70 year old Dad wants to buy a DSLR but...

[Stujoe]

I agree with others who have said if he has the money, let him do it. Anything to keep someone that age active (both in mind and body) will be good.

--
Stu
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stujoe/

.

 

[bill henry]

OK, you vented. good.
A 70 yr old guy is going to do whatever he feels like, including
buying cr@p cameras. this could be a positive thing - might give him
something to do during the day.

Thats right You don't tell us 70 yr old guys what to do.Just point us in the right direction. I did it with the same background at 74. At this time of a person's life what difference will it make. Make him/her happy. GEEZ

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/w-photos/

 

[Martha Yount]

Well your Dad probably doesn't need all this help. I would suggest if you get an opportunity to suggest a camera - looking at the Nikon D-90.

Enjoy,
MY

 

[MusicDoctorDJ]

Have you ever thought that perhaps if he gets a DSLR, he might just start using that computer?

Both the Nikon D90 and Canon Rebel XSi are 12 megapixel, but have him take a look at the Pentax K20D!

The K20D's viewfinder blows away all the others in that price range.

The K20D is selling at the same price as the Nikon D90, and has a way better build quality to the body.

One other DSLR that might interest him is the 14 megapixel Sony A350.

He might like the flip out screen and live view feature on it.

And, as mentioned by someone else, the Panasonic G1 when it hits the shelves.

--
J. D.
Colorful Colorado



Remember . . . always keep your receipt, the box, and everything that came in it!

 

[Chipsthe1]

I am 77 years old but my experience is a bit different from your father, I have been taking pictures for almost 70 years.

But here is my suggestion. You go out and buy your Dad a decent camera and give it to him as a present. As a starter camera. Tell him it is a good camera, not exactly to his specifications but you got it for him for:

1. All the things he has done for you.

2. To get him started on this new hobby.

3. And to have a hobby the two of you can share.
--
Shoot lots of pictures, always fill the frame

 

[Dave Martin]

Image Stabilization might help a lot even with short lenses (unless he is still rock steady.)

Bridge, long zoom cameras are great unless he wants to shoot in low light conditions (or far away wildlife.) There's some really dandy 12+X cameras out there that are just great for images displayed on a computer or at 4x6" - larger at iso 200.

I'm 67 & a little shaky. I just bought a used pentax with internal image stabilization so I could get good pictures around the thanksgiving table with a 50mm f/1.7 lens. Is this the kind of thing he's interested in?

 

[knolan]

Being 68 and owning a D-80 and a D-300 I see no reason he should not have anything his heart desires as I'm sure over the years he has worked hard for his money so let him enjoy his remaining years. I fact I'm looking at the Fiui S5PRO as I love the Jpg's it puts out. Guess I could just save everything and pass it on to the kids but having givin them everything they need to be sucessful it's time foe dad to enjoy what ever he wants, Ken

 

[borisboomboom]

from the canon forum? http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=29834709

... he is completely computer illiterate. Also, he insists that he
wants at least 12mp but has absolutely no clue as to what that means.

He will likely never print a single image (he doesn't own a printer,
let alone a photo printer, for the computer he never turns on).

He used to be a hobbyist photographer and I don't want to discourage
him from doing something he enjoys. But how do I advise him if he has
no clue as to what all the new digital terminology means and in
reality, he shouldn't be spending the money for a fancy camera he
will never really make use of? On the other hand, if I don't advise
him, he'll go ahead and spend the money for cr@p camera anyway (like
he did with the computer and his previous P&S digital).

I know... a tough question to respond to. I guess partially, I'm just
needing to vent.
--
Ken W.
http://www.arc-photo.com

 

[duckfat]

...one that takes an sd card. Get a stack of photopaper with it. Just a thought..they're cheap as chips

 

[Bill Force]

Above all get him a good supply of INK. I have 5 printers but the ink is the real expense.
--

' You don't have to have the best of everything to get the best out of what you do have'.

 

[heavyweather]

Won't be happy when he sees cr@p (we don't allow that kind of language here...go f*'#k yourself forum software...) in the viewfinder...
OTOH...he wouldn't know the difference when he has not used a SLR for years...

I'm 67 & a little shaky. I just bought a used pentax with internal
image stabilization so I could get good pictures around the
thanksgiving table with a 50mm f/1.7 lens. Is this the kind of thing
he's interested in?

67..nice number...reminds me to use the RB67 again...

 

[WillemB]

Al this talk of old people...I am NOT old at 74! I do power walking, jogging, biking. In three weeks I take a plane to the other side of the world, New Zealand, to visit my son and grandchildren, bringing with me my new D90 and lenses. My weight is 60 kg, I have had some health problems and my eyesight is not so good. But it's all in the mind you see. So if your daddy has got it in his mind to get a 12 MP camera; perhaps he has really thought about it? Why are you disturbed by his wishes? Weren't you close enough with him before, to even share a photo hobby? Go along with him, you may have some years with him and, perhaps, your dad has still some surprises for you! Regards,
WillemB

 

[Ken W.]

