Ask Engadget: Best simple camera for my mother?
By Darren Murph 
posted Dec 19th 2008 4:58AM
posted Dec 19th 2008 4:58AM
Despite what your significant other may tell you, there's really one woman that's even more important. Yup, we're talking about ma bear. And with the holidays just around the corner, Kevin's looking to make sure his mum gets exactly what she wants / needs. "I'm looking for a digital camera for my mom, who probably would appreciate simplicity over features, and use it a few times a week at most. Ideally, it would have fewer buttons, settings, and dials, since she could easily change a setting and have no idea what she did and how to set it back. Alkaline batteries are preferred, since she often forgets to charge her cellphone. I need something with at least decent image quality, and the price tag needs to at or under $150 if possible. Help!"
Don't worry Kev, we won't let you ruin the holidays for your mother. Surely these readers will dish out a few helpful recommendations out of the kindness of their hearts. And if you're really in the giving mood, give us a question of your own to ponder at ask at engadget dawt com.
One that is on a phone that is also simple!
For a "real" camera, I have always been an Olympus fan (stll going strong on a 6+ year old 4 megapixel shooter!:)...
I would have to say one of the Olympus Stylus SW "purdy colors" cams (850 or 790?).
She would need something shock-proof, and especially FREEZE-proof for where she lives.
The only thing I don't care for is the xD cards versus SD/SDHC (more common).
http://nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-Camera/25596/COOLPIX-L18.html
Very few buttons, feature rich , big lcd screen , 2AA batteries , takes great pictures and it comes in red :)
I second that notion. Nikon Coolpix Cameras have always been rather easy to use, full of user friendly features, yet produced images that are rather acceptable for most people.
I would suggest the Kodak Z1285 or V1233. While other consumer digicams capture a bit better quality than the Kodak ones, they don't come with 720p HD video capture. So when you weigh both video and stills, I think any of these two models are great. They are sold between $120 and $150 refurbished.
Well, the important matter here is not feature richness but SIMPLICITY. From what I understand, while she MIGHT possibly enjoy that particular feature, this guy's mom would prolly get confused as to how to switch between the two modes. Looking at the Z1285, for example, switching between the photo and video aspect requires two clicks of the dial, which can be hard to see and discern. This might seem absolutely incredulous, but I'm assuming this is a woman who was raised in a time period where such technology never existed, let alone was mainstream. (The V1233 seems to make a better effort at simplicity, but that's beside the point)
And further (and maybe I'm going out on a limb here): Why is it such a big deal whether or not a camera can shoot VIDEO nowadays? Judging from what was posted, I think the woman in question isn't interested in such things. She'd prolly find it gimmicky. Most people still don't find it entirely useful that cameras can shoot video (unless it is off their cameraphones). I'm sorry, but it's as if you disregarded the scope of the question and was simply making a case for a cheap digicam.
If there is one thing my mom hates a lot, it is technology, and especially when it comes to cameras! If you have an old generation mom, like me, then forget about buying her a camera in the first place. Based on my experience it always was my dad who took the old pictures, and even when my mom had a camera in her mobile right now it is always some other relative that used that camera.
In the other hand, if you have a new generation mom, or your mom is into photography, then she is better of buying one on her own, and she might as well have done her research without you even knowing it.
And to be honest, choosing a camera these days is plain crazy, there are like a thousand of them, and being updated as we talk, so go out find a camera you feel is good, do an hour of internet research and just buy it for you or someone close to your age. This article will be useless in the next coming week, just because cameras are produced so quick.
You're right about the overload of choices out there.
And if you do research, some love some & hate others, there is no real "winner", depending on where & when you read.
What I'd like to see is a digital camera for my mom that can receive* digital pictures from my camera, 2,300 miles away.
*(Wirelessly, of course:)
I guess it would be sort of a cross between a camera & a digital photo frame/GPS unit/cell phone without the phone.
Then she can take pictures, and show off the grandkids farther away in the same device.
An instant photo flipbook, of sorts.
Kevin - Give the Canon a590is a look.
Uses AA batteries, takes great pictures - and should your Mom ever want to geek out - she can mod the firmware.
It's $110 at Amazon as I type this. I ordered one for myself a coupla days ago to have something easier to carry that also had an optical viewfinder, which is a bit hard to find in this range.
Best of luck!
