Welcome to week 2 of the Holiday Tech Gift Guide. In case you missed last week’s installment, be sure to check out our picks for the Top 3 smartphones headed into the holiday season. We’re one-third of the way through our 6-week long Gift Guide to help shoppers find the perfect gadgets and entertainment gizmos for themselves and their loved ones.
This week’s article focuses on Cameras. Whether you’re only interested in the best, or a photog on a budget, this list should have something for every shopper.
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Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
The PowerShot SX60 HS (not to be confused with the SX600 HS model) is a mid-tier camera that straddles the line between pricey and feature-rich. It boasts a 65x zoom lens, built-in WI-FI, and a dedicated iOS and Android app used to easily transfer images and videos to phones and tablets. It also includes a direct-upload function so pictures can be sent straight to Twitter, Facebook, and even YouTube, making it easy to share family photos and videos with extended families members who couldn’t make it in person. The main drawback is how it compares to other cameras when it comes to indoor and low-light photos; eagle-eyed HD addicts will notice a dip in pixel quality. But it’s hard to beat when it comes to balancing features, price, and that 65x zoom.
PowerShot SX60 HS Specs –
- Weight: 1.4 lbs
- Type: Superzoom
- Megapixels: 16 MP
- Video Resolution: 480, 720, 1080 HD
- ISO: 3200
- Estimated Retail Price: $549.99 (according to the Canon website)
Nikon D750
If you really, really love someone and want to go all-out on a camera purchase, or are looking to treat yourself to a special gift, the Nikon D750 is one of the pricier consumer cameras on the market. Despite being released back in 2014, the D750 is still one of the top cameras when it comes to photo quality and continuous -shooting (or “burst shooting” as it is also known); it holds its own against other high-performance cameras that can cost up to $1,000 more. It also does a great job of shooting video. The primary downside is that it’s a bit slow when switching between features, including when trying to focus during use of the Live View Shooting Mode, which lets you see exactly what the camera lens is seeing via the LCD screen instead of looking through the finder.
Nikon D750 Specs –
- Weight: 1.7 lbs
- Type: D-SLR
- Megapixels: 24 MP
- Video Resolution: 720, 1080 HD
- ISO: 51200
- Estimated Retail Price: $1,899 (according to the Nikon website)
Nikon COOLPIX S33
I know it seems like I’m playing favorites by including two Nikon cameras on this list, but in actuality the COOLPIX S33 serves a distinct purpose that merits inclusion in any gift guide: It’s perfect for kids. Designed to combat the extinction-level event that budget cameras refer to as “the advent of the smartphone,” the COOLPIX edges out by being waterproof up to 32 feet deep, shockproof from drops of up to 5 feet, and even freezeproof to 14° F. It shoots video in HD, includes 3x optical zoom, and includes oversized buttons and easy-to-navigate menus so kids can use it without much difficulty. The budget-friendly price and sturdy design mean that it can travel to holiday dinners without much worry one of the younger family members is going to break it.
Nikon COOLPIX S33 Specs –
- Weight: 0.5 lbs
- Type: Waterproof
- Megapixels: 13 MP
- Video Resolution: 1080 HD
- ISO: Auto, 100-1600
- Estimated Retail Price: Under $150 (according to the Nikon website)
Stay tuned next week for another installment of Best of NJ‘s Holiday Tech Gift Guide!
Hero (Top) Feature Image: © Antonio / Dollar Photo Club