best point point and shoot: My 86 yr. old aunt does not want a cell phone. She wants a nice small camera she can carry in her purse to take pictures of her family and sights while...

Deanie1113

My 86 yr. old aunt does not want a cell phone. She wants a nice small camera she can carry in her purse to take pictures of her family and sights while traveling. She will probably keep a camera on auto all the time, has no interest in changing lenses, and wants to keep it "reasonably priced." She has no idea what cameras cost. 86 year olds generally are a little shaky and she's probably not good at pressing teeny tiny buttons. I have researched, but have come up empty. Please help!

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Canon makes a "bunch" of Power Shot small cameras that might suit her. And at refurbished prices, are an excellent buy with a 1 year Canon USA warranty. Take a look...
Biggest issue is sometimes stock related.
https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-powershot-digital-cameras
Even the new prices are pretty good....
https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/point-and-shoot-digital-cameras

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Canon calls them PowerShots. They're about the size of a deck of cards, with different focal length zooms and with or without movable screens.

Sony calls the CyberShots. Just find the model, price and features that best fits her needs.

BebuLamar

CHG_CANON wrote:

Canon calls them PowerShots. They're about the size of a deck of cards, with different focal length zooms and with or without movable screens.

Sony calls the CyberShots. Just find the model, price and features that best fits her needs.

From a Nikon user, don't forget Nikon calls them Coolpix which take Cool Pitchers.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Deanie1113 wrote:

My 86 yr. old aunt does not want a cell phone. She wants a nice small camera she can carry in her purse to take pictures of her family and sights while traveling. She will probably keep a camera on auto all the time, has no interest in changing lenses, and wants to keep it "reasonably priced." She has no idea what cameras cost. 86 year olds generally are a little shaky and she's probably not good at pressing teeny tiny buttons. I have researched, but have come up empty. Please help!

I use the Sony HX99, has a 24-720 mm Zeiss lens, can shoot RAW, pop up viewfinder for outdoors, pop up flash for auto fill flash, easy to use, just set it to automatic and the camera takes over for you and does everything well.
You will not be disappointed, I never have.

filmstage28 Loc: CA

Nice shot.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

BebuLamar wrote:

From a Nikon user, don't forget Nikon calls them Coolpix which take Cool Pitchers.

The w150 looks good with VR and if dropped into water would survive.
Compact as well.

alexol

billnikon wrote:

I use the Sony HX99, has a 24-720 mm Zeiss lens, can shoot RAW, pop up viewfinder for outdoors, pop up flash for auto fill flash, easy to use, just set it to automatic and the camera takes over for you and does everything well.
You will not be disappointed, I never have.

I can clearly see now that the OP's 86 year old aunt will be utterly thrilled that she can take RAW images, while fooling with the zoom and pop up flash;)). She could learn PS as well...

Don't mean to poke too much fun but you have to laugh at enthusiasts sometimes. Nice shots by the way...

If she's anything like my dear old Mum at that age, she loved family photos more than just about anything else and, having zero interest in the process only the result, was delighted with very simple controls. That meant: point, press a button, done.

This was back in film days so sorry I have no specific model recommendation that is useful, but strongly suggest you pick something that is big enough for elderly hands and - critical for my Mum - has a lens that protrudes enough so her fingers won't get in the way.

Once we found the right camera - third try as we didn't "get" the finger issue at first, she loved it and took it everywhere.

And no pop-up flash either - something permanently exposed on the face of the camera was also part of the 'third time lucky'.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Don't forget Panasonic. I love both my Lumix DMC-ZS100 (the DC-ZS200 came out later) and my DC-ZS80. They each serve a different purpose, the 100 having a 1" sensor, the 80 having a zoom that goes out to 720 mm (35 equiv).

Then there is the top of the line but expensive RX100 vii.

alexol

Sorry but the RX100vii would be a disaster! A great little camera for a knowledgeable & nimble user - had one - but not for this application.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

The Olympus TG-5 or 6 might be a good choice. It’s rugged and waterproof and can be set to “A” so it’s point and shoot. It has other controls but it’s simplicity in a small package.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Deanie1113 wrote:

My 86 yr. old aunt does not want a cell phone. She wants a nice small camera she can carry in her purse to take pictures of her family and sights while traveling. She will probably keep a camera on auto all the time, has no interest in changing lenses, and wants to keep it "reasonably priced." She has no idea what cameras cost. 86 year olds generally are a little shaky and she's probably not good at pressing teeny tiny buttons. I have researched, but have come up empty. Please help!

Take a few minutes and explain that the device from Apple or Samsung or Pixel is actually a camera that has, as an added benefit, the ability to do some other things, like keep track of meds, health/exercise metrics, notes to self, keep photos easily accessible, a calculator, send messages to friends, listen to online radio programming, etc etc etc. You can even sneak in that it can make calls. But first and foremost it is a killer camera and is so small and portable it is easy to always have it handy.

Then show her these https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/cellphone/

If she still doesn't want a cellphone camera, then at least you gave it your best shot. . .

Then show her one of these:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1029529-REG/sony_dsc_w800_b_cyber_shot_dsc_w800_digital_camera.html

and this:

https://www.flickr.com/groups/sony-cybershot-dsc-w800/

And call it a day.

alexol

Gene51 wrote:

...

Then show her one of these:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1029529-REG/sony_dsc_w800_b_cyber_shot_dsc_w800_digital_camera.html
...

And call it a day.

The "3rd one is the charm" film cam for my Mum mentioned in an earlier post - after I finally understood what SHE needed and not what I wanted her to have - looked almost identical to the Sony and was absolutely perfect for her.

Point, push a button (an extending lens eliminates the errant finger picture, and the flash is right there) & done - PERFECT!

If I need good advice there are a few people whose posts are always worthwhile & Gene51 is one of them.

achesley Loc: SW Louisiana

I had a different agenda for a point and shoot camera as I was traveling via motorcycle for years and all over the US. Simple one hand operation so could do quick shots without taking my eyes off the road or hand off the throttle. Wanted RAW processing and if stopped, play with different settings. I've taken 1000's of pics with the Canon G series and presently still have 2 G16's among my 5 Canon cameras. Probably get a good price on one via Ebay to try.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

$200 Compacts -
https://improb.com/digital-cameras-under-200/
https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/the-best-camera-under-pound200
https://shotkit.com/best-cameras-200/
https://www.lifewire.com/best-digital-cameras-under-200-3897831

$300 -
https://www.consumerreports.org/point-shoot-digital-cameras/best-digital-cameras-under-300-dollars/
https://photophique.com/best-cameras-under-300/
https://www.photoworkout.com/best-compact-cameras-under-300-dollars/
https://www.adorama.com/alc/the-best-point-and-shoot-cameras-under-300