Cameras and Photo Products for Grandparents

The best camera is the one you have with you when you need it. If you want one to keep with you at all times, you won't go wrong with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9, which will easily fit in a pocket when the lens is powered down. The 5X optical zoom and 16.2 megapixel resolution are great for a camera in this price range. The Cyber-shot offers several special effects, including a "background de-focus" like you get with a more expensive camera when shooting with a shallow depth of field. There's very little shutter lag, which is that annoying gap between the time you push the button and the time the camera takes the picture. Avoiding shutter lag is essential for photographing those fast-moving grands!

If you want to brandish a camera that will wow the grandchildren, pick up the Samsung Dual View TL225. The innovation that will get everyone's attention is the double LCD screens, one on the front and a larger one on the back. The one in front is great for taking those self-portraits that teens and tweens like to post on Facebook, or it can be set to show a smiley face or an animated sequence, ideal for getting the attention of smaller grandchildren. Grandparents will love the touchscreen feature, which makes it easier to accomplish tasks such as deleting a picture.

If, like me, you grew up with SLRs (single-lens reflex cameras) but like the ease of digitals, you can have the best of both worlds with a DSLR. This one has Nikon quality at a reasonable price. Image quality is the most important reason for moving to a DSLR, and the Nikon 3100 won't disappoint. There are six automatic exposure settings, as well as that ability to shoot manually when you want to go old-school. It also has HD video capabilities, limited to about 10 minutes, like almost all DSLRs. It's altogether a satisfactory camera for taking great pictures of those grandchildren.

One of the latest acronyms in the camera world is DIL. A DIL (for Digital Interchangeable Lens) is basically a DSLR that's been put on a diet. A classic SLR or DSLR uses a mirror to project the image, and that mirror has to flip out of the way for a picture to be snapped. That arrangement requires a large-bodied camera. DILs sight through the lens like an SLR, but have replaced the mirror arrangement with an electronic viewfinder, making a thinner, lighter body possible. Olympus has been in the forefront of developing DILs, and users have found the Pen Lite or E-PL3 a reasonably priced, high-performing option.

The Sony Bloggie Touch is turning the pocket camcorder market on its ear--literally. The Bloggie Touch is designed to be held horizontally, which means that you get to use both hands--great if your grip is sometimes a bit shaky. The horizontal design means that you also get the benefit of a larger view screen, one that stretches the width of the camera, a full three inches. Both of those features are great for grandparents. The screen is a touch screen that allows you to perform some tasks in-camera. Video quality is excellent for a pocket camera, and this one also takes stills. One more thing: The grandkids will think this camera is really cool.

If you want more quality and a functional zoom lens, you'll want to move from a pocket camcorder to one with full features. The Canon Vixia R20 has 8GB of internal memory plus slots for two SD cards, and it will automatically switch to the next device when one is filled up. This Canon model combines a small, lightweight body with large controls, although its touch screen can be a little hard to navigate. Video quality is great, and the camera can be connected to an HDTV with a single cable, or transferred to a computer via cable or card slot.

Some people love digital frames, and some hate them. If you're in the first group, Kodak has a product for you. The Pulse can be loaded with photos via memory card or by a wi-fi connection. If a frame is connected to a wi-fi network, it can even be managed by remote access. That makes it an excellent choice for long-distance grandparents, because the parents can load it with new photos without having to physically put their hands on the frame. The 7-inch screen that displays photos is also a touch screen for navigating the frame's features, and the handsome black and silver frame shouldn't offend anyone's aesthetic sensibilities.

If you're a long-distance grandparent, this is one photo product you don't want to be without. Why be satisfied with a cheap web cam? This one by Logitech features Carl Zeiss optics for sharper images. The motorized tracking and auto focus mean that you can concentrate on your conversation, not on staying on camera. Buy one for your kids, and your grandchildren can show you their dance moves, and you won't miss a thing.

If, like most grandparents, you have a box of photos and slides that you'd like converted to digital format, you may have been put off by the high prices charged by professional services. Now you can do it in your own home. This dandy little scanner hooks to your computer via a USB port and scans slides and negatives directly to your computer. It comes with software for manipulating the resulting image, or you can use your regular photo program. After you have your photos digitized, you can use them to create a unique family record.