What point and shoot for a relative who just wants to point and shoot?

rpavich · Dec 11, 2016

I have a question.
My sister and I have hatched a plan and I need a camera to go with it.

My mom is 85 years old and not doing that great, my sister is her caregiver. We decided that it would be good for my sister to document some things in their life, or just document whatever she wants (for theraputic reasons) and then when she's finished a roll of film (or several rolls) she mails them to me and I make some 4 x 6's for family members and one day, make a book out of these shots (when my mom is gone)

so here is what I need; my sister is completely camera phobic. Changing lenses, settings, anything that we take for granted won't work for her. She literally needs a "point and shoot" camera that has AF and makes all of the decisions.
Most of her shooting will be pretty well lit, outside bright or semi bright....possibly some indoors stuff.

What point and shoot film camera would be a good choice?

I cannot express how simple it must be...it must be idiot proof and I really would like AF. (the zone focusing ones won't do) and I'd really not like to spend a TON of money....I'd love to spend less than 75.00.

I thought about buying black and white disposables but before I do..I want to know if there is something more permanent that you know of.

rpavich · Dec 11, 2016

This is the sort of thing I had in mind. Auto loading, auto focus, auto everything and cheap enough not to matter if something goes wrong.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fuji-35mm-F...762358?hash=item25c066f336:g:qdQAAOSwVL1WBeLb

Paul Howell · Dec 11, 2016

Over the years I have acquired a collection of point and shoots, many fill the bill, my favorites are the Pentax IQs, the 38 to 105 has a fine lens, easy load, nice built in flash. Second line up is Nikon.

rpavich · Dec 11, 2016

Paul Howell said:
Over the years I have acquired a collection of point and shoots, many fill the bill, my favorites are the Pentax IQs, the 38 to 105 has a fine lens, easy load, nice built in flash. Second line up is Nikon.

Thanks. Ill check them out.

macfred · Dec 11, 2016

I can recommend the Olympus mju-ii - I bought one for 40 EURO and I really like it.
Unfortunately my daughter loves it too ...

A nice read about the little gem : http://www.35mmc.com/30/08/2013/the-olympus-mju-ii-the-ultimate-point-shoot/

rpavich · Dec 11, 2016

macfred said:
I can recommend the Olympus mju-ii - I bought one for 40 EURO and I really like it.
Unfortunately my daughter loves it too ...

A nice read about the little gem : http://www.35mmc.com/30/08/2013/the-olympus-mju-ii-the-ultimate-point-shoot/

Nice, but unfortunately they seem desirable and therefore expensive.

That's one that I'd buy MYSELF and justify it.

Helios 1984 · Dec 11, 2016

Kodak VR35 K80, it has auto everything and It offer a good grip as it is shaped like a brick . Also the viewfinder is quite bright and you just can't miss the shutter button. (I like mine)

rpavich · Dec 11, 2016

Helios 1984 said:
Kodak VR35 K80, it has auto everything and It offer a good grip as it is shaped like a brick . Also the viewfinder is quite bright and you just can't miss the shutter button.

Thanks!

onre · Dec 11, 2016

One cheap and good alternative is Olympus AF-1. It has no settings at all and the lens is excellent, possibly same as Mju-I.

rpavich · Dec 11, 2016

onre said:
One cheap and good alternative is Olympus AF-1. It has no settings at all and the lens is excellent, possibly same as Mju-I.

Thanks, I'll check that out too. Boy..there was no shortage of auto film cameras in the 80s was there?

David A. Goldfarb · Dec 11, 2016

Yashica T4s (also sold as the T5 in Europe, if I'm not mistaken), with a 35mm Zeiss Tessar, well sealed against the elements, and a handy right angle finder built in.

Theo Sulphate · Dec 11, 2016

Local Goodwill stores have plenty of film point-and-shoot cameras, usually Olympus, Pentax, Nikon, maybe Vivitar. I think they're only a few dollars. You could try it out by bringing common batteries and an already-exposed film cassette.

rpavich · Dec 11, 2016

David A. Goldfarb said:
Yashica T4s (also sold as the T5 in Europe, if I'm not mistaken), with a 35mm Zeiss Tessar, well sealed against the elements, and a handy right angle finder built in.

