Christmas Gadget Gifts: Digital Cameras
It’s November – I’m just as surprised as you are – and you’re starting to scramble for presents for the tech freak in your life. Relax, I’ve got your back. Below is the first in a series of Christmas gift guides I’ll be posting over the coming weeks. Don’t worry if these ideas are too expensive for you: look for follow-up gift ideas for radio control, computer and console games, mobile phones, and more. There’ll even be a specific one on cheap gadgets.
I’m kicking this off with digital still and video cameras. Everyone needs a good camera, and with the rate of progress and price drops, you can almost afford a new one every year. So what’s top of the pile this year?
Digital Video Camera Gifts
| Flip MinoHD Camcorder |  |
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| Why? | Why fork out thousands of dollars on a high-definition camcorder that’s tricky to use, and so bulky that you hardly ever carry it with you?
The Flip Mino HD takes the idea of “good enough for YouTube”, and packages it in a device small enough to fit in your jeans pocket. At $349 it’s a bargain, and cheap enough that you’ll be happy taking it to the beach or park. You can read my in-depth review here. |
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| RRP: | $349 | |
| Stockists: | Noel Leeming, Dick Smith, and (just quietly) Amazon. | |
Digital Compact Camera Gifts
| Samsung ST550 Compact Camera |  |
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| Why? | The Samsung ST550 is the first digital camera that includes a font-facing 1.5″ LCD as well as a giant rear touch-screen. It might seem like a gimmick, but the practicalities are obvious for kids (they can’t stop smiling at themselves) and self-portraits.
Samsung have also pulled out all the stops on usability. Most operations take place on the touch screen, including the ability to delete photos by just swiping an “x” with your finger. The camera also has an accelerometer so you can rotate and sort through photos by tilting the camera. And of course like most compact cameras today it takes HD video as well. |
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| RRP: | $599 | |
| Stockists: | Call 0800 SAMSUNG for your nearest stockist. | |
| Canon G11 |  |
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| Why? | The G11 is the bad-boy of the Canon “point-and-shoot” range. It’s capable of pushing out shots that compare quite well with a low-end SLR, but you can fit it into a (large) handbag.
The photo geek in your life will be impressed by your taste in cameras if they find this under the tree. Update: Thanks to Simon’s comment, maybe the Canon S90 is a better high-end compact. Same sensor, much smaller, cheaper, and with a nifty control dial around the lens. |
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| RRP: | $1099 | |
| Stockists: | Most department stores and good camera stores like PhotoWarehouse | |
Digital SLR Camera Gifts
| Canon 5D Mark II |  |
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| Why? | For those of you with piles of spare cash and a photographer in your family who doesn’t want to compromise on quality, you couldn’t go much better than the new Canon 5D.
It’s a heck of a lot of money to spend on a gift, but this camera has been dubbed “life changing” by one review. |
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| RRP: | $6499 | |
| Stockists: | Good camera stores like PhotoWarehouse | |
Popularity: 36% [?]
I’d check out the Canon S90 over the G11 – it equals or beats on the G11 on most specs:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_s90,canon_g11&show=all
The review at http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/s90.htm sums it up well:
“The S90 beats Canon’s own flagship G11 at its own game. The S90 has the same oversized sensor as the G11, but adds a faster f/2 lens, direct control rings and a bigger LCD in a smaller, lighter package for less money. So why would I want a G11? Just to carry more weight? That’s the only reason I can see, and there are guys who buy things because they weigh more.”
Good lord, you are right. How had I not heard of the S90? Might see if I can get my hands on a review model.