Dslr type cameras for a mom

D

dozerr

Active member
so my cousin had a canon rebel at our house on christmas. and my dad thought it would be cool for my mom to have a good camera like that

but i figure, my mom is not very technologically advanced, and cameras like that might be a little too crazy for her to handle, especially with manual settings and aperature priority and stuff like that. she would probably just use it on auto all the time.

soo, my question is, for you guys that know about digital cameras, what type of camera would you recomend for a mom, that wants to take good pictures, and have maybe a few settings for like fast shutter speeds and stuff, but isnt too too crazy for someone who had never really tickled into the photo world, and has always used a point and shoot.

summary: whats a good camera for a mom, that isnt just a point and shoot, but also not something with a super crazy amount of manual settings that would just confuse someone who doesnt know too much about photography

thanks!
 
canon G10 would be a great option. It isn't a DSLR, but it has a lot of manual options. It is a lot smaller than the rebel cameras so it's easy to take anywhere, but it also takes amazing pictures.
 
Olympus E-410 is a great little camera. Technically, its a dslr, but its half the size because of the four thirds sensor. Its ten megapxels, got full auto and manual controls, pop up flash, and with the 25mm pancake lens, its small enough to fit in your pocket, but if you want some longer zoom lens, it works great with them too.
 
Agreed.
super easy to use, really hard to break.
your mom will love this, especially coming from her favorite daughter ;)
 
I agree as well, pretty powerful cameras that are extremely easy to use and you get great results. Plus you can't beat the price...
 
DONT BUY CANON! Pure and simple. My entire family has been buying Nikon for over 40 years and have never had a problem. My aunt bought a Rebel once, and hated it. She sold a few months later.

I own a Nikon D300. Its an AMAZING camera (it better be for $2500 ;), but its probably out of your price range and although it would last you for years, you probably wont need that good of a camera. And don't even get me started on Sigma lenses. The quality of the lenses just sucks, plain and simple. Nikkor lenses beat Sigma lenses by a longshot. They are made better and are extremely durable. A Canon DSLR is not worth the money. Take that money and buy a Nikon, trust me. Once you go Nikon, you dont go back

I'd say look into the D60, if you can afford to pay a bit more, buy the D90.

 
I really don't think you should say that. What you say implies that you have very little experience in camera equipment, and i don't know why you try and bring hate to Canon. Neither Canon nor Nikon is a clear winner, yes the battle will forever live on but for heavens sake close that ignorant mouth of yours unless you are actually going to give quality helpful information. I am not trying to be disrespectful, but seriously i can't believe you just said that.
 
and this is probably one of the first of my 3450 posts that could be considered hate although not ment in such a way
 
g10 is right on, it shoots in RAW, has great flexibility as far as manual options go, I'd honestly take it over an entry level dslr.
 
Oh really, what part of my posts makes me look like i have "very little experience in camera equipment". Have you owned a Nikon DSLR before? Do you honestly think Nikkor lenses are less durable that Sigmas. FYI, I have been around professional photography for most of my life, so I think you are the one thats being kind of ignorant here. Saying that my opinion is wrong makes you look disrespectful, so maybe before you speak, you should think about the fact that you dont have the whole story. Now you do

I said what I said simply because, I know many pro photographers that prefer Nikon over Canon, even tho some of them own Canons. I dont know about Canon's low-end DSLR range, but I know that the D60 and the D90 are solid cameras. If it comes down to it, compare them side by side.

If you want un-opinionated answers, google digital slr reviews, and check some sites out. I recomend buying a camera, regardless of Nikon or Canon, that has been released fairly recently, so you dont get a camera thats almost obsolete :)
 
sorry to double post but Dan brings up a good point, make sure that you're looking for a camera that can shoot in RAW or TIFF, thats essential for good quality photos
 
How can you say "don't buy canon" though. Maybe in your opinion that are not that great, but you have not stated any experience with canon cameras so i find it hard to believe you can really say that. Many thousands of people buy canon because obviously like like and enjoy the product. Personally i have used both mid-end cameras from Canon and Nikon and i can say you will be happy either way, really i don't see how you can hate either one, its just preference. For me, canon L series lenses were cheaper so i bought canon. But i often borrow nikon cameras for assignments that require wide angle lens because i don't have one, and i have learned to greatly appreciate both. They can both be used to take amazing photos, so suggesting that a person shouldn't not buy canon just leaves little to believe in your experience.