Agreed with the A590IS: it even has an "Easy" mode (a red box with a heart in it) on the mode selector dial that's basically a "more auto than AUTO" mode. No settings whatsoever. You just need to teach your mother to make sure the dial at the top is on red, and the switch on the back is on red (camera, rather than playback), and to press the button down all the way until the camera clicks.
I bought one a couple of months ago when I noticed how cheap they were on Amazon. I use it when I can't be bothered to get out my DSLR and make sure it's charged. I keep a few of those new Low Self Discharge NiMH AAs in the A590IS, and I can always buy a pack of AAs from a shop if I'm caught out.
Pictures are "meh", in my opinion, but better than no camera - no picture.
canon 590 IS is a very good one... with Image stabilization is very good for people who dont know how to take a photo....
Just set it to auto and let your mother click ...if she decides to have fun with other modes she can aswell.
Having been in the same position several times and spent ages walking around London's gadget haven (Tottenham Court Road), where I toyed with every camera I could find, I ended up with the Nikon P50. Not the latest Nikon, but it met my Mum friendly requirements: a) Shutter release priority. Meaning, there was no separate playback mode, just a push button to start image playback - as opposed to a slider or switch that would disable the shutter release, confusing Mum. b) Good sized hand grip so if the shakes set in, she can keep it steady, something that's hard to do with the smaller cameras. c) Takes regular AA batteries so she can pop into a shop if they die - or insert rechargeables that I give her once in a while. d) Takes great pictures. e) Can be connected to a TV for family get together viewing. (No PC/Mac at her place.) f) Minimal controls to reduce confusion. g) Obvious ON/OFF button/switch. So far, the P50 has worked out great. It even tones down overly bright images when Mum shoots into the sun. My only issue is the LCD is smaller than todays nice large 3" screens and the mode dial can (like any camera) slip out of position from Full Auto, so a locking mechanism would be great. Hope that helps!
I forgot something very important! A real viewfinder. Older people are not used to previewing their shots on an LCD. The Nikon P50 has one. And another key benefit is that each button is single task. Just press the TRASH button to delete an image. The only exception is the normal double function of the D-PAD, but those features are rarely used as Mums tend to shoot on full auto! As the P50 is based on a lower resolution sensor, it produces very clean images too and is very fast. The 640x480 movie mode is great for family get togethers too. And today, you can get the camera for under £100 ($150) if you shop around.
The Panasonic Lumix are very easy to use. DMC-LS80K is under $ 130 and it's a great camera. All the Lumix cameras have an "iA" function that lets you take pictures without even have to think if it's a Portait or a Macro shoot. The camera auto-detects what you are shooting to and adjust itself. Also it has the Mega OIS (optical image stabilitation) that works really well.
Merry Christmants to all.
(sorry for my bad english).
Took the words right out of my mouth. Some Kodaks also have this feature such as the M1033, but the picture quality on the Panny is worlds better and has a better OIS.
I like the Canon A590Is as well. Purely for image quality, I believe Canon is your best bet anyway. I have owned Kodak, Sony, Casio, and now Canon before finding a camera that almost always takes a great shot.
As for features, just remind her not to divulge into the detail settings, as most Digital cameras have them these days - Auto setting will satisfy 90% of the pictres taken.
By the way, as I learned when buying my mother her first digital camera, the best gift along with it is information. You might want to run through using the digital print kiosks a couple times and how to most easily sync with the computer. Hope this helps.
Just had to make the same decision for my mom. . . ended up with the canon SD1100. Good image quality and its small enough to keep in her purse.
I agree, the SD1100 is one of the best cameras in the price range. you can get one on sale for $150.
I wouldn't go with the A590 mainly for its size but also because it has way more features than someone looking for a simple camera really needs. the SD1100 easily slides into your pocket and is very easy to use right out of the box. It also takes great quality images (for a point and shoot). The only downside is that it doesn't use AA batteries.
I agree - the SD1100 is a great value. I saw it the other day at some crazy one-day price of $89. New. Of course, I saw it the day AFTER....
Anyways, we have a couple of Canon's - the 800IS and the 1000 - which we absolutely love. My wife uses an 1100 as a PTO officer to take pics of school events for the yearbook, etc.
The only annoying thing I've noticed is that the flash can be overpowering. It would be great if there was a way to dial that back through a menu adjustment or something....
I got the last generation of the SD1100 for my mom. I think it's the Canon SD1000. My mom can barely use a computer and if any gadget requires any setup, there's absolutely no chance of her being able to make it work. ...anyways, she loves the SD1000 and takes great pics with it.
