Which (if any) digital for 80year old

[Jay12329]

My grandfarthers old film camera has recently died and he anounced today hes seen a digital camera in tesco for £80 and asked (through the mother message service) what i think.
Hes 80 doesnt own a computer and has never used one. What are the options for him? I'm not too sure how he will manage with changing ink cartrages and paperjams and the like with a pic-bridge printer. Unfortunatly he lives 300miles away so I cant use my computer to upload his shots for him.
My initial thoughts are to sugest he gets a APS film camera and continues sending films away like he did with the old unit.
Any advice would be good.
Thanks

J

[august23]

well he could just buy a digicam, and have it taken to a store for prints.

[gjl711]

So much depends on his motivation. I outfitted my aunt with a Kodak compact and a PC. Though she is 800 miles away, she has been very active in learning how to use the PC, is able to download pics, is able to email and print them as well. She got connected to a local seniors computer group and absolutely loves the machine. Now I did the same with my father in law with completely different results. Though he has taken to the computer just fine, but he remains completely frustrated moving the pics from the camera.

[Jon]

If he goes digital, either he's going to have to buy a lot of memory cards, get someone to burn his pics to CD, or resign himself to getting the original prints and never any reprints after he's deleted them. On the whole, I think you're right - he should go with a film camera unless he's prepared to enter the wonderful world of computers. He can always get the negatives scanned to CD at the time he gets them developed.

[mishnogram]

My parents (who have just recently retired) gave up on the digital camera because they find it frustrating to learn. They are just so used to taking photos, taking the film in and getting them developed. A lot has to do with the motivation of the person to learn and use the medium. If he is up to learning it, I would say why not. If he's more comfortable with what he's always been doing, then the APS solution would be great.

[JustShootin']

I would also say a film camera is in order here.

[gjl711]

You can always bring the CF card to someplace lke CVS or possibly even Wallymart an they will give you the prints as well as tossing them on CD for ya.

[august23]

yeah that was the first thing i said....but noone seems to like that idea gjl711 lol.

[283CID]

[ahem]... 'We' are both over 70. We have two neighbor friends well over 80. ALL are 'decent' at running their computers, and some cameras.

'Age' is not a real factor. **Desire** to do it is ALL a factor. The real problem is the OVERALL learning curve. Mrs. 283 and I have been at it for....eight years now. The older of our neighbors has been around six years... and he has the technical help of a pretty savvy 50 year old 'Kid'.

If Gramps is not a computer guy, he's going to have to learn... at least some of it. And that seems to relate fairly closely with what he did... in his working life. Did he do stuff that involved using his head to solve 'how to do' things? Or was he maybe a farmer, whose very valuable work....only requires responding to things?

That's the best info a True Geez' can give you... straight from the Horse's Mouth.

[gjl711]

..... That's the best info a True Geez' can give you... straight from the Horse's Mouth. Or maybe from the choppers sitting in the glass by the night stand. :evil::oops:;):D
Sorry, just had to spike it home. ;)

gjl - you can get in serious trouble trying to misattribute quotes.

Jon

[283CID]

Nope!... Got all my own! Her, too !!! I *will* admit thanks to a few crowns [both of us] and her two implants !!!

[teekay]

My grandfarthers old film camera has recently died and he anounced today hes seen a digital camera in tesco....... What are the options for him?....


If he's still healthy and can afford it, then he has the same options as anyone else. It's never too late to learn enough about computing, the Internet and digital photography to get a lot of enjoyment out of it all.

[283CID]

teekay...I look across at Victoria... Where you ?

[Jay12329]

Well after 5 mins looking I found a Canon IXUS APS camera on e-bay. £7 with 2 films. So ill see how he gets on with that.
Thanks for the advice.
J

[wpgphotographer]

Well, in this world where everything has gone digital nowadays, I think age is irrelevant.
No matter how old we are, we are ALWAYS IN LEARNING MODE.

As for your grandfather, there should be no issue for him to go to a digital camera. He doesn't necessarily need to have a computer if he chooses to not have one.
Let's take a look and consider some factors. If you decide to get him, let's say, Canon SD450 5 megapixel camera. I think finding a camera with a large view LCD would be good which is about 2.5" considering his sight. Maybe find one with a 3" screen. Now with a 5megapix camera, you can get him a 1 Gig memory card which would give him room to shoot amost 400 pictures (which I don't think he would max out).

Now there's a couple options here. He can go to a local outlet that will process the pictures, just like film, from the momory card as most places are doing now. If that is not possible, then assuming you go to visit him from time to time, you can help him get the pictures from the camera and process to prints. Even if you get him two 1 gig cards... that is room for about 800 pics. I wouldnt think he would get to the second card, unless he loves taking pics

What do you think?

Here's a link to give idea of card capacities
http://www.crucial.com/library/guides/flash/page02.asp

[eccles]

I agree with wpgphotographer. There are lots of retailers who used to process film and are keen to keep their businesses going by processing digital memory cards. Get gramps onto the digital bandwagon first by this route, then see how far he is prepared to go if he wants to do his own printing with memory card printer, then his own post processing if he's still up to learn about PCs. Let him find his own level, but the first isn't so different to film is it?

[283CID]

Don't get me wrong; I'm all for it. But...having lived it, and knowing those that are living it... the change to digital it not easy. For openers, it takes a while to get over the idea that you'd take a picture...then look at the LCD to see if it came out right, before trying another. Those PAST this point know to shoot a bucket full of pictures...when you unload the camera dump the lousy ones. {Can't you see the commercial printer guy grinning from ear to ear at the thought of processing ALL those .JPGs ?? } The routines of film conservation have to be overcome, and without a computer...it might be tough to do. Besides, for those of you who have Birth Certificates so new the ink smears just cannot...CANNOT...understand the intimidating threat that radical NEW things present... in an era where anything 'Change' is not easily understood... even feared. My the Lord bless you to all GET this far !!!

I stand behind my previous statements. AND.. I have a 80+ internet pal in Bristol who has finally given away all his new,fancy camera gear... in favor of what he understands and is familiar with............. much to my grumblings. I mean, this guy and I have played flight simulations, etc... yet the digital cameras leave him cold.

[CanonAndy]

As a younger (33) film to digital convert, I have to agree that people are understating the requirements of switching from film to digital. From my standpoint:

1. Image quality - Without a computer, a shooter relies completely on the in-camera processing and store 'quick and dirty' post processing. If the shooter is used to Kodak Gold 100, for instance, they may be disappointed in a DP&S.
2. Battery life - Just the difference between shooting 50+ rolls of film on a single battery vs. DP&S battery life can be frustrating for many.
3. Time - I agree that people of any age can learn. BUT, older people value their time differently. Why spend hours of time learning a new technology that basically provides the same deliverable as the old technology?

The correct decision, in my opinion, lies in the REASON he wants a camera. Is it to have pictures to put in a photo album and on the wall, or is it to enjoy the art of photography? Having been through decision with 5 family members, I can say with experience that digital is not the answer for snapshot style shooters who have no desire to spend time on a new technology...

CanonAndy