Best camera I can buy my wife under $400?

headhunter · 12-06-2012, 06:47 PM

Dudes;

I don't pay attention to cameras. Do not think about them at all. I know zilch about the state of the art. My wife just wants something easy to use yet powerful for taking family pictures. We are reasonably tech savvy and will download pics to picasa or iPhoto. Zoomage in the lens? Bonus.

Help a man get his wife the right Christmas gift. For once.

Hh

brentde3 · 12-06-2012, 06:55 PM

Olympus E-PL1 is a great little camera. Bonus is its interchangeable lenses. She wants to get into photography, she can expand the system.

FLYING EYEBALL · 12-06-2012, 07:11 PM

s110?

NikonsAndVStroms · 12-06-2012, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brentde3

Olympus E-PL1 is a great little camera. Bonus is its interchangeable lenses. She wants to get into photography, she can expand the system.

Same for the Nikon J1 (J2 is out so the old model fits your budget).

Slightly worse low light performance than the m4/3 Olympus and Panasonic cameras but with much faster auto focus. It's easily the best mirrorless interchangeable lens camera for AF speed right now.

Cogswell · 12-07-2012, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYING EYEBALL

s110?

Good choice !

The Canon S100 (predecessor) is usually on sale now for under $300.

Great camera, takes stunning pictures, love mine.

Took these while on a zip-line tour over Thanksgiving holiday.

Mike

TwilightZone · 12-07-2012, 11:50 AM

Panasonic. I use one of these for my riding camera.
It takes pretty awesome photos in automatic mode.
They have low to mid-range photography figured out.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-FZ60K-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B008MB6YX6/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1354909247&sr=8-9&keywords=panasonic+cameras

Or simple 'go in the pocket' camera.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-FH25K-16-1MP-Digital-Stabilized/dp/B004NBZ8DQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1354909247&sr=8-4&keywords=panasonic+cameras

Grainbelt · 12-07-2012, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYING EYEBALL

s110?

Without a doubt.

Cute, small, yet very capable. Great wife cam. Hell, great anybody cam. I seriously considered one before going a different direction.

canon link

NoahDL88 · 12-07-2012, 02:15 PM

Nikon AW100

Compact, waterproof, and drop proof to 5 feet (kids?)

The lens doesn't bug out so you don't have to worry about that mechanism failing or jamming.

Juanjo_NY · 12-07-2012, 07:34 PM

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-...ds=nikon+p7700

skysailor · 12-07-2012, 07:47 PM

Another P7100 fan here. But any camera has to feel "right" for her.
Lyle

MrBob · 12-08-2012, 06:36 AM

You might choose a camera after considering a long list of specifications and have her choose a camera because it's red. This was my recent experience helping someone buy her first laptop.
OTOH, those Canon "S" series cameras are wondrous. I've had an S90 for a few years and it's been great.

headhunter · 12-12-2012, 07:27 AM

Thanks a lot for the help fellas. ADV rules. I am liking the Nikon Fz-60K since it comes with a pretty reasonable zoom (24X) out of the box.

Best,

Hh

Grainbelt · 12-12-2012, 07:40 AM

In that class, consider the Fujifilm HS30EXR as well. Their unique EXR sensor technology does very well to reduce noise (grain) in low light photos and to reduce blowing out highlights (turning them all white) in high-contrast very sunny scenes. The zoom is also properly located on the lens barrel, the LCD tilts for easy viewing at difficult angles, lens is threaded for 58mm filters. A better photographic tool, IMO.

I've been very pleased with my FujiFilm X10.

12-06-2012, 06:47 PM	#1
headhunter ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2005 Location: NC mountains Oddometer: 478	Best camera I can buy my wife under $400? Dudes; I don't pay attention to cameras. Do not think about them at all. I know zilch about the state of the art. My wife just wants something easy to use yet powerful for taking family pictures. We are reasonably tech savvy and will download pics to picasa or iPhoto. Zoomage in the lens? Bonus. Help a man get his wife the right Christmas gift. For once. Hh __________________ Enjoy the ride.

12-06-2012, 06:55 PM	#2
brentde3 Should be outside Joined: Apr 2010 Location: Oneonta, NY Oddometer: 461	Olympus E-PL1 is a great little camera. Bonus is its interchangeable lenses. She wants to get into photography, she can expand the system. __________________ 2012 Honda NC700X '90 PW50 IBA# 49512

12-06-2012, 07:11 PM	#3
FLYING EYEBALL dirtball Joined: Mar 2008 Location: southeast of seattle Oddometer: 9,785	s110? __________________ if you keep poor...the struggle is simple my photos http://jskustoms.smugmug.com/ save yourself some $ with my smuggy discount code qvMaWy1bTFU7c

12-07-2012, 11:50 AM	#6
TwilightZone Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Behind the Redwood Curtain Oddometer: 1,987	Panasonic. I use one of these for my riding camera. It takes pretty awesome photos in automatic mode. They have low to mid-range photography figured out. http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-FZ60K-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B008MB6YX6/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1354909247&sr=8-9&keywords=panasonic+cameras Or simple 'go in the pocket' camera. http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-FH25K-16-1MP-Digital-Stabilized/dp/B004NBZ8DQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1354909247&sr=8-4&keywords=panasonic+cameras __________________ Whales were everywhere. On the beach, on the hillsides. One crossed the road in front of us… it was a big beluga!

12-07-2012, 02:15 PM	#8
NoahDL88 Vroom Vroom Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Bremerton, Wa Oddometer: 928	Nikon AW100 Compact, waterproof, and drop proof to 5 feet (kids?) The lens doesn't bug out so you don't have to worry about that mechanism failing or jamming. __________________ Ride more, Type less.

12-07-2012, 07:34 PM	#9
Juanjo_NY Made in Argentina Joined: Dec 2010 Location: WashingtonVille, NY Oddometer: 2,905	Nikon P7100 http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-...ds=nikon+p7700 __________________ cheers, Juanjo

12-07-2012, 07:47 PM	#10
skysailor Rat Rider Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Kenora, Canada Oddometer: 2,895	Another P7100 fan here. But any camera has to feel "right" for her. Lyle

12-08-2012, 06:36 AM	#11
MrBob Careening forward Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Santa Fe, N.M. Oddometer: 5,737	You might choose a camera after considering a long list of specifications and have her choose a camera because it's red. This was my recent experience helping someone buy her first laptop. OTOH, those Canon "S" series cameras are wondrous. I've had an S90 for a few years and it's been great. __________________ 2003 KLX 400R dual sport

12-12-2012, 07:27 AM	#12
headhunter ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2005 Location: NC mountains Oddometer: 478	Thanks! Thanks a lot for the help fellas. ADV rules. I am liking the Nikon Fz-60K since it comes with a pretty reasonable zoom (24X) out of the box. Best, Hh __________________ Enjoy the ride.

12-12-2012, 07:40 AM	#13
Grainbelt marginal adventurer Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Minnyhappiness Oddometer: 25,086	In that class, consider the Fujifilm HS30EXR as well. Their unique EXR sensor technology does very well to reduce noise (grain) in low light photos and to reduce blowing out highlights (turning them all white) in high-contrast very sunny scenes. The zoom is also properly located on the lens barrel, the LCD tilts for easy viewing at difficult angles, lens is threaded for 58mm filters. A better photographic tool, IMO. I've been very pleased with my FujiFilm X10.

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