What digital camera to give my father on his 80th? Looking for 4-5 megapixel, but CHUNKY controls important.?

Question

He's pretty nimble, but why trouble him with microscopic buttons? Also dioptre adjustment would be nice. The reason I'm posting here is that online reviews/comparisons give no quarter for older folks.

Answer 1

go for Sony T5.......its really cool

Answer 2

Look for digicams with overall larger sizes. They tend to have bigger controls. They are, however, a little heavier.

All the cameras have full automatic controls (as well as manual controls that he does not have to use).

4-5 MP will be hard to find in bigger camera sizes now. The whole industry has raised the available range (but lowered the cost).

Some also have rings around the lens barrel to move the zoom. This is used on every shot, and is much easier to use than the typical zoom buttons.

D-SLR's have the biggest controls (and zoom rings). The Nikon D-50 or the Canon Rebel XT are available with 2 lenses for around $700.

Next are the "near d-SLR's" like the Canon "G" series, Canon S3 IS, Sony DSC-H2/H5, Panasonic FZ30, and Fuji S9000. These are $400 to $500. (The Panasonic and Fugi are the biggest of these, and have a zoom rings.)

Go to a good camera store and tell them what you are looking for. Then hold the larger ones and feel the controls yourself.

A bigger LCD screen may be important too. The Sony H5 has the biggest at 3 inches.

Best Wishes and Happy Birthday to your father!

Answer 3

Well the first answer listed is way off, those cameras are quite expensive and quite crappy for what you get. Now I have been studying digital cameras nonstop for the last couple weeks and have found many high perforance and inexpensive cameras. I hate to say that my expertise lingers in the 6-7 mp department, but if your dad wants a good, inexpensive, handy, high performance camera, he should get the sony p200 (very hard to find because its sold out except on ebay and sony stopped manufacturing it). If you can't find that, I just purchased a canon a620 and after 3 weeks of shopping i think it's just about the best compact. If he is looking for a good camera with high zoom, the fuji s5200 is an slr-type camera with decent mp and a small price that Ive had my eye on for a long time. If you are really worried about picture size being too big and want to stay with low mp, The nikon L1 is closer to that than the cameras I mentioned earlier. If you Fancy Swivel Screens and clear pictures along with it, get the Nikon coolpix 4500. If you have any further questions or would like me to do any research for you, I would be happy to do so! Remember, Yahoo! or Bizrate/Cnet Shopping is the best place to find these digicams!

Answer 4

Realistically, there are only two good cameras you should consider.

The first is the Canon PowerShot S2 IS:

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_s2-review/

The second is the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1:

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dsc_h1-review/index.shtml

These are both full sized cameras and very nice for the price range you seem to be considering. Both cameras have more recent, more powerful (and more expensive) versions (the S3 and the H5, respectively). Of the two cameras, the Sony is better. However, as you can see in the reviews, the buttons on the Canon might be better for your grandfather.

Both of these cameras will need a memory card. The cheapest place to get these is at pricegrabber.com

Answer 5

Go for this CASIO EX-Z60BK Black 6 MP Digital Camera 1/2.5" CCD 2.5" 115K LCD 3X Optical Zoom 4X Digital Zoom. It is just $199. That is great. It is also ultra compact. For more details go here http://www.newegg.com/product/product.as...

Answer 6

Nikon Coolpix 5600. Its 5.1 mp with 3x zoom. I hope it will fit your father nicely. You may also try Canon A-95 with a display screen which revolves.

Answer 7

Look at Cannon G3 or G5 (might be too many megapixels)

Answer 8

i would suggst Canon a200 or Ixus......both are good...or try a Digital SLR from Minolta

Answer 9

get a simple but good one