What's the SIMPLEST P&S Camera?

[JoesPhotos]

I looked and I apologize if this question has been addressed before.

My mother-in-law has a Polaroid Instant camera that uses the 600 film. The last batch of it has been produced and expires 9/09. So I'm asking what is the simplest, I mean SIMPLEST Digital P&S camera out there. I'm talking no zoom, no bells, no whistles etc just plain jane. It has taken us over 2 years to get her to even attempt to take a card from one of our cameras to Walgreens/Wal-mart etc to use the machine there to print.

So I need the simplest P&S camera. It would be fine with her if it had two buttons, On/off and shutter release.

Thanks for the help!

[OsmosisStudios]

Theres pretty much nothing without a zoom or so on, unless you go down to a kids camera.

Your best bet is going to be a Canon like the E1 or A1000/2000. They have "easy Auto" modes that are basically just zoom, flash auto/off and the shutter release. Thats about as easy as youre gonna get without, as i said, getting a kids camera. Even then, youre likely to have some bells/whistles and the buttons will be labelled in small type.

The nice thing with the A1000x2000 is that it either still has the viewfinder (a rarity in new P&S cameras) or a HUGE 3" screen (largest for P&S cameras). They also use AA batteries, which makes one less bit of tech she needs to learn

[JoesPhotos]

Thanks, I just checked that one out. Seems simple enough.

Any others?

[lissykeeper]

The nikon coolpix is pretty simply to operate. Even though it has a lot of bells and whistles, you don't have to ring or blow them! LOL! I crack myself up! JK! Seriously, that's what I bought for my husband and although I will play with the extra's, he pushes two buttons: On/Off and Shutter. And it takes pretty good pictures. Drawback: It doesn't have a viewfinder, which I hate! But if you can get used to the viewfinder issue it is a really great little camera that is super user friendly. And you can get one for around $120.

[wulf]

Unfortunately all those extras are seem as selling points. You are probably best off going with a slightly more expensive model with features you don't want in order to get decent image quality rather than a "toy" model that probably has a toy lens and toy sensor inside. They should all have auto modes that keep things very simple.

Wulf

[JoesPhotos]

Originally Posted by wulf

Unfortunately all those extras are seem as selling points. You are probably best off going with a slightly more expensive model with features you don't want in order to get decent image quality rather than a "toy" model that probably has a toy lens and toy sensor inside. They should all have auto modes that keep things very simple.

Wulf

I was just hoping they had something out there like, Jitterbug, that Cell Phone for the elderly. She is very set in her ways and doesn't like too many things fancy.

[surich]

I just upgraded to a Digi SLR...but I loved (and still rave about) my Kodak EasyShare DX6490. The newer models have a different number I believe (both my sons have bought one also). It has various settings but on the "on" mode it is great. There is a 10xOptical zoom if you want it and it is so easy to use.
The dock makes it easy peasy to keep charged. My pictures were really nice, I was just ready to upgarde and learn a little more.
There is an optional printing dock she could learn very easily to use to avoid taking the card out at the store LOL.
The reason I bought it originally was because I checked a friends out over lunch and was able to figure out everything basic on it without reading anything. There is a big screen but also can be viewed through the finder.
Good luck
Sue
PS It is a bigger camera than the little camera digi's out there..more like an older style camera, perhaps better for her?

[Teach_J]

What about the Kodak Easy Share

http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQueri...q-locale=en_US

Can also buy the dock too.

[JoesPhotos]

Thanks Teach_J and Surich. I'll look into those.

Keep them coming.

[RoyL]

Originally Posted by lissykeeper

The nikon coolpix is pretty simply to operate. Even though it has a lot of bells and whistles, you don't have to ring or blow them! LOL! I crack myself up! JK! Seriously, that's what I bought for my husband and although I will play with the extra's, he pushes two buttons: On/Off and Shutter. And it takes pretty good pictures. Drawback: It doesn't have a viewfinder, which I hate! But if you can get used to the viewfinder issue it is a really great little camera that is super user friendly. And you can get one for around $120.

I am a Canon DSLR user but I agree that the Nikon Coolpix is easy to use and I have always heard rave reviews on them. They have full auto mode and also other modes or features that really are not hard to learn to use and will enhance your photography if used.

I actually bought my wife and daughter a Samsung S860 each. Neither have any photography skills but each is able to use it. Works well in Auto mode but also has Manual plus other features. Again around a similar price.

By the time this thread has finished you will have hundreds of camera's to choose from