I fully support my dad's purchase of a camera. But you have to understand, this is a pattern with him.

His first computer, I gave him. He didn't use it because he said it "wasn't sufficient", despite the fact that he never used it. Then he purchased another computer, which he never learned to use and which sat there until it became dated. Then suddenly, he purchased yet another computer, which again, he has turned on perhaps 3 times in the past year. I even spent 3 days reinstalling the OS with the Chinese language pack to encourage both he and my mom to learn it. Even when it was all in English, my mom worked at learning to use it and does so occasionally. When I showed my dad what I did, he said he had other priorities he had to deal with.

Having said that, I think it's a good idea for my dad to get a camera he can enjoy. However:

1. I asked him how he intended to view the pictures. He said on the computer monitor (resolution 1280x720 = 1mp). He said he wanted a 12 mp camera, minimum. Again, he doesn't have a printer.

2. 5 weeks ago, he announced to my mom he was taking a month-long trip to Hong Kong. Yes, you read that right. Gave her a week's notice. Oh, did I mention that he doesn't have the money and hasn't paid his taxes for 2008 or that he's carrying credit card balances from month to month?

So yeah, I encourage him to take up his hobby. But does he need to most expensive camera he can't afford... a 12mp camera for a 1mp monitor? Yes, I know... they don't really make many lower resolution cams nowadays. But there are so many in the $200 range that would be perfectly suitable for him.

Yesterday, I explained the resolution thing to him. I showed him a 14mp image from the Canon G10 at 100% on his 1mp monitor. It was a macro shot of a flower. All you could see at 100% was a big blur of reds, oranges and yellows. His comment was, "that's beautiful", I love the quality. Then I showed him a similar shot from a 10mp camera, scaled down to show the entire picture. Knowing it was a cheaper camera, he wouldn't stop complaining about the quality of the image. At that point, I kinda gave up.
--
Ken W.
http://www.arc-photo.com

 

[Ken W.]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. It's not so much an age thing with him (he's active) but rather his pattern of spending money like he has it. I posted about it here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1018&message=29953988

All he wants to do with the camera is (according to him) take snapshots of flowers and view them on the computer monitor. If he had the money to spend, I wouldn't even consider saying a thing about it. Because of his pattern, my siblings and I just get a bit scared when we see him talk about all the expensive toys he wants to buy.
--
Ken W.
http://www.arc-photo.com

 

[Soenda]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. It's not so much an age thing with
him (he's active) but rather his pattern of spending money like he
has it. I posted about it here:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1018&message=29953988

All he wants to do with the camera is (according to him) take
snapshots of flowers and view them on the computer monitor. If he had
the money to spend, I wouldn't even consider saying a thing about it.
Because of his pattern, my siblings and I just get a bit scared when
we see him talk about all the expensive toys he wants to buy.
--

You are wise to draw the comparison between a fancy digital camera and a computer. There seems to be little likelihood that he will actually use a fancy camera if you get him one.

You might try borrowing or renting such a camera if you think he would try it out. Would he be swayed by the argument that if he didn't use the loaner, he'd be unlikely to use one he bought? If he's not functioning rationally, no amount of reasoning is going to work.

Can you bargain with him? If he learns to navigate the computer well enough to see flower photos that you put on there for him, then you'll get him a camera to try out? Or if you get him a P&S and he uses it, then you could talk about a DSLR? His claiming that the technology in a more modest camera isn't good enough for him to bother with sounds like a flat out rationalization to me.

To me it sounds like the difficulty your dad has with managing money is a sign of deeper problems. Is your dad's behavior with money a new phenomenon, or has it emerged in recent years? How you handle it might depend on whether this is a brain related issue. (My mom fell ill from such an ailment at 56, so these things are not exclusively dependent on age.) There are also less grim explanations for uncontrolled buying, so it might be worth your while to talk to a professional about it. People buy things because it feels good to be making important decisions, or when they feel others aren't giving them the attention they need. Things like that often can be addressed other ways once the family knows what's up.

PS: This whole thread has been an eye opener. I don't know how you could have been clearer that your dad doesn't have the money for a 12 Mp camera. And yet we're all telling you he should buy this or that. If I ever wondered whether people read the existing responses before posting their own, I guess I have the answer now.

Good luck with your dad and mom. It isn't easy.

--
http://www.pbase.com/soenda

 

[Bill Randall]

I fully support my dad's purchase of a camera. But you have to
understand, this is a pattern with him.

