Small and simple camera for my 60 yo parents

[ricoval]

I'm looking to buy my parents a replacement digital camera. They are currently using a 2 MP Kodak EasyShare klunker. The image quality is pretty good and the software is very easy for them to use, but I'd rather get them something they can slip in a pocket. Details below.

Thanks!

Budget

* <$500

Size

* Definitely small

Features

* How many megapixels will suffice for you? 3MP+

* Standard zoom = 3x-4x

* How important is “image quality” to you? 8

* Do you care for manual controls? No

General Usage

* What will you generally use the camera for? Snapshots, mostly e-mailed

* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not? Some

* Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos? Yes

* Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos? No

Miscellaneous

* Are there particular brands you like or hate? Like Canon, like Sony

* Are there particular models you already have in mind? Sony Cyber Shot DSC-T1 (mostly for form factor)

* (If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD) Nope

[propwash]

If your parents are happy with their old Kodak, take a look at the Kodak 7440. It's 4mp with 4x optical zoom. It is one of the best cameras I have seen as far as red-eye is concerned. It's fairly small, and they should be familiar with the Kodak menu system.

[jessie25]

The DX6440 seems to be a lot like the 7440 except that the 6440 has the option of AA batteries. IMHO the 6440 is the better camera because of that; you can use rechargeables but you also have the option of dropping in AAs in a pinch.

I've been trying to figure out what other differences there are between the two models; if anyone knows, please help?

[ricoval]

Thanks for the suggestions, but both of these seem to be pretty big. Any suggestions for something smaller? Any opinions on that Sony one?

[Causeway]

Look into the Casio Exilims. Very small and afforable and they should meet your needs.

[ricoval]

Casios seem to be lagging in the photo quality department.

Am I hoping for too much here?

[speaklightly]

Have you taken a look at the Pentax S5i? It is a small camera that offers 5mp, 3X optial zoom, and is capable of taking excellent digital photos. It is currently selling for around $220 on the internet.

Sarah Joyce

[CameraNewbie]

how about the canon powershot G6!

[gary_hendricks]

Here are some thoughts on the Sony DSC-T1.

Pros
1) size, size, and size - small enough to be pocketed which allows for easy use and never-miss-a-shot capability
2) HUGE lcd - bigger than the one I had on my old camera which was 3 times the size of this one
3) 5MP - I doubt most people actully need this much, but if you like to crop and edit your photos 5MP is handy

Cons
1) it's made by Sony so of course they had to be different and make memory sticks that cost about 25% more than compact flash and SD
2) so-so image quality - better than most cameras this size, but if you're and avid photgrapher, this is not your camera
3) zoom - even though I rarely use full zoom, some people do and it only has 3x optical / 2x digital

[speaklightly]

Newbie-

The internet low price on the Canon G-6 is $(US) 479. All of this info is readily available to you, why not check it oit.

Sarah Joyce

[ricoval]

Re: Canon G6. Thanks for the tip, but its form factor is definitely too big.

Re: Sony. Thanks for the detailed description. I think I need to use people's time more effectively and pick out 3-5 cameras from Ritz or something that havegood size and then ask people for their experience re: image quality, ease of use, etc.

Thanks all!

[wluffman]

Speaking as a five-year AARP member (with an 86-year-old mother), I can tell you that some seniors are "younger" than others. Are your parents (both of them) the sort who will always remember to recharge camera batteries, or are they better off with a camera that can use disposable alkalines in a pinch? Do they need the convenience of a dock/printer, or are they comfortable using a computer as a digital darkroom? Do they have reasonably good manual dexterity, or has arthritis (or repetitive-stain injury) gotten to their hands? And while it isn't necessarily an "old folks" thing, just how large are the pockets they'll be carrying this camera in?

I've been using a Canon Powershot A-series compact for a few years now, and your parents might like one of these. Mine's the (discontinued) A20, but I think its successors all inherited its knack for using four AA cells; NiMH recharageables aren't expensive and last longer, but in a pinch I can toss in a four-pack of alkalines until I get back home to the charger. The A-series is designed to be auto-everything, so they can preset the controls and forget about everything except framing the picture. It uses Compact Flash cards which are available just about everywhere, so if they run out of storage while on a trip they can buy another CF card -- and more alkaline batteries. And the new 5-megapixel A95 has a larger LCD display that swings out and rotates 270 degrees, similar to several more expensive (and complicated) cameras.

The Canon A-series compacts are too big to fit into a shirt pocket, but a handbag or overcoat pocket will swallow them up. I consider the A-series just the right size for my medium-sized hands; something smaller might be a bit too tiny for me to hold and operate properly, while anything larger might do better carried in its own case. (I carry my A20 in an aftermarket case anyway; the main compartment is just the right size to hold the camera, while its accessory pocket holds four AAs and an extra CF card.)

Both Kodak and Hewlett-Packard (and probably others) make cameras with similar features that also work with docking bases or printer-docks. I prefer being able to work with my images in the computer and print as large as 8x10, so I did not limit myself to cameras with docks. (Besides, I buy AA cells in bulk for all my gadgets.)

If I were buying a new camera for my mother (who still uses an APS film camera), I'd look for a point-and-shoot digital with a printer-dock that also recharges the batteries automatically. Since the typical printer-dock makes only 4x6 prints, a 3- or 4-megapixel camera would be more than adequate. To keep things as simple for her as possible, I'd insist on autofocus and built-in automatic flash ... and I'd take the time to teach her how to use a motorized zoom lens, since she's never used one before.

[gary_hendricks]

Some thoughts on the Sony DSC-T1.

Pros
1) size, size, and size - small enough to be pocketed which allows for easy use and never-miss-a-shot capability
2) HUGE lcd - bigger than the one I had on my old camera which was 3 times the size of this one
3) 5MP - I doubt most people actually need this much, but if you like to crop and edit your photos 5MP is handy

[b]Cons[b]
1) it's made by Sony so of course they had to be different and make memory sticks that cost about 25% more than compact flash and SD
2) so-so image quality - better than most cameras this size, but if you're and avid photgrapher, this is not your camera
3) zoom - even though I rarely use full zoom, some people do and it only has 3x optical / 2x digital