Canon P&S for wife - recommendations?

I am looking for a P&S camera for my wife. She doesn't need PASM modes or any other fancy features. 28-100 zoom range, HD video and decent IQ are pretty much the main requirements. I know that the S100 is a very good camera but sort of overkill when it comes to the functionality and also kinda over the budget. What else would you recommend?

Thanks.

I bought an A1200 for my wife. She just wants to point and shoot and a $69 one does it nicely.

Have a look at the SX220/230HS range. You will be surprised.

I think they just announced the SX240. I have the SX230 and its a nice little camera. I understand they extended the zoom on the SX240.

I consider myself to be an enthusiastic amateur, more engineer than artist. For more serious work, I use the Nikon D90 and D300 DSLRs and for P&S I have gone through the Powershots A80, A95, A620 and A650IS with CHDK. Don't ask about film, 7 Leicas, every professional Nikon film SLR from the Nikon F on.

In the past two months, I have bought a Canon SX40 for great fun, and for a shirt pocket take anywhere camera, A3300.

I think the A3300 will meet your wife's needs, about $100, 5X zoom, 28-140 equiv, nice video, and easy to use. Check it out a camera store. I bought mine from B&H, no sales tax and I am happy with it for what I use it for. Very small and light with good IQ.

You can find reviews online.

My wife needed a P&S as we have a 10 month baby now to capture some quick moments and DSLR was not being used much. During a Xmas deal I picked up the Canon S95 ($229). We both use it on P Mode (Avoid Auto Mode) and results are turning out to be good in 'low light'.

drabina said:

I am looking for a P&S camera for my wife. She doesn't need PASM modes or any other fancy features. 28-100 zoom range, HD video and decent IQ are pretty much the main requirements. I know that the S100 is a very good camera but sort of overkill when it comes to the functionality and also kinda over the budget. What else would you recommend?

Thanks.

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D3100, 18-55mm VR, Canon S95

300HS is a nice little camera for the price.

On most days it is hanging out in the #1 spot of all digital cameras sold on amazon.com for a reason... and that's just one of the colors.

100HS has a nicer screen and better IQ but the 24mm is fun for self portraits with the kids.

We have the S95/300HS and have other canons (some now broken: 550D/350D/SD780/S50/ old S100) but for some reason my wife likes a casio we picked up in a woot BOC for like $6 or $8 better.

Casio has a zillion "best shots" and a smart mode that picks between them that she likes. Sort of my-wife proof. I sent her off to africa with the casio and she came back with some fantastic pictures. I'm not sure she would have done as well with our canons.

BTW I love the S95 but it's brilliance is lost on my wife and it's only "OK" in AUTO. For $229 I think it's a fantastic bang for the buck IF you can use it. I love it so much I'm sure I'll also love the S100 but I can't imagine spending $419 for the S100. We are very rough on pocket cameras (we've broke our canon S50, SD780, casio EX-Z750, EX-Z850, etc). We'll enjoy and beat the heck out of my S95 for a bit and pick up the S100 when it hit's the $200's. Two for almost the price of one......

I'll keep it easy. Buy the camera she wants and can function. Some camera's buttons are too small or the navigating the menu is a pain anything can be a deal breaker.

All cameras have Auto mode and you never have to switch the dial. All cameras to my knowledge have a set of scene programs too. Buy the camera with the spec and functionality that works first and don't be concerned about other modes that is the way cameras are pretty much made now. Same thing for cell phones, all I need is to make a call, don't need texting or a camera just a phone, so find what works and ignore the rest.

Back to the camera, the great thing is you can't ruin anything by experimenting either, its fun to play and that way you learn.

drabina said:

I am looking for a P&S camera for my wife. She doesn't need PASM modes or any other fancy features. 28-100 zoom range, HD video and decent IQ are pretty much the main requirements. I know that the S100 is a very good camera but sort of overkill when it comes to the functionality and also kinda over the budget. What else would you recommend?

Thanks.

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Is this a surprise or is she going to test them, and you're just trying to select models for her to try out?

I have a 300 HS and it works great. Nice video, pictures and super slim and small. I found mine for $129.

