If you are interested in buying one of your parents a new high-end Sony camera, how do you know whether or not it has elder-friendly features? Given that each senior has different concerns, there is no one straightforward answer. Have no fear, though. ElderGadget is here to provide an overall snapshot of the digital camera market as it pertains to the aging population.
Now, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of digital cameras on the market. Obviously, we don’t consider all digital cameras to be elder-friendly. Far from it. For our purposes, we are are going to deal with only digital point-and-shoot cameras because they happen to be the camera brand of choice for most casual photographers. These compact gems are generally small enough to fit in a pocket so you could capture vacations and birthdays on camera. And it’s usually simple enough to upload pictures from point-and-shoot cameras onto your computer to email these priceless memories to friends and family.
We ventured out into the retail-sphere to test out digital point-and-shoot cameras and believe that our findings will be of some interest to you. But before we proceed, we thought we’d let you know…
…What Seniors Should Look for in a Digital Camera
- A camera with five or more MPs (megapixels). The higher the number, the higher the resolution. And the higher resolution, the higher quality prints you can produce.
- An LCD screen that is larger than 2.5 inches because any size smaller than this makes it difficult to check whether you’ve captured your ideal shot.
- An optical zoom lens with at least a 3x zoom (meaning that the subject appears three times closer to you).
- Simple to use.
- An ergonomic design, which entails easy to press buttons, large buttons, a grip for your hand to grasp and an easy-to-use scroll wheel.
- Basic features like digital image stabilization, which prevents your photos from coming out blurry.
- A competitive price.
Taking these factors into account, ElderGadget has compiled a list (in no particular order) of the Top-Five Point-and-Shoot Digital Camera for Elders. Enjoy.
5. Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP 10 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
There are plenty of reasons to love this camera. First of all, there is a nice big grip on the front of the camera, so your hand can have somewhere comfortable to go while you are taking photos. While the buttons are soft, they are also incredibly easy to click, so it doesn’t take a lot of effort to physically take the picture. Best of all, this camera is equipped with “Blog Mode,” which automatically re-sizes your photos for you if you want to email them to loved ones or post them on a personal blog. The 10MP, 3x zoom and 2.7 inch LCD are all pretty standard. For a camera that runs less than $160, there is really nothing to complain about.
We understand why someone might not instantly fall in love with this Olympus. The scroll wheel on its back is hard to navigate and the buttons are a tad small. But this tough camera is custom made for the traveler and can do wonders for the clusmy. It’s shockproof, shakeproof, crushproof and freezeproof. It comes with digital image stabilization, and runs around $250.
3. Canon PowerShot SD1200IS 10 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD
This is one of the best (and most popular) all-around digital cameras on the market. And it’s no surprise why. The camera has nice large and easy to press buttons on both the top and the back, all of which more than compensates for its lack of a natural hand grip. Rest assured, Cannons as a brand are known for their high picture quality. The camera also has a reliable image stabilization system to counter shaky-hand syndrome. If you are a first time photographer though, use Auto-mode because the custom setting might come off as a bit confusing. You can find this camera for around $190.
For our purposes, the beauty about Sony digital cameras happens to be Easy Shooting Mode. Basic instructions are displayed on the LCD screen, which provides beginners a sense of confidence while taking pictures. More specifically though, the Cybershot DSC-S950 is rather inexpensive (usually around $130), but still comes with a 10 MP, 4x Zoom, 2.7-inch LCD screen and a SteadyShot digital image stabilization.
1. Kodak EasyShare C180 10MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom and 2.4 inch LCD
Kodak cameras are known for their ease of use. So it makes sense that there is nothing too fancy or confusing about the EasyShare C180. Our main complaint with this camera is that the LCD screen is a tad bit small, running at 2.4 inches, but the other basic features are up to snuff, with 10MP and 3x Zoom. The scroll wheel on the top of the camera is the easiest to grasp scroll wheel we found, and there aren’t that many buttons on the back of the camera that you must deal with. Did we mentioned you can purchase this camera for less than $100?
The RC46 clock radio by RCA is the perfect companion in the morning. This alarm clock rates high in all the major categories. Throw in its' affordability, and this is one of the better ones out there.
A simply snazzy alarm clock. The Electric Alarm Clock from Elgin gives you 7 different display colors to choose from.
The iC172 iPod dock alarm clock radio by Emerson features more than an iPod docking station. It features an integrated LCD projector which allows you to project the time in LARGE numerals onto your wall or ceiling. The large projected display is ideal for anyone who has poor vision or a difficult time seeing without the aid of eye glasses.
Wake to your docked iPod, the radio, or--if you must--a classic buzzer alarm. Whichever you choose, a gradual alarm feature gently raises the alarm volume, so it's not too jarring. Great options and features on a great alarm clock.
Newly designed for 2010 with a bigger display and bigger sound, the iP90 represents the latest in iHome's #1 clock radio franchise. Made to charge, play and wake to iPhone/iPod, it has many great features including a remote, AM/FM pre-sets, dual alarm, Time Sync, 7-5-2 alarm settings and more.
With a unique wedge design and silver case with a blue lens cover, the Sharp SPC019F Red LED Alarm Clock with a Wedge Style Case will add a dash of color and flair to your bedside table. A red 0.6-inch LED display ensures that you'll always know exactly what time it is, and an alarm with a snooze feature means that you can catch a few extra winks before starting your day.