That being said, obviously this mom is not looking for such high end gear so that matters little. Get her out to camera stores to check the feel of cameras, whether she goes Nikon or Canon she will most likely learn lots and enjoy the time capturing those special moments. Also i would like to add i used a sigma lens starting out in photography for the first year and a half (see sig link to photos) and in all honestly it served a great purpose, it was my main lens and even though i have moved on i miss its macro feature (70-300 f4-5.6 APO DG MACRO). It taught me lots and paid for itself, created great shots, but i can't deny that with nikon glass i could have equally competitive glass.

Lets stop teh Canon Nikon bikkering, both companies make great gear, its indesputable, what changes are people individual opinions and upon these people decide whether Nikon or Canon is for them.

/
 
Well we can agree on one thing, get the mom out to the camera store and make her look at some cameras. She should get the camera that she feels most comfortable with. The camera isnt going to be used for like pro photography, so either brand will be suitable. Also, if the camera store in your area offers like classes or workshops, that would be a bonus. Not only will she learn to use her camera better, but also learn how to take real pictures.

Good luck
 
Haha dude you're retartedRAW? TIFF? What do you think the average soccer mom who has never owned a DSLR or knows anything about photography will do with that? Ya if you were an am photog you might want that. But for what he's looking for? I don't think so.
And secondly, the reason you're aunt hated her canon was probably because she wasn't used to the layout. If you're whole family uses Nikon its understandable and its in no way her fault. I personally use and prefer Canon and their layout, but thats just personal preference. Both Canon and Nikon are legit companies that make sick cameras, and I bet you couldn't tell whether a photo was shot with a Nikon or a Canon by looking at it.
And as for you being around photography all your life (or something like that you said it in your previous posts) I'm sure you have, your dad's a photog or something like that but I'm confident to say you, aren't a photographer. Any respectable photographer knows that its all preference and wouldn't go running around bashing everyone that doesn't agree with them.
I'm in no way an amazing photog but I know a bit about photography and to me you look like a spoiled little brat who thinks he knows everything about photography since his dad works in that field.

Sorry to make your thread into a shit fest OP, but here's what I would get:
If you want a good qual. camera but not sure if your mom could handle a DSLR, a Canon Powershot S5 IS is a good way to go:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0705/07050703canons5is.asp

Its not too complicated and it handles like a point and shoot camera. As an added bonus, it takes very good quality video with stereo sound so if your mom ever wants to take some movies she's got her tool right there. Its around $200-$400 depending on where you buy so its not too expensive either.
On the DSLR side, either a Nikon D40, D60, or a Canon XS, XSi, or XTi would be your best bet. Again, not too expensive, has everything you want, and is much less complicated then higher end models.Those cameras can be found at around $400-$700 I think.
Good luck and happy shopping!
 
I was not bashing anybody, again I was just stating my opinion. If you had read my previous posts, you would have seen that. My dad isnt a pro photographer, and i never said I know everything about photography. So you are wrong there.

And why would you say that the format the pictures are in isnt important. We are talking about DSLRs here, the format it captures in is pretty important. Yes, I understand that this woman is an average person who has never owned a DSLR, but why would you spend $400-$600 on a camera and then be stuck with only JPEG, I know the odds of that are unlikely, but its still something you should check out. What if the mom like photography and then wants to pursue it further. And she wants to start taking real photos. This is why I said to take photography classes.

For now, just leave the setting the way it is, and if and when the mom decides to learn photography and get comfortable with the camera, she can tinker with it. Theres always a factory default option somewhere ;)

OP, heres a great article to read
http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Guides/dslr_buying_guide_01.htm
 
Fine. My bad, the first time through you just sounded really whiny and cranky about Canons being shit and Nikons being THE shit.
On another note, what are you? Do you work in a photography store? Are you a photog? Where's your opinion coming from?
As for the RAW/TIFF argument, most DSLR cameras these days have the option to shoot in RAW/TIFF so not really a problem there even if she does figure out what to do with them.
And yes, there is always full auto on the D** cameras and the Rebels.

but damn are you annoying.
 
I would have to say either a Canon G9 or G10, or for a SLR the Nikon D40. Both really sick cameras and both take amazing photos, and also both are fairly easy to use.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top