Dave

Go with the cheapest. When she mentions what about it she doesn't like, you'll have a better idea of what to get her next time. Just don't spend medium to big bucks now and have her say she doesn't like it.

Thanks for the replies.

To answer some questions: It is not a surprise but I also know that she doesn't want to go to the stores and try few cameras (due to the lack of knowledge). She's relying on me to pick a camera that will take decent pictures. She's shooting now with Panasonic Lumix FX-33 and likes the camera a lot due to the IQ. Unfortunately, this camera does not take good videos so that's why we are looking for an upgrade. I guess the dream camera for my wife would have bright lens, 24-120mm, HD video and auto mode. No need for the PSAM, bracketing, etc. If they had a stripped down version of S100 with price tag less than $250 I would buy it without asking.

I will go to the store and see the Canon 300 as it was recommended the most here. I was also looking at the Nikon P300 but the deal breaker here is the manual flash. She's not going to remember to raise the flash most of the time because as far as I know it has to be activated manually.

I'm not sure if you are in the US but I noticed recently that my target is clearing out the 500HS for $179. It's on amazon for $199.

The 500HS has the same sensor as the 300HS but a fast F2.0 lens and a love it or hate it touch screen.

If you do try it and have a hard time with the touch screen there is a little thingamajig on the strap that can be used as a stylus.

I just came back from a local store where I checked out few cameras. I think I am sold on the 300HS. It handles nicely, has a decent lens and zoom, and price is definitely within a budget. I didn't like the touchscreen on 500 and 510 and I think my wife would prefer buttons as well. The only con that I have noticed on the Canon cameras was the very pointy zoom button. It kinda hurts the finger after working with it for a while. Can't see myself using it for a long period of time composing pictures. Other than that I think that the 300HS would be a perfect camera for my wife.

Thanks again for all the recommendations.

I didn't know anything about the 300 HS before this thread so I've done my own research on it and it sounds like you made the right decision. A lot of user and professional reviews said it's a great little camera, no real negatives that I read.

And it goes for $149 on Amazon.

drabina said:

I just came back from a local store where I checked out few cameras. I think I am sold on the 300HS. It handles nicely, has a decent lens and zoom, and price is definitely within a budget. I didn't like the touchscreen on 500 and 510 and I think my wife would prefer buttons as well. The only con that I have noticed on the Canon cameras was the very pointy zoom button. It kinda hurts the finger after working with it for a while. Can't see myself using it for a long period of time composing pictures. Other than that I think that the 300HS would be a perfect camera for my wife.

Thanks again for all the recommendations.

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It would help to know bare minimum like why the flash when off and the image is still dark. Sometimes it is not the camera but the situation other times it is the camera. Point is the supposed good camera could look like a dud if the user does not understand the why's of basic stuff.

If that will never happen then I would say do whatever. I say that because if anyone remembers film it was so different than what digital is. In digital more may be needed to simply edit the image like adjusting the levels to "brighten" up the image. So the camera could be fine but some tweaking may be needed.

drabina said:

Thanks for the replies.

To answer some questions: It is not a surprise but I also know that she doesn't want to go to the stores and try few cameras (due to the lack of knowledge). She's relying on me to pick a camera that will take decent pictures. She's shooting now with Panasonic Lumix FX-33 and likes the camera a lot due to the IQ. Unfortunately, this camera does not take good videos so that's why we are looking for an upgrade. I guess the dream camera for my wife would have bright lens, 24-120mm, HD video and auto mode. No need for the PSAM, bracketing, etc. If they had a stripped down version of S100 with price tag less than $250 I would buy it without asking.

I will go to the store and see the Canon 300 as it was recommended the most here. I was also looking at the Nikon P300 but the deal breaker here is the manual flash. She's not going to remember to raise the flash most of the time because as far as I know it has to be activated manually.

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My wife loves the pink 100HS I got her for Christmas. The 110HS was recently released, so the 100HS is probably even cheaper (I think it's down to $119 on Amazon). I even got a pink Case Logic case to go with it. It's easy to use, and the quality is great for the size and price.
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Alastair
http://anorcross.smugmug.com
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