<p>We are not good with complicated cameras. We lose them periodically. We are looking to buy a new camera that’s not difficult to use or comes with a fat instruction book. We’re looking to spend in the low $100’s so if it’s lost or misplaced I won’t want to kick myself. And I want the pictures to come out well. Any recommendations?</p>
<p>I have had good luck with Canons but I have not been happy with my Nikon Cool pix. I get a lot of blurry pictures. I suppose it could be me but I have never had so much trouble with pictures.</p>
<p>I have a Lumix DMC-FH20, which I’ve shlepped through Africa and India, and it has never failed me. Very simple to use, has a longish zoom, not too many bells and whistles, and is relatively sturdy. Battery gets me around 400 pics without a recharge.</p>
<p>Emily, I would look for something like this.</p>
<p>[Canon</a> - PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black - PowerShot 300HS Black](<a href=“http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Canon+-+PowerShot+ELPH+300+HS+12.1-Megapixel+Digital+Camera+-+Black/2044104.p?id=1218306949123&skuId=2044104]Canon”>http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Canon+-+PowerShot+ELPH+300+HS+12.1-Megapixel+Digital+Camera+-+Black/2044104.p?id=1218306949123&skuId=2044104)</p>
<p>I think if you go to the store you can find an older version for less money. They are usually on sale for about 140-150 and take amazing photos. I use that as my point and shoot and it takes pictures that come out just as good as the more expensive DSLR’s.</p>
<p>Thanks! I’ll certainly consider these.</p>
<p>We’ve owned 2 Canon PowerShot ELPHs and love them. Bought one for my MIL and she’s done great with it.</p>
<p>By the way, Adorama has GREAT prices on refurbished cameras.</p>
<p>The kids have had several Coolpix but have not been happy with the pics. Go with the Canon, my youngest just got one and the point and shoot photos are much better.</p>
<p>We have tried MANY cameras but have found the Sony ones the best in terms of having the flash come out evenly and have everyone properly lit. None of the other cameras we have tried do as well in low light or bright light, helping even out the bright backlighting that is common with our very bright sun in HI.</p>
<p>I also like purchasing from Costco, as they have a 90-day no hassle return on all electronics. When I charge it with my Costco AmEx, I also get an extra year of warranty. We have all been so happy with my Sony, we bought one for D as well & she loves hers too.</p>
<p>Just a recent experience in our household. DS was headed out of the country and I didn’t want to send him with our good camera (Sony cybershot). I got one of my dad’s old Nikon Coolpixes (apparently very old). My plan was to buy a new battery, data card, link cable and send him with that. The battery alone was going to be $30. Not sure how much it would have been for the rest. But the Best Buy guy walked me over and showed me a $30 CAMERA (Kodak, I think), and the slightly better $50 camera (that also takes video and records sound). Something called an Insignia. It’s a 10 megapixel camera (more than our “good” Sony). It has telephoto/wide angle, various light settings, . . . I can’t imagine anybody in our family wanting to do something this camera can’t do.</p>
<p>So far the camera is working great. DS figured it out immediately. If it came with an instruction book, he never looked at it. I’d highly recommend an option like this, particularly if you’re a little prone to losing cameras. (Honestly, I don’t ever see myself buying a more expensive camera again.)</p>
<p>I’ve owned a Nikon coolpix in the past. Hated it and replaced it with the canon elph.</p>
<p>My son has a Kodak easy share that was around $120 and it takes great pictures and is easy to learn and use. I have a Sony cybershot, and although I love my camera, S’s camera is what I would recommend for simplicity of use.</p>
<p>Insignia is the house brand for Best Buy, and does just fine for most purposes. Also not a Coolpix fan. When I started going digital, I liked the Casios - features were awesome! But they’ve really gone downhill, and are very flimsy. Feel great about my Panasonic with the Vario lens.</p>
