Camera for a child

[mrtoad]

Not sure if this is an ok place to post this or not.

For the past 2 years I toyed with getting my daughter a digital camera and she is going to be 6 this Fall and want to get her one for her birthday so she can bring it to WDW in January. I want to buy new not used and I want something that takes decent photos, is durable and cheap (under $150.00) but not junk. I want it to be something she can use for a few years. Almost everything I have purchased has been Canon but am open to change.

Looking for some suggestions.

Thanks.

 

[mousebymarriage]

O.K. here's the problem! Most 6 year olds are not that careful with their stuff, it's just an age thing and not intentional. If she drops the camera and believe me she will, you will probably not be a happy camper and she will feel horrible because you will have told her a million times to PLEASE be careful with the camera because it is expensive. Do you really want to worry the entire trip about the camera getting dropped, lost, or wet? She is only 6 and digital cameras are not very durable. I just got a catalog called Lily's Kids and it has a great camera for little kids(page 65), it takes reg. 35mm film, it's durable and it comes in a case you can personalize(for free), the camera and case are just $19.98. There is also a digital camera with software (page63) the child can send photo's via e-mail, they can edit the photo's and even create photo jigsaw puzzles and slide shows. The digital camera is only $34.98. The website is wwww.lilyskids.com or call 1-800-545-5426.
The issue was for Halloween costumes but, these 2 things were toward the back of the catalog. I hope this helps!:animwink:

 

[mrtoad]

Thanks but I really want to get her a digital. We have done the disposibles, we have even gotten her a cheap 35MM but after a handful of uses you can get up to the $100 range and you could have just gotten the digital. She has used mine on many occassions and even though as you said I am afraid she will drop it each time