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#1
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Suggestions for a *simple* point and shoot
Following my questions about where to buy a D3, I now have another issue
- at the other end of the camera spectrum. I'd like to buy my wife, who is retired, a point and shoot camera, but she is not at all technical and has a strong dislike of gadgets. Ideally I'd like something that flashes when it needs to without her having to make a decision if it needs flash. I'm looking for something with the least buttons, knobs or other controls, so she has less chance of getting into a mess with it. I want something quite compact too, but simplicity is more important than size or picture quality. Suggestions? |
#2
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Suggestions for a *simple* point and shoot
Dave wrote:
Following my questions about where to buy a D3, I now have another issue - at the other end of the camera spectrum. I'd like to buy my wife, who is retired, a point and shoot camera, but she is not at all technical and has a strong dislike of gadgets. Ideally I'd like something that flashes when it needs to without her having to make a decision if it needs flash. I'm looking for something with the least buttons, knobs or other controls, so she has less chance of getting into a mess with it. I want something quite compact too, but simplicity is more important than size or picture quality. Suggestions? Yeah. Boot her out and find yourself a woman who isn't as stupid and chronically disinterested in modern life. The new one probably won't be so fat either. I can't stand women like that, the type who after decades still can't use the remote controls or program a video. Men are from Mars and SOME women are from Venus, but most are from somewhere slightly south of stupid. DeeD |
#3
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Suggestions for a *simple* point and shoot
Dave wrote:
Following my questions about where to buy a D3, I now have another issue - at the other end of the camera spectrum. I'd like to buy my wife, who is retired, a point and shoot camera, but she is not at all technical and has a strong dislike of gadgets. Ideally I'd like something that flashes when it needs to without her having to make a decision if it needs flash. I'm looking for something with the least buttons, knobs or other controls, so she has less chance of getting into a mess with it. I want something quite compact too, but simplicity is more important than size or picture quality. Suggestions? If she won't be insulted by the idea, look at children's cameras. Seriously. They are specifically designed for simplicity. I've seen this question before regarding elderly parents and that was the best answer that came out of the discussion. All other cameras are designed & marketed to have the maximum number of neat tricks, that's what sells & looks impressive in the marketing. -- Paul Furman www.edgehill.net www.baynatives.com all google groups messages filtered due to spam |
#4
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Suggestions for a *simple* point and shoot
On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:58:38 +0100, Dave wrote:
Following my questions about where to buy a D3, I now have another issue - at the other end of the camera spectrum. I'd like to buy my wife, who is retired, a point and shoot camera, but she is not at all technical and has a strong dislike of gadgets. Ideally I'd like something that flashes when it needs to without her having to make a decision if it needs flash. I'm looking for something with the least buttons, knobs or other controls, so she has less chance of getting into a mess with it. I want something quite compact too, but simplicity is more important than size or picture quality. Suggestions? Most of the low- to medium-range p&s cameras have the same functions. Find one that fits comfortably in her hand. Feel is more important than function in your case. My wife is not good with mechanical devices, either. When she uses my p&s the mistake she most often makes is not checking the mode dial before snapping. If I could just get her to make sure to see that is set on the green "automatic" mode, she wouldn't blow as many shots. If it was a camera that she, and she alone, used, I'd tape the dial to that setting. Maybe even superglue it. -- Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida |
#5
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Suggestions for a *simple* point and shoot
Paul Furman wrote:
Dave wrote: Following my questions about where to buy a D3, I now have another issue - at the other end of the camera spectrum. I'd like to buy my wife, who is retired, a point and shoot camera, but she is not at all technical and has a strong dislike of gadgets. Ideally I'd like something that flashes when it needs to without her having to make a decision if it needs flash. I'm looking for something with the least buttons, knobs or other controls, so she has less chance of getting into a mess with it. I want something quite compact too, but simplicity is more important than size or picture quality. Suggestions? If she won't be insulted by the idea, look at children's cameras. Seriously. They are specifically designed for simplicity. I've seen this question before regarding elderly parents and that was the best answer that came out of the discussion. All other cameras are designed & marketed to have the maximum number of neat tricks, that's what sells & looks impressive in the marketing. Thank you for that. I'd never thought of that option, but it is one worth pursuing. My only concern is children seem better at these sorts of things than most adults! I like Tony's idea too - tape the controls. I've often thought there was some millage in having electronic devices where functionality can be restricted. My Dad has a TV with a remote control which fits in a shroud. The remote has about 50 buttons on one side, and about 12 on the other. Depending on what side is fitted into the shroud, either the 50 or 12 can be seen. I consider myself reasonably technically savvy. I have a degree in electronics, and a PhD in a science subject. Yet I find some of the gadgets now too complex. I think I'm the wrong side of 25! I've just bought a D3, and that is complex, but I do have a desire to learn to use that. When it comes to a TV or similar, I don't really feel I want to know such intricate details, but its almost impossible to escape these days. dave |
