Overall Rating
Senior Friendly Features
Cool Factor
Senior Friendly Features
Digital Camera Type :
Ultracompact
Digital Camera Type :
Compact
Quick Specs
Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1, Kodak Easyshare M5370, Pentax Optio RZ18, Samsung MV800, Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TX10, Nikon Coolpix AW100, Canon Elph 310 HS, Fujifilm X10, Ricoh GR Digital IV, Casio Exilim Ex-h30
If you’re looking for an amazing point-and-shoot camera to give as a gift for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Festivus, you have a massive number of choices. The search can be daunting. We’ve put together a gift guide (in no particular order) to make things easier, showing you our top ten favorites for the season.
1. Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1
Panasonic’s new 3D1 point-and-shoot camera has stereo linked lenses and stereo sensors. It’s pocket-sized, both sensors shoot 12 megapixel AND 1080p or 1080/60i HD video, and can do so together (both shooting the same) for 3D content or separate, meaning you can shoot HD video with one and simultaneously capture 12 megapixel stills at up to 4 frames per second (8 fps without autofocus!). Shooting your kid’s ball game? Capture the action with video AND stills with one small camera.
Intelligent auto and some amazing night photography features make this a sort of cross between a jack-of-all-trades and a one-trick pony, and a very good one, at that.
For more information or to purchase a Panasonic Lumix 3D1 digital camera, visit Amazon.com.
2. Kodak Easyshare M5370
Kodak Easyshare cameras are called that for a reason. They’re set up specifically to make it easy to share your pictures. This 16 megapixel camera has Kodak’s Smart Capture Technology to take great pictures without worry. When you review the images on the back, simply tag them for automatic upload to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, email, Kodak Pulse digital frames and more when you connect the camera to your computer or put the media card into a reader and connect it to the computer. For Facebook, the built-in face recognition will automatically tag your friends. $124.50
For more information or to purchase a Kodak Easyshare M5370 digital camera, visit Amazon.com.
3. Pentax Optio RZ18
The Pentax Optio RZ-18 camera features an amazingly long zoom. Not that it makes the camera large, it just goes a long way. The 18 in RZ18 stands for the 18x zoom, going from a very wide 25mm (35mm equivalent) to a really, really long 450mm. That’s a long throw for a bridge camera, which this isn’t. This is a point-and-shoot. It also has a 16 megapixel sensor and good automatic modes, and comes in colors or this cool white. $278
For more information or to purchase a Pentax Optio RZ18 digital camera, visit Amazon.com.
4. Samsung MV800
A tiny camera with a relatively large, easy-to-see 3-inch touch screen LCD is the Samsung MV800. It’s a 16 megapixel camera with an innovative tilting screen that’s great for holding the camera at low angles or flipping it over completely for self-portraits. Right now it’s on sale as a bundle on Amazon with a tabletop tripod, microSD card, reader, cleaning kit and carrying case for $199
For more information or to purchase a Samsung MV800 digital camera, visit Amazon.com.
5. Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TX10
We’ve had the Sony TX10 for months now, and we love it. It has a ton of great image features, including sweep 3D panoramic images, skin enhancement, intelligent auto, shallow depth-of-field portraits and more. There is a newer version, the TX55, with a higher resolution LCD on the back, but it loses it’s waterproof capability which is one of the features that makes the TX10 perfect for everywhere, even the pool or snorkeling! $278
For more information or to purchase a Sony TX10 digital camera, visit Amazon.com.
6. Nikon Coolpix AW100
Another choice if you love the water is the Nikon Coolpix AW100. This one goes to 33 feet (10 meters). The styling takes you back a little to the Nikonos waterproof cameras. With a 16 megapixel sensor, 1080p HD video with stereo audio, GPS and e-Compass features, and being rugged enough for almost any environment, this is a great choice for the adventurous people on your list. $299
For more information or to purchase a Nikon Coolpix AW100 waterproof digital camera, visit Amazon.com.
7. Canon Elph 310 HS
Canon’s Elph 310 HS is a 12 megapixel, 1080p HD Video camera that is ultra slim and very small. It’s a Canon Elph, so it shoots high quality photos with intelligent auto that takes care of everything. Video is in a format that plays natively on HDTVs, Macs and PCs. It even shoots high-speed video at up to 240 frames per second for cool slow motion. It’s available in a lot of different, hard-to-lose colors. $229
For more information or to purchase a Canon Elph 310 HS digital camera, visit Amazon.com.
8. Fujifilm X10
If you’re giving a camera as a gift to a serious photographer with an eye for camera aesthetics as well as performance, the Fujifilm X10 is a great choice. It’s very high-end for a point-and-shoot, it looks and acts like a rangefinder from long ago. It has a larger sensor, automatic or full manual controls, and a 4x zoom that opens as wide as f/2.0. $599
For more information or to purchase a Fujifilm X10 digital camera, visit Amazon.com.
9. Ricoh GR Digital IV
A serious enthusiast camera, the Ricoh GR Digital IV is set up for advanced amateurs with really fast autofocus (.2 seconds), a fixed focal length lens (28mm equivalent) with a close macro setting, the ability to shoot and combine up to 5 images (for HDR and things like star trails). In the hands of someone who knows what they are doing, the GR Digital IV is a solid performer. $599
For more information or to purchase a Ricoh GR Digital IV camera, visit Amazon.com.
10. Casio Exilim Ex-h30
Casio’s new EX-H30 is another camera with a really long zoom. The 12.5x lens goes from a wonderfully-wide 24mm (35mm equivalent) to 300mm and in macro mode can focus as close as 1cm. It has a 16 megapixel resolution and can shoot 720p HD video. $229
For more information or to purchase a Casio Exilim EX-h30 digital camera, visit Amazon.com.
If you’re not sure what to look for, you can always check out our Senior-Friendly Guide to Digital Cameras.
The good thing about buying someone a camera for the holidays is that you know you’ll be paid back in pictures, even if the person you give it to is halfway around the world. Happy holidays from us at Eldergadget.
I am looking for an easy to use diital camera.
Have been recommended the
PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-FS16 Compact camera.
I am in my seventies – dont want any complications.
Is this the camera for me ?