That's another expensive one!

rpavich · Dec 11, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
Local Goodwill stores have plenty of film point-and-shoot cameras, usually Olympus, Pentax, Nikon, maybe Vivitar. I think they're only a few dollars. You could try it out by bringing common batteries and an already-exposed film cassette.

Good idea, I'll check out the local goodwill.
However, I did buy a cheap Fuji DL-1000 from ebay as a start.

Paul Howell · Dec 11, 2016

If you dont see on at your local Goodwill check out the Goodwill auction site. I got the only point and shoot that was not given to me from the auction site, the Pentax IQ weather resistant 38 to 95, took it to Paris and shoot in the rain for a couple of days with it. Paid like $8.00 + shipping which can really up the cost so be sure and see what it will cost to ship before bidding.

Nige · Dec 11, 2016

only trouble with most of these '90s P&S's are the batteries they take. Check the type needed and availability before buying. CR123's are expensive in my part of the world!

I have a Pentax IQ something and a Samsung with Schneider lens, both have zoom lenses and use CR123's or something similar. They probably still work but not about to buy a battery to try! I'd send them but postage from here would be prohibitive.

I think Nikon made some fixed lens (35/2.8) P&S's called LA35AF or some thing similar, they might not attract the same price premium that the Mju/Stylus & T4/T5 do.

Helios 1984 · Dec 11, 2016

Another point for the VR35, it run on AA batteries

removed-user-1 · Dec 11, 2016

The Pentax 90WR (water-resistant) is a nice fully-auto camera that's usually under $25. It makes pretty good pictures. I sold a number of these to happy snapshooters in the 90s. I think it has a 38-90mm.

As a bonus, it also happens to be very tough... an old girlfriend had one, which got dropped down the rocky slope at Beacon Heights, on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I guess it bounced around 90 feet? It still functioned after I climbed down there to rescue it.

klownshed · Dec 12, 2016

An Olympus AF-10 would be a good choice. It's cheap and has a good lens, a 35mm f3.5 siimilar to the XA-2. It has a clamshell lens cover that switches on the camera, is very sturdy, has built in flash and takes AA batteries.

It's auto load, auto film advance, auto exposure and auto focus.

As easy as it got in the film world. And cheap. Did I mention it was cheap? ;-)

Theo Sulphate · Dec 12, 2016

Yes - Nikon L35AF. Article here about one bought at Goodwill for $6.99:

http://mattsclassiccameras.com/rangefinders-compacts/nikon-l35af/

But maybe now it's a classic...

rpavich · Dec 12, 2016

Lots of good answers here!

thanks everyone, I may pick up one for myself.

John Wiegerink · Dec 12, 2016

rthomas said:
The Pentax 90WR (water-resistant) is a nice fully-auto camera that's usually under $25. It makes pretty good pictures. I sold a number of these to happy snapshooters in the 90s. I think it has a 38-90mm.

As a bonus, it also happens to be very tough... an old girlfriend had one, which got dropped down the rocky slope at Beacon Heights, on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I guess it bounced around 90 feet? It still functioned after I climbed down there to rescue it.

+1 This is a very good, tough camera and it's lens if very good, but it's a little big and might have more bells and whistles than your friend likes. Of course you can just slip it into "Program mode" and shoot away.Still, it's a great camera and I have about 8 of these stashed away in case my grandkids show an interest in film and not phones.

rpavich · Dec 12, 2016

John Wiegerink said:
+1 This is a very good, tough camera and it's lens if very good, but it's a little big and might have more bells and whistles than your friend likes. Of course you can just slip it into "Program mode" and shoot away.Still, it's a great camera and I have about 8 of these stashed away in case my grandkids show an interest in film and not phones.

I snagged one in VG condition from ebay just in case.

AgX · Dec 12, 2016

rpavich said:
I'd really not like to spend a TON of money....I'd love to spend less than 75.00.

Here the typical price of any point-and-shoot camera on fleamarkets, thrift-stores etc. is 3€. The risk of getting a dead one rather low.
Of course if one wants a certain model immediately, one has to pay for that...

EdSawyer · Dec 12, 2016

Canon Sure Shot Classic 120.

What point and shoot for a relative who just wants to point and shoot?

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