The Best Vacation Cameras - Grandparents.com

Second in a series about great vacation photos, our pro picks the best cameras to take on vacation with the grandchildren.

You may already own a favorite camera, but an upcoming family vacation with the grandchildren is a good excuse to buy a compact digital. You'll be delighted if you do the homework and get one that fits your hand and your needs. There are many options, which is why we’ve tried to help you narrow your choices from a bewildering array of tempting models.

We recommend cameras in a wide price range that are elegant and simple to use, that will give you great prints in sizes up to 8 x 10, and good prints in even larger sizes. And we've noted a few models that are sophisticated enough to keep you happy if you grow more serious about photography.

A camera you take on vacation should be lightweight to go everywhere you do without your becoming tempted to leave it back at your hotel. You want a camera to swear by, not at.

The more megapixels (MP) a camera has, the larger the prints you can make without blurriness. As megapixels increase, so does the price of the camera.

The enormously popular point-and-shoot compacts are the least expensive, but take superb pictures. They weigh less than a pound and fit in your pocket. These basic cameras lack zoom lenses and image stabilization. They cost $100 to $250.

In our favorite group for an ideal vacation camera are those that are still lightweight and compact, but are loaded with goodies, including lenses up to 10x zoom and image stabilization. A 10x zoom is roughly the equivalent of a 300mm lens on a 35mm camera. Pricing starts at around $250.

The high-end digital cameras are single-lens reflex (SLR) models for the truly serious amateur and professional shooters. You’ll pay $2,000 or more for all the bells and whistles. If you’re that serious about photography, you don’t need our help.

We have been witness to vacationing tourists whose primary camera seems to be the one built into their cell phones. Anybody serious about getting good photos of the grandchildren and their shenanigans should have a quality camera with a megapixel (MP) capacity of 5 or more. Cell phone cameras top out at 2 to 4MP, and the resulting photos are not keepsakes.

There are also waterproof cameras, impervious to the elements when you’re at the beach with those youngsters who love to spritz you in the surf. But unless you are taking the camera diving, with normal care around splashy grandchildren, the regular digital models are sufficiently moisture resistant.

These recommendations are based on comments from an unusual group of small-digital-camera users, former professional news photographers who prefer the convenience of a compact digital over a bagful of cameras and lenses.

Trying to keep current on digital cameras is something akin to trying to herd cats. There have been 35 new digital camera introductions in just the past 12 months. Manufacturers add new models and tinker with old ones, adding or subtracting a feature or two, which can offer a buying opportunity for the previous models.

Here are our favorites, listed by price:

Fine for Outdoors

Kodak Easy-Share M853: A new model that packs a lot into a sleek and handsome package that fits into the palm of your hand, and takes great photos outdoors, but is not the best choice for "available light" indoor photos without flash. 8MP, a 3x optical zoom, and a nifty built-in lens cover. $149.

Canon Powershot A720 IS: This updates the A710. 8MP. 6x zoom, optical image stabilization, VGA movie-mode with sound. Large, accessible control buttons. Canon sells a waterproof case separately that’s good to a depth of 130 feet. $180.

Canon Powershot A550: A revision of last year’s standard, the A530, with a larger LCD and 7.1 MP. A respectable 4x zoom (35mm equivalent of 26 to 112mm), easy to read "mode" dial, optical finder, VGA movie mode. Super simple to use. $200.

Nikon CoolpixS600: The newest (March 2008) and most sophisticated Coolpix camera yet.10MP. ISO adjustments to 2,000. The camera can be set to reduce blurring in low light, and bring out more detail in shadowed areas. Video capable, 4x optical zoom, automatic in-camera red-eye fix, and priority focusing on faces. $250.

Canon PowerShot SX100: A 10x optical “superzoom” with image stabilizer in such a compact camera is amazing. 8MP. More experienced photographers can switch to full manual control, putting this in competition with the higher-end, much higher-priced SLR cameras. Intuitive controls, with print and photoshare options using PictBridge. $250.

Capture the scenery

Panasonic Lumix DMC FX35: A favorite among professionals, this spiffy camera has a 25mm super-wide angle lens, great for vacation shots. You can have the grandchildren frolicking in the foreground and still show those breathtaking landmarks in the background. The 4x zoom lets you do the close-ups. 10MP. $275.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC W300: 13.6MP, optical image stabilization, a new "high sensitivity" mode that lets you shoot up to ISO1600 — a wonderful alternative to using flash and getting natural-looking photos in available light. High-speed mode shoots five frames a second, great for fast-moving grandchildren. $350.

Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd: This is one impressive (18x) megazoom camera — the 35mm equivalent of a 27 to 486 zoom. With image stabilization, full manual controls, and VGA movie mode. 8MP. A newer variation, the just-introduced S8100fd, $400, is now available but this one is still a doozy; a candidate for discounting. $350.

Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ50S: TZ means Travel Zoom, which Panasonic introduced in 2006. This May 2008, model is a big camera in a small package but with many recent improvements, including a stabilized 10x optical zoom lens and Wi-Fi capability so you can easily upload your photos. 9.1MP. $449.

No matter which camera you bring on vacation, keep it in its case when you aren’t using it. Out of the case, always loop the camera’s strap around your wrist or neck. Some models are so compact that they are easily jostled out of your hand if someone bumps into you.