When they say "Point-and-Click", they mean it...
I too have been looking for la mere,,,I liked both,
Canon 1100 SD or Canon A 1000.
But then went wih the Panasonic Lumix TZ5,
cause Mom likes to take nature shots at a distance.
The TZ5 has 10X optical zoom, + 720P video !
It also seems easy enough to point and shoot.
Your mom won't care anyway, she'll love whatever
you buy her, right!!
The Nikon L18 is cheap ($100 - $120) with disposable AA batteries, 3inch LCD, 8mp, takes SD and it's simple. I work at a Ritz and this is the best thing we sell for someone in your situation. Lots of people here have recommended the Cannon A590 IS which is also a fine camera, but it is bigger and has more buttons, AKA more things to accidentally press. The L18 is smaller and a bit sleeker, something that is easier to drop into a purse. The only other camera I would recommend is the Nikon S52 ($150), but it uses a rechargeable battery so probably not preferred for your mom.
Of course no matter what camera you buy they ALL have an "auto" or "easy" mode for just point and click picture taking that is always colored green. Just make sure that she knows about keeping it "green" and she'll be fine. Another thing to watch out for and something that can't exactly be avoided is white balance. A LOT of older people come into Ritz with white balance issues and have *no* idea why their pictures have a weird blueish or reddish tinge to them. Show her how to keep it in Auto and she'll be fine.
There appears to be complaints on Amazon about a very slow speed from pressing to taking the photo with regards to this camera.
While there may be some slight differences, when the camera is focused there's no noticeable difference from just about any other point and shoot on the market. However it is best to not take my word for it, try it out in your local camera store and see for yourself, the L18 and A590 IS are both very common cameras for camera stores to have on hand right now.
I am not a fan of Canon, though they are usually what people on the internet recommend.
I would go for the lower-end Panasonic compacts in this case. Either that or a mobile phone. The reality is P&S quality is utter crap and you won't get anything 'artistic' or 'nice' out of it, it is just going to be useful for happy snaps and that is all.
I got my mom a Canon PowerShot A590 IS and she loves it. Keeps telling me she is amazed at the quality of the shots coming out of it and yet it is so easy to use.
Well, every Sony Cybershot I've had has crapped out on me, so lets confirm ruling those out. You'd think a $250 camera would last more than a couple years when you baby your gadgets.
weAREengadget
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Nk8CH5UVc
http://www.pentax-k-m.jp/?utm_source=pentaxjp1&utm_medium=flash
What I have experienced from mom and other aunts, they love taking pictures any point to shoot camera is fine like switch on take a snap. anyone can do it. The real problem comes with attaching cable and transferring to computer and uploading to website to share which is way too techy for them. So I would like to combine something like canon SD1100 which is light with 2 GB Eye-fi card so it can automatically upload it on websites.
Canon, Fuji, or Nikon seem to have the best picture quality. All modern cameras are very easy to use in Auto-mode... point and shoot. Can't get any easier than that.
DPReview has excellent reviews (though probably too much information for some). That said, their budget camera shootout showed Canon as being one of the better ones: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408budgetgroup/
Any camera's good for your mom, as long as it can take a good picture of your mom [blank]ing my [blank].
Oh SNAP!
I've had a lot of luck giving low to midrange Kodaks to my mother and sister-in-law. They are simple to use and have a lot of simple accessories.
For my mother-in-law, not only did we get her the camera (don't remember the model, but it was pretty cheap), but we also got her a Kodak EasyShare Printer Dock. So, it's easy for her to take and print her shots. She's a sixty-five year old woman, who doesn't own a computer, and she does all of this on her own. The Kodak stuff is about as easy as it gets.
Another plus of Kodaks is that they take SD cards, unlike similar Sony and Olympus models. So, it keeps everything cheap and easy.
I'm loving my Sony Cybershot W120 ($130, so buy a memory stick with the spare dough). It doesn't have buckets of features, but it has obvious modes, decent video capabilities, and really good low-light performance. Those are the things that I want out of a pocket point-and-shoot. It also handles really quickly (never feel like you're waiting for the camera to catch up).
That said, Optios have great skin tone, Canons work well, etc. You really have to go out of your way to go wrong these days.
Canon A590 IS.
