikon when it comes to my DSLR now, I think if I was to ever purchase a p&s again, I'd go with a Canon.

I don't think you're allowed to own both brands! That's like being a Yankee fan AND a Red Sox fan at the same time!

Kidding

Thanks for the advice! Glad to hear you like the Canon Powershot line!

 

[annnewjerz]

I don't think you're allowed to own both brands! That's like being a Yankee fan AND a Red Sox fan at the same time!

Kidding

Thanks for the advice! Glad to hear you like the Canon Powershot line!

It's a good thing that when it comes to sports, I'm strictly a Philadelphia fan then.

 

[YesDear]

Take her to a camera store or Best Buy, etc. and let her play. Then you know she likes it. Then go online and find the best deal!

 

[rossb]

I have a Canon SD1200. It works well in "P" programmed AE mode, but IMO it does NOT work well in "Full Auto". In "Full Auto" it keeps trying to read the scene and it will automatically switch scene modes. This is not a good thing. The scene modes sometimes boost the ISO settings too high when shooting outdoors. Even worse, when shooting indoors in "Full Auto" it will usually drop the shutter speed much too low, which will result in blurry pictures. It may or may not shoot the flash indoors when in "Full Auto", the scene detection mode is unpredictable.

On the other hand, leave it in "P" mode and it will always shoot with a 1/60 shutter with indoor flash. Flash exposure in "P" mode is good for a tiny flash. Outdoor performance in "P" mode is also nice. Center sharpness and contrast is good, it starts to get a little soft on the edges and in the corners. Soft corners and sides is common with Canon SD cameras, the SD990 does the same thing.


My wife shot 250 pics with an SD1200 in Disney last month in "P" mode and her pictures came out good.

 

[momsavealot]

I recently bought a Panasonic Lumix T5 and I'm very happy! It's small but has a lot of zoom! Check the reviews on point and shoot cameras on Amazon too!!

 

[Poohbear5]

Panasonic Lumix tz5!