buying a camera for my Dad

[Katie G]

Hi all
Hoping someone on here might be able to help me.
I am planning on buying my Dad a P&S for Father's Day. I need to explain a few htings about my dad - he is the furthest thing from technologically savy there is, he still cant use the vcr we got him for his 50th (that was 15 yrs ago). I want to find the absolute simplest digital camera possible to give him, he doesnt live close to us so Craig wont be able to be help desk for him. Im hoping someone here has had an experience with an easy to use basic P&S.

thank you
Katie

[phillipb]

Katie, problem is, even if you find a dead easy P&S, what's he going to do with the photos after he's taken them?

[Katie G]

Print them at the local chemist or kmart.

[radar]

Katie,

just get him a Polaroid and that will save him a trip to the chemist

Jokes aside the Canon IXUS are pretty easy to use and they get good reviews. I have one that I got a few years back and still works just fine. There are various model that will fit your budget and features you think your Dad might like. Just go to a camera shop and try them out, there are about 5 or 6 models. Have a look at:
http://www.canon.com.au/products/visual ... meras.html

cheers,

André

[Ivanerrol]

Errr.. Tongue in cheek.

If he justs want to make prints. How about a P&S film camera much like the Olympus XA2 which I got off the great auction site for $ 20.00 a couple of weeks ago.

Otherwise as mentioned above - can't beat one of the Canon Ixus's

[Big Red]

my parents in their 70 have recently got their first digital camera.

its a kodak point and shoot something or other that came with a printer so all they have to do is stick the camera on and press the print button apparently.

[Katie G]

thanks for the suggestions

i might look into the kodak range and see what looks good.

thanks again

Katie

[aswcheng]

its a kodak point and shoot something or other that came with a printer so all they have to do is stick the camera on and press the print button apparently.

I use one of these Kodak Easyshare printer docks to do quick print jobs at home (eg. printing out candid photos to give to dinner guests). The quality is quite acceptable and the convenience unbeatable. The main disadvantage is the cost of the prints (~50c per print with the largest paper packs, unless when on special), which is quite a bit more than the 15-25c most photo places are charging these days.

They work with non-Kodak cameras as well, although a cable may be needed (instead of simply docking the Kodak camera on top of the printer).

If Katie's dad is not too fuss about the lens quality, cheap Kodak bundles (low-end camera + printer) can be found in KMart or Target for around $140-170.

[Greg B]

I love the IXUS cameras, got one for Rosanne. But I doubt they would be ideal for a 65 yo non techno person. Bit too fiddly.

The Kodak range are excellent for the simpler side of things - a guy at work got a Kodak ~ $250 and he loves it, and it is a bit bigger - making it easier to use.

[rflower]

My Mother-in-Law bought Father-in-Law a Kodak something a year or so ago. They have no computer, and are not technically minded as such. They look at them through the TV, and take the whole camera down to Harvey Normans to get printed. They are happy enough with the snapshots, that my Mother-in-Law just got one for herself with a printer

[jammy2]

Dick Smith had a recent sale on the Fuji F20 for $158 which is a good PS for low light especially, so that may be an option

[huw62]

we have a panasonic TZ1 point and shoot for my wife to use and she finds it very simple to operate and has 5mp and 10x optical zoom which is great and the bonus of image stabilization. around $350.00 but well worth it.