AA batteries, image stabilization. $115 new. Done.
check out the Sony on the front page of the 3 day ad on either Best Buy or Circuit City. I believe it is $109 only and has 7 megapixel. It has the Carl Ziess lens, can't be wrong for that price.
My Mom needs a camera with a VIEWFINDER ---- she's used to taking pics by looking through a little tiny window.
Seriously, it makes things MUCH easier.
I got your simple camera for your mother right here.....
Get her a Nikon D3 and tell her ass to cowgirl up!
Any of the Canon PowerShot A-series cameras will do the trick for new-to-digital (or non-technical) photographers. They all take AA batteries, and for under $150, I give a second vote for the A590 IS as mentioned above.
Canon SD1100 or A590 will do the job and do it well...
I was gonna say it and got beat to it.
SONY Cybershot W120. If she likes Pink, that's a done deal. Best Buy is stocking the Pink model in limited qty for the holidays. If not, they have silver. It's like a brushed metallic pink. Tasteful.
The WHY?
On Screen Manual. If you do ANYTHING, you get a well placed sentence on screen telling you what you are getting in to. Smile Shutter is selling those cameras. You dial in the smiley face, press the shutter, then WAIT. Wait for the smile, then it goes off up to 6 times in a succession.
Also, fast processor, doesn't bog down, no 'writting to memory card' messages. You can take pictures until the memory cards fills up or the battery goes down in one sequence. Anti Blur is great and video comes out nice.
For the money, right now, you can not beat the performance and it's CHEAP.
It'll last years versus some other cheaper cameras that will probably break in a few months.
I just got my mom a Canon SD770.
She wanted something that's easy to use, really small to fit in her purse, and takes really nice pictures. The SD770 is essentially a smaller screened version of the SD790 that just got a "Highly Recommended" on dpreview.com.
Here's the review link: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408slimgroup/page15.asp
It currently goes for $159 on Amazon, which is a steal for a slim, metal bodied, 10MP compact. It came with a free Kingston 4GB SD card. Plus, it still has a viewfinder, which is becoming quite rare in cameras this size.
It uses a rechargeable battery though. Anything that uses AA batteries wouldn't have been slim enough.
Nikon D300 would be the best for your mom.
Going from a Fuji to a Canon I have never turned back, I now have 3 Canons, A95, SD 870IS, S5IS all are excellent cameras.
The Canon 590IS or the SD1100 either one will be fine. The picture quality and user interface on the Canon's are great. If you want simple printing you just take your USB cable and plug it into any Pictbridge printer and print from the camera. The cameras also have excellent post editing red eye removal which is very simple to use. Another consideration is the A 1000 IS from Canon is $150, 10mp 4x optial its newer than the other two but not by too much.
Size isnt too far off on these cameras they're all pretty similar the SD is thinner than the others, the 590 is thicker because of the grip.
SD1100
3.4 x 0.9 x 2.2 inches ; 4.5 ounces
A590
3.7 x 1.6 x 2.5 inches ; 6.2 ounces
A1000
3.8 x 1.2 x 2.5 inches ; 5.4 ounces
Pictbridge
http://www.digicamhelp.com/processing-photos/printing/pictbridge.php
CASIO.
Canon's take the best shots, but are hard to use (for older folk). There is NOTHING simpler than a CASIO.
I'm sorry, did I just read "alkaline batteries preferred"? :D
OK she may be your mum, but give her some credit on the recharging thing. How is having 2 sets of rechargeable batteries (AAs for instance) any different to having two sets of disposables, except preferred in every damn way known to man? :)
The GE A835 is a very inexpensive mid-ranged camera that is as easy to use as anything else and it actually comes with a decent instruction book. As a gift for Mom, I don't see how you could beat this camera.
PowerShot SD880IS. No viewfinder, which is perfect. She didn't like the itty bitty view finder on her old Canon. This camera takes amazing pictures. She just went to Germany with it, so, we'll see what kind of stationary objects she takes pictures of.......
samsung 10.2 megapixel camera from bestbuy. I bought it for my mom's birthday for 150 and she loves it...and shes almost completely comupter illiterate.
I got the Canon Powershot A470 for my mom earlier this year, and it's now just under $100. It's a little smaller than the A590. If she's okay with a larger camera, then go with the A590 for the image stabilization. I was a little disappointed in the LCD screen on the A470, but the important thing is my mom takes the camera with her and actually takes pictures with it.
Don't forget to also get her an SD card and a nice little carry case (Case Logic makes some nice ones).