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Best portable camera for older people

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Angrymagpie

Angrymagpie

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I am looking for a camera for someone with specific needs, and would appreciate some suggestions

He's a researcher/naturalist from the film photography days who's looking for something that would allow him to easily document his research in the field. Portability is very important. The camera has to have decent macro capability, as his focus is on details of plants (stationary objects)

At the moment he's using a Lumix GX8 with a 45/2.8 Macro lens. This combination yields image quality & close-up capability that he finds sufficient and is on the larger- and heavier- end of the spectrum when it comes to portability. GX8 is great also because of its good EVF and bright rear screen.

The biggest problem is this person is an older gentleman and therefore can't see clearly without his reading glasses. When he's in the field, he doesn't want to frequently mess around with reading glasses just to take a picture. And the biggest problem with the GX8 is it has way too many custom buttons that can be easily pressed by accident. He often ended up with shots that are incorrectly exposed without even realising it. As far as I know, there's also no way to simply put custom buttons as "blank" to avoid these miss-presses.

I was wondering if I could get some suggestions on what might be a suitable alternative.

IQ is not the most important thing in the consideration. Ease of use for an older person and portability are far more important. I was even thinking about something like RX100, which I had a long time ago but I've forgotten whether if the direction pad's custom functions could be disabled. Not too sure about its macro capability either.

Thank you for your suggestions
 
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The GX8, a Micro Four Thirds camera, looks to be a portable beast. If it is too big, are you suggesting that portabililty dictates the use of a fixed-lens camera?
 
WIth respect to buttons, would it be possible to make a custom camera case that covers all of the buttons except the most essential ones (power, shutter, etc.)?
 
Angrymagpie said:
The biggest problem is this person is an older gentleman and therefore can't see clearly without his reading glasses. When he's in the field, he doesn't want to frequently mess around with reading glasses just to take a picture.
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I'm not sure what that means. Are you saying the camera needs to have a better than average EVF? A larger than average rear screen? Both? Or something else?
Angrymagpie said:
And the biggest problem with the GX8 is it has way too many custom buttons that can be easily pressed by accident. He often ended up with shots that are incorrectly exposed without even realising it ...

I was even thinking about something like RX100, which I had a long time ago but I've forgotten whether if the direction pad's custom functions could be disabled. Not too sure about its macro capability either.
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Although I own an RX100 III and like it a lot, I'm not sure I'd recommend an RX100 model for someone who requires simplicity of settings and who might have vision difficulties. It is in fact possible to inadvertently change settings on these cameras, and the EVFs and rear screens are not the best available.

(Notice that I removed your references to older people. Many older people don't have the same requirements that your friend does, and many younger people do ... so those things should be addressed independent of his age.)
 
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You might remind your friend that there is a key pad lock feature on most recent Panasonic ILCs including GX8.

I skipped GX8 is of its size and weight. IMHO the size and weight of GX8 beats my purpose on using M43 system.

Why not a GX85 or GX9 (which are indeed the successors to GX7. GX7 is non 4K, primitive IBIS, GX85 and GX9 are 4K, full 5 axis IBIS and DUAL IS, whereas GX85 is 16Mp as GX7, GX9 is 20Mp).

GX8 is a premium line of product, intended to be the still flagship of Panasonic at its time, but received no warm welcome and so was discontinued. Panasonic launched G9 to take over its place and reinvented GX85 and now GX9 as a class lowered product (smaller evf, non WR, but put in better IBIS, better m-shutter etc) at a lower cost.

On IQ, those from GX85 and GX9 are very close to that of GX8. If a smaller evf is acceptable, it is the cheaper way to reduce the size and weight, but added feature option.

--
Albert
 
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Speaking as an 'elderly gentleman's myself, has your friend ever tried varifocal glasses?

I've been using them for decades and I shoot in some fairly demanding conditions. Without my specs I can't read the tablet I'm typing this on but I never 'change my glasses', just put them on when I get up and take them of when my head hits the pillow.

As far as cameras go, personally I use a Fuji X-T1 and you can disarm most of its function buttons. He might be better off with one of the smaller Lumixes if size is important.
 
Angrymagpie said:
I am looking for a camera for someone with specific needs, and would appreciate some suggestions

He's a researcher/naturalist from the film photography days who's looking for something that would allow him to easily document his research in the field. Portability is very important. The camera has to have decent macro capability, as his focus is on details of plants (stationary objects)

At the moment he's using a Lumix GX8 with a 45/2.8 Macro lens. This combination yields image quality & close-up capability that he finds sufficient and is on the larger- and heavier- end of the spectrum when it comes to portability. GX8 is great also because of its good EVF and bright rear screen.

The biggest problem is this person is an older gentleman and therefore can't see clearly without his reading glasses. When he's in the field, he doesn't want to frequently mess around with reading glasses just to take a picture. And the biggest problem with the GX8 is it has way too many custom buttons that can be easily pressed by accident. He often ended up with shots that are incorrectly exposed without even realising it. As far as I know, there's also no way to simply put custom buttons as "blank" to avoid these miss-presses.

I was wondering if I could get some suggestions on what might be a suitable alternative.

IQ is not the most important thing in the consideration. Ease of use for an older person and portability are far more important. I was even thinking about something like RX100, which I had a long time ago but I've forgotten whether if the direction pad's custom functions could be disabled. Not too sure about its macro capability either.