#6
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Suggestions for a *simple* point and shoot
Dave wrote:
Following my questions about where to buy a D3, I now have another issue - at the other end of the camera spectrum. I'd like to buy my wife, who is retired, a point and shoot camera, but she is not at all technical and has a strong dislike of gadgets. Ideally I'd like something that flashes when it needs to without her having to make a decision if it needs flash. I'm looking for something with the least buttons, knobs or other controls, so she has less chance of getting into a mess with it. I want something quite compact too, but simplicity is more important than size or picture quality. A mobile (cell) phone with camera and flash. One button turns it into a camera. One button takes a photograph. And if she gets into trouble one fast-dial button can ring you up for advice :-) Designed for people who think simple cameras are complicated, such as teenagers whose brains are in the intermediate soupy pupal meltdown stage of transformation between child and adult. -- Chris Malcolm DoD #205 IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK [http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/] |
#7
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Suggestions for a *simple* point and shoot
On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:58:38 +0100, Dave wrote:
Following my questions about where to buy a D3, I now have another issue - at the other end of the camera spectrum. I'd like to buy my wife, who is retired, a point and shoot camera, but she is not at all technical and has a strong dislike of gadgets. Ideally I'd like something that flashes when it needs to without her having to make a decision if it needs flash. I'm looking for something with the least buttons, knobs or other controls, so she has less chance of getting into a mess with it. I want something quite compact too, but simplicity is more important than size or picture quality. Suggestions? FWIW - my wife still uses her coolpix 2100. She simply points and shoots. |
#8
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Suggestions for a *simple* point and shoot
ray wrote:
On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:58:38 +0100, Dave wrote: Following my questions about where to buy a D3, I now have another issue - at the other end of the camera spectrum. I'd like to buy my wife, who is retired, a point and shoot camera, but she is not at all technical and has a strong dislike of gadgets. Ideally I'd like something that flashes when it needs to without her having to make a decision if it needs flash. I'm looking for something with the least buttons, knobs or other controls, so she has less chance of getting into a mess with it. I want something quite compact too, but simplicity is more important than size or picture quality. Suggestions? FWIW, I would not suggest the cheapest/simplest P&S. Let me give my reasoning/experience. I have been taking pictures for 45+ years and my wife has showed little interest other than to critique. For Christmas 2006, our youngest son, bought her a Nikon L6 (~$100). With little help from me she began taking pictures with a vengeance and outgrew the camera by June. I bought her a Panasonic TZ3 which she has learned to use a little bit at a time and is now very interested in photography. She likes the smaller size and the 10x zoom and has no interest in my DSLR's. Many of her pictures rival (some exceed) mine. The only problem she has, is not being able to control the focus accurately and anything requiring fast response time. Not being technical is not an inhibitor. If she has a desire to take pictures, that is all that is needed. Also, be cautious with how you offer help. Let her critique her own work and offer suggestions reluctantly. My guess is she will surprise you. Clair |
#9
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Suggestions for a *simple* point and shoot
On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:37:11 -0400, Clair Johnston wrote:
ray wrote: On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:58:38 +0100, Dave wrote: Following my questions about where to buy a D3, I now have another issue - at the other end of the camera spectrum. I'd like to buy my wife, who is retired, a point and shoot camera, but she is not at all technical and has a strong dislike of gadgets. Ideally I'd like something that flashes when it needs to without her having to make a decision if it needs flash. I'm looking for something with the least buttons, knobs or other controls, so she has less chance of getting into a mess with it. I want something quite compact too, but simplicity is more important than size or picture quality. Suggestions? FWIW, I would not suggest the cheapest/simplest P&S. Let me give my reasoning/experience. I have been taking pictures for 45+ years and my wife has showed little interest other than to critique. For Christmas 2006, our youngest son, bought her a Nikon L6 (~$100). With little help from me she began taking pictures with a vengeance and outgrew the camera by June. I bought her a Panasonic TZ3 which she has learned to use a little bit at a time and is now very interested in photography. She likes the smaller size and the 10x zoom and has no interest in my DSLR's. Many of her pictures rival (some exceed) mine. The only problem she has, is not being able to control the focus accurately and anything requiring fast response time. Not being technical is not an inhibitor. If she has a desire to take pictures, that is all that is needed. Also, be cautious with how you offer help. Let her critique her own work and offer suggestions reluctantly. My guess is she will surprise you. Clair What 'work'? It sounds like the woman wants a simple camera to take snapshots with! |
#10
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Suggestions for a *simple* point and shoot
Richard wrote:
How about a Holga? I don't fancy the hassle of 120 filem. Also, they are quite large. I want something compact so she will actually take it out and use it - mainly for family snaps. |
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