His first computer, I gave him. He didn't use it because he said it
"wasn't sufficient", despite the fact that he never used it. Then he
purchased another computer, which he never learned to use and which
sat there until it became dated. Then suddenly, he purchased yet
another computer, which again, he has turned on perhaps 3 times in
the past year. I even spent 3 days reinstalling the OS with the
Chinese language pack to encourage both he and my mom to learn it.
Even when it was all in English, my mom worked at learning to use it
and does so occasionally. When I showed my dad what I did, he said he
had other priorities he had to deal with.

Having said that, I think it's a good idea for my dad to get a camera
he can enjoy. However:
1. I asked him how he intended to view the pictures. He said on the
computer monitor (resolution 1280x720 = 1mp). He said he wanted a 12
mp camera, minimum. Again, he doesn't have a printer.
2. 5 weeks ago, he announced to my mom he was taking a month-long
trip to Hong Kong. Yes, you read that right. Gave her a week's
notice. Oh, did I mention that he doesn't have the money and hasn't
paid his taxes for 2008 or that he's carrying credit card balances
from month to month?

So yeah, I encourage him to take up his hobby. But does he need to
most expensive camera he can't afford... a 12mp camera for a 1mp
monitor? Yes, I know... they don't really make many lower resolution
cams nowadays. But there are so many in the $200 range that would be
perfectly suitable for him.

Yesterday, I explained the resolution thing to him. I showed him a
14mp image from the Canon G10 at 100% on his 1mp monitor. It was a
macro shot of a flower. All you could see at 100% was a big blur of
reds, oranges and yellows. His comment was, "that's beautiful", I
love the quality. Then I showed him a similar shot from a 10mp
camera, scaled down to show the entire picture. Knowing it was a
cheaper camera, he wouldn't stop complaining about the quality of the
image. At that point, I kinda gave up.

Although there may be nothing wrong, I would suggest he go see a doctor - soon. I had a distant relative that acted this way and while I cannot remember exactly what it was that caused it, medication took care of it. If I also remember correctly, it had something to do with his heart or blood pressure. If your father has always acted the way he is then it is normal for him. If not, he needs to find out what has caused the change.

--

FINE PRINT: I reserve the right to be wrong. Should you prove me wrong, I reserve the right to change my mind.

 

[scott_mcleod]

Like "Get the Most from Your Digital Camera: The Ultimate Guide to Digital Cameras, Software, Printing and Technique" by Simon Joinson.

No I'm not plugging this site, but I bought this book for a friend since I know that Simon knows what he's talking about (wails of protest from the lumpenproletariat notwithstanding) and has an agreeable prose style.

It might get him thinking about what he really wants/needs and show the necessity for some computer literacy if he expects to enjoy his photos in anything more than the most superficial way.

Good luck!
Scottt

 

[Chipsthe1]

PS: This whole thread has been an eye opener. I don't know how you
could have been clearer that your dad doesn't have the money for a 12
Mp camera. And yet we're all telling you he should buy this or that.
If I ever wondered whether people read the existing responses before
posting their own, I guess I have the answer now.

No, we are not all telling him his dad should buy a camera. I for one suggested that the OP buy a camera for his dad. For some strange reason that simple idea was overlooked.

Shoot lots of pictures, always fill the frame

 

[Ken W.]

It's unfortunately nothing new. I think it's become a self-worth thing with him, always looking at how he can spend money. At the same time, I recognize that he used to like photography and at this stage in his life, I don't want to discourage him from doing the things that make him happy. Problem is, it's starting to appear that it's the spending part that he enjoys rather than the photography part, the latter being why I originally thought it would be a good idea to seek advice here.

Yes, he had open heart surgery at the beginning of the year. I understand that it's probably shocked him into the reality of having to deal with his own mortality. I get it. But as I said, his current behaviour isn't anything new.

Also, I've spent years butting heads with my dad and we're finally at a much better place in our relationship than we used to be in. As a professional photographer, I jumped at the chance to advise him and hoped it wasn't just part of his pattern of wishful spending. It seems it was wishful thinking on my part. Unfortunately, yesterday when he realized that I was discouraging him from spending too much money (while still trying to encourage his desire to pursue his hobby), he got defensive and said he had gotten all the advise he was ever going to ask from me and it was time for me to leave him alone so he could make his decision, that I didn't respect him as an adult, etc. etc.

So yeah, it's become clear it's a "spending to feel self-worth" thing.

I wish the entire thing never happened.
--
Ken W.
http://www.arc-photo.com

 

[Ken W.]

Yeah, I thought about doing just that. Unfortunately, it's become clear it's not as much to do with the photography as it is with the spending. If I got him a camera, he's just find somewhere else to spend this money that he doesn't have... and he'd still not make use of the camera.

Now that I realize what the true issue is, it makes getting advice here moot. Even if he had the best camera available to man, it wouldn't change anything. The camera would still just sit there and he'd find something new to spend money on.
--
Ken W.
http://www.arc-photo.com