Thank you for your suggestions
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I assume what you mean is he can adjust the diopter in the EVF to avoid using glasses, but needs glasses to use the LCD. I do the same thing. He needs a camera with a viewfinder rather than LCD only.

One problem you'll have is replacing the 45mm macro lens. He can achieve 1:1 easily and 1:2 is effortless in full auto. I do similar with the 30mm version. I don't think there is any point and shoot that gets close to that.

If he's changing the exposure by accident, that's probably the thumb wheel. I can make the same mistake if I don't pay attention. You might check on the Micro Four Thirds Forum and see if there is a way to prevent that. I don't have that model. I don't have exposure adjustment on my 4-way.
 
It's not entirely clear to me what's wrong with the GX8. Weight? Too many buttons? The macro capability on the LX100 is reasonable although it probably won't compare to a dedicated macro lens, but it doesn't sound like this person is carrying a tripod. The LX100 is not an ILC so its dedicated lens makes the package slightly less weighty.
 
I'm older (nearly 75) and I have totally different requirements in a camera than your friend does. The GX8 isn't all that complicated and doesn't have that many buttons so I don't know what type of camera he would want. Maybe a smartphone would suit him.

--
Tom
 
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Sounds like he wants a jitterbug camera.
 
If varifocal glasses are not the answer and the biggest problem is pushing the buttons accidentally and so on, then I venture to suggest that for his work a smartphone camera would be ideal. I'm sure that this suggestion will not find much favour by some contributors to this forum but I think a middle of the range smartphone, like the new iPhone SE would be ideal for him. I suggest the iPhone rather than a perfectly good Android, such as the multiple lens Moto G8 or Samsung A51 for the regimented simplicity of operation if, perchance, he is not used to smartphone use generally. If money is not important, then a higher end phone with even better cameras, whatever system is favoured, may be even more suitable.

Small sensors give a far better depth of focus for macro photography. Smartphones automatically log the location details of photos and in Apple's case will show the location fairly accurately on a map, all automatically.

The other advantage is only one device is then required for photography, viewing the image, sharing the image and communication for safety and emergency use.

Shoot me down in flames if you like.
 
I would look at smaller models with fewer buttons of the same brand, so he does not have to learn everything from scratch.

I am 78, and 3 years ago I was asked to set up a Panasonic pocket zoom (ZS80) for a friend in my age group.

He was at the time using one of my older Olympus pocket zooms, but these became discontinued.

The next-best option looked to me like the Panasonic ZS80. But the ZS80 default settings frustrated me as well. I set it up for him to work like his dying Olympus pocket zoom.

Back to your topic, you might look at the Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200. The sensor size is a compromise when coming from m4/3, but everything is in the same package, and it does have a built-in viewfinder.

The ZS200 still has more buttons than he might prefer. Go through the menu with him, and turn everything OFF that he does not need for his research, but ask him.

With my friend Graham I had to change settings about 3 times.

Henry
 
I'd have him use an iPhone.

They have accessibility features to make them easier to use, and the interface is better than the ones on most digital cameras. They take very decent macro shots as well, and review and such is really easy, and the images can be enlarged with just a pinch.

My father has one, and his eyes are pretty shot. He prefers it because it's easier to use than the other camera that I gave him that arguably takes better shots.
 
They might be more customizable than the GX8... even though they would require deep dive into their extensive menus.

Just download the PDF of their manuals and see what you could do for your friend.

(yes, it will take some time to understand those Olympus menus)

My experience: In 2012, with its factory state, my first E-M5 had a very annoying configuration for its AEL button. I almost got rid of that camera... ...Then I read the manual and I re-assigned AEL to another button (Fn2).

ah!

suddenly, the ergonomy was *good enough* to make the E-M5 enjoyable :)

--
-JF
 
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getting a g7 or g85 will bring out photos where the buttons are not too close together

don't forget that a 30mm macro might be lighter too.
 
Dropping the reading glasses to take a photo is De Rigeur for most of us old farts.
No tech can cover all the bases brought on by age, he'll need to adjust, just like all of us.
Sounds like he has what he needs, maybe look at a nice big monopod to lean on ?
Can be a tremendous help without lugging a tripod.
 
Under what circumstances does he take most of his photographs and what does he do with the photographs after he takes them?

I think answers to that would help decide what camera or camera type would suit him best.
 
mamallama said:
Under what circumstances does he take most of his photographs and what does he do with the photographs after he takes them?

I think answers to that would help decide what camera or camera type would suit him best.
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This is, perhaps, the key point. Is the photographic record for his own use when e.g. writing up his day's findings. Or does he intend to publish his findings, complete with photographs from the field work (as opposed to using stock images).

Does the need for macro imply he gets down on the ground and up very close to the subject, or that intricate detail is the real need.

I do macro flower photography usually using a DSLR with a 105 2.8 dedicated macro lens, plus tripod. A heavy and fairly complex solution. But here's an iPhone shot that I took recently: plenty wrong with it from a 'quality' point of view, but totally adequate to show the type of plant seen in the field. I will happily use it as a 'filler' shot in a photobook of this location.



Singapore: Gardens By The Bay
Singapore: Gardens By The Bay
 
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