Cameras for girls?

Jamie123 said:
I was talking to my girlfriend today and the topic came up that she's constantly taking pictures (the visual diary type of pictures) on her iPhone. While the iPhone's camera is ok for a phone, I still think she probably should have a better digital camera at hand and I think she agrees (she does have a regular P&S but doesn't really carry it with her).

Now, of course, it's my job to recommend a good camera to her (not because I'm a man, but because I'm a photographer :) ). But what should I recommend? She's a very stylish person so I think apart from image quality the camera itself should also be aesthetically pleasing. And it shouldn't be too big either. Now as far as price limit is concerned it's a bit tricky. She's not quite as poor as me so the question is not primarily how much she can afford but how much it would be reasonable for her to spend.

My first thought is a 4/3rd camera like one of the Olympus EP's. It's not too big, looks quite nice and is reasonably priced. I thought about a Leica X1 in a nice leather case but that's a bit overkill. The new Sony Nex looks interesting from a quality point of view but the lenses are a bit bulky.

Am I missing any good options here? I'm thinking either an Olympus EP-1 /2 or EP-L. Panasonic GF1? Also an option but a bit more techy looking than the Olys.

So what do you guys(and especially girls/women) think?
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Buy her the Nikon D3x. Lots of style, and it lets people know she is serious.

Stephen
 
One other question might be whether you ever intend to use the camera even a little, and what features would make that at least tolerable without unduly imposing on her choice. That's a negotiation between you and her :). In my case, for example, I will be rather unable to use my wife's P&S (a recently chosen Lumix DMC-ZR1) owing to its lack of a VF. I cannot come close to mastering that odd behavior of holding the camera out at arm's length and composing on the screen. Dim, squinty 1940s rangefinders? Yes. TLRs? Yes. Any SLR, whether digital or film? Easily. But not this. I can't compose that way, and I get horrendous camera-shake for some reason. But the ones with VFs came up short against my wife's requirements for weight, pocketability, cost, etc.
--Dave
 
Jamie123 said:
That's the thing, though, I'm trying not to project my own preferences onto her but at the same time it's hard because she doesn't really know what she wants and that's obviously the biggest problem. One day she tells me she wants to take more pictures but her cell phone is not good enough. Then I do my research and tell her all the different options available to her. She gets excited but soon after she forgets again.

One thing I won't do is buy a camera for her. If I spend loads of money on a camera that will just sit in its box unopened it'll piss me off. I'd rather spend the money on jewelry for her which I know she'll wear.
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Maybe it's just that she loves you. What you care about, she cares about. But perhaps, when it comes to cameras, not as much.

In other words, I fully respect her and your choices. I'm just not sure that anyone can say anything unless they know you both.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Maybe it's just that she loves you. What you care about, she cares about. But perhaps, when it comes to cameras, not as much.

In other words, I fully respect her and your choices. I'm just not sure that anyone can say anything unless they know you both.

Cheers,

R.
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Yeah, that's probably true. I think I'll just let it be for now and let her make up her mind about it.

Sometimes I think someone might come up with the perfect idea I hadn't thought about. But then I remember that I already know all the options out there as I spend way too much time on the internet reading up on cameras and that there's no such thing as perfect :)
 
Had the same issue with my wife. She was happy with the i-phone and then when we were out walking in countryside one day realised how limiting it was. Bought her the Ricoh R10 as a starter and she loves it. She has recently taken out my EP-1 and has since gone back to R10. It has good specs, 7.1 optical zoom which is effectively 28-200mm and has a macro function which she loves. Most importantly the funky little case I bought her as well fits in her purse so she has it with her at all times.
 
I guess I was lucky. Galfriend was using this long before we met:

bonwcam.jpg

Bonnie, with her trusty OM-2S

When she feels like traveling light, she breaks out her Olympus Stylus (original version). Me? I just scan her film and get the image files on her Mac to do with as she pleases. :)


- Barrett
 
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my fiancee bought me an LX3 for my birthday (she asked me what I wanted). effectively, it's now her camera. ha.

vote 1 for LX3. if she wants film, Oly XA.
 
Jamie123 said:
The title is a bit (maybe even a lot) sexist, I admit.

I do think, though, that it can make a difference. The interest in what one might call 'phallic' aspects of cameras seems to be much more pronounced amongst male camera enthusiasts.

But I really didn't mean to start a discussion about cameras and gender identities (not saying that it wouldn't be interesting). But the title's just there to grab attention. :)
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Oh, we could probably have a whole discussion about the differences between men and women and logical vs emotional and even physical evidence vs. intuitive... and how it might effect their choice of equipment and even the photos themselves. I'm not sure it will solve your problem though. And being a man, of course you must solve it ;)

j/k...


digitalintrigue said:
I have recommended the Panasonic LX3 to two women (one my ex-g/f and one my daughter) and they both think it is fantastic. Now my daughter's roommate also wants one.
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This was my initial thought. My daughter has a panasonic P&S and LOVES it for portability, ability to take good photos, great zoom and even video capabilities. She's more the girly-girl type (not at all a tomboy) and need it to fit in her purse. She carries it with her everywhere. She is also very much into art and theater and just sometimes needs something better than her iPhone camera.


maggieo said:
Does your girlfriend know about the Hipstamatic app? I use it all the time and it makes a great companion to my M2, M4-P and M8.

IMO, every photographer should have a mechanical M, a digital M and an iPhone with Hipstamatic. Except boys who have cooties. Ew. Cooties.
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Another suggestion that came to mind for your GF. She'll have fun with it. Jeez, we all could have fun with it - LOL - but if she's already expressed a liking for polaroids, it's certainly a harmless app to download and try.



My last thought was the EP1/EPL1/EP2... if she's ready to carry something just a little bigger than a P&S. With the kit zoom it will give her some flexibility, even psuedo macro. It has built-in art filters which she might find fun. JPGs straight out of the camera are outstanding. Battery life is terrific. The only downside? It's not quite as small as P&S cams.


Of course, the new iPhone is about to hit the street and there's a lot of talk the camera has been improved quite a bit. That might make her happiest :)

Good luck in your search!
 
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