<p>I know I’m going to get shot for saying this, but after messing with a few SuperCCD Fujis (fantastic in manual mode for a compact), some Canons (probably the best rounded camera), and an HP (don’t buy!!!)…</p>
<p>I really liked my brother’s Kodak easyshare. It was kinda gimpy and all, and it had a weeeird reproduction of bright green, but pictures looked really nice with a flash. Traditionally I can’t stand flashes and avoid using them like the plague!</p>
<p>My H is a serious camera buff and he has a high-end Canon. I don’t use H’s camera and wanted something that was easy to carry and took great photos. H got me a Canon Powershot G-12. It’s probably in the $300+ range, but there are other Canon Powershot models that are cheaper. I’ve been pleased with the quality of the photos.</p>
<p>I also have a Canon Powershot that takes great pictures (can’t remember the model and it’s not here right now). It was about $300. I did a lot of research before buying it. My hubby also lugs around a high-end digital SLR camera but I wanted something that would fit in my purse or pocket. He’s been impressed with the quality of the Powershot.</p>
<p>I did A LOT of research before I bought my pocket cameras. They’re older models now. First was a Canon SD 800 IS (7MP). Second was a Sony DSC H20 (10MP) with a 10x zoom. Both were easy to use. The Canon was smaller, and I carry it everywhere, but I LOVED the Sony. It took far better photos (imho). Much sharper pictures, and better flash. It is 10MP vs. the 7MP, but I rarely print anything larger than 4x6. I did take a colorful Chihuly photo that I enlarged to 24 x 36 poster size with the Sony, and the quality was incredible. The 10x zoom lens makes the added bulk very worthwhile on trips and special events. However, I don’t take it everywhere like the Canon.</p>
<p>My iPhone 4 is as good a pocket camera as any of the many pocket cameras I’ve had that cost about $200 each. In fact… I no longer carry any of the other cameras.</p>
<p>A month ago, I finally decided to “retire” my old digital camera bought in 2000 (a 3X optical zoom 3.2 mega pixel monster that must weigh about a pound.). My main criterion was to find a compact or subcompact digital camera that had a wide angle lens and could fit into a shirt pocket. I take mostly group family photos. A zoom lens is nice, but I can usually move closer to get a better picture of whatever… I can’t move back far enough at home to capture a large family picture without cutting off somebody’s torso. And I’m cheap. </p>
<p>I found a Samsung ST65 subcompact digital camera that was introduced at the end of February of this year. It list for $130 and my local Michigan family own chain (ABC Warehouse) was pushing them out the door for $89.00 and the clerk threw in a free 2 Gig micro SD card). The Samsung is a 14.2 mega pixel, 5X zoom (with a 27MM wide angle setting). It has a 2.7” screen (no optical view finder). It can also take HD video at 1280 x720 or VGA video. The camera is almost the same size as a deck of cards and weighs just over 4 oz’s. And it takes excellent pictures. </p>
<p>Two downsides: The manual comes on a CD and the camera is really small. You can load the CD onto your computer and print out those pages that you need to learn how to operate your camera. As for the smallness of the camera, you get a useless wrist strap. I had to get a lanyard (neck strap) at the local mall’s cell phone accessories kiosk and hang the camera around my neck to keep from dropping it. You can’t lose it while wearing it.</p>
<p>I’m so glad that a couple of you talked about wide angle lenses. Most of the “pitch” for digital cameras is all about zoom. And I’m all about wide angle (used to have to take photos of house interiors for my job). I’m still using a <em>really</em> antique Kodak, probably weighs that same 1 lb. as michuncle’s (it’s older than his). I’m never going to replace it, despite the clunkiness, until it dies. But I didn’t want to have to pay a fortune for a replacement.</p>
<p>I paid $400 for it back in the day (curse of early adopters) but want to buy something in the $100± range when I have to replace.</p>
<p>Finally, I have hope based on a couple of the posts here.</p>
<p>Thanks again, cc and the Parent Cafe.</p>