With a name like Coolpix you know you’re not getting a standard brick-shaped black camera. If you are hip, happening, trendy and fashionable–in all aspects of your life—-as many teens are, then the following digital cameras might just make the cut.
Personally, since becoming a mom I’m more about function than fashion, but with these cameras you aren’t sacrificing too much of the former for the latter. Take a look:
NIKON COOLPIX S7c
It’s almost too pretty to use. Well, not quite, but the Coolpix S7c is one of the most fashionable cameras on the market. It’s slender and curvy and so incredibly stylish that there isn’t even a lens sticking out the front end. Rather, as with many subcompact cameras, the optics are tucked inside the body of the device and pictures are taken via a small round window that opens when you turn on the camera.
The S7c’s minimalist front pales in comparison to its back. It’s hard not to admire the camera’s 3-inch LCD screen. Think about it; that’s almost as big as the once standard 3×5 prints we used to get at the drugstore. If you have a hard time seeing without your glasses or contacts (like me) then this is the perfect camera for you. The S7c is also equipped with a Wi-Fi transmitter. Which means you can email your pictures straight from the camera.
If you are camera shopping for your favorite teen this is certainly an option you should consider snapping up. Not only is it as trendy as they come, but with 7.1 megapixels, 3x zoom and a price of about $325, it’s functional to boot.
OLMPUS STYLUS 790 SW
Remember when blue was the new black? With this new Olympus Stylus 790 SW, green, orange, and red are the new black, and the color scheme of traditional cameras no longer applies.
I’ve never considered matching the color of my camera to my favorite shirt, or nail polish for that matter, but the designers at Olympus have thought of it all. The camera comes in a rainbow of colors (or, if you really, really don’t want to stand out, they still offer black and silver models) and is marketed as “fun and functional.”
The Olympus Stylus 790 SW is a pocket-sized camera designed for users who need a device that can take a bit of a beating. Olympus bills the 790 SW as “shockproof,” as it contains cushioned circuitry inside so it will survive bumps and drops. The company also says the camera is “winterized” (down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit) in case you want to take it skiing, and waterproof (down to 10 feet) if you want to take it snorkeling.
The camera’s standout features include face-recognition software, so that it picks out faces in the frame and focuses on them. And in low light it automatically cranks up its ISO (light sensitivity) so you are less likely to walk away with a blurred shot. It also features 7.1 megapixels, a 2.5-inch screen, and a 3x optical zoom lens.
The downsides include: very few manual settings and there’s no optical viewfinder. But for a retail price of between $250 and $300 it’s not a bad camera for the clumsy teens in your life who enjoy taking action shots outdoors.
Related Articles:
More Ultra-compact Digital Camera Options
The World’s Slimmest Digital Camera
Digital Photography 101: Choosing The Perfect Ultra Compact Camera
Digital Photography 101: Picking The Perfect Camera
Digital Photography 101: Getting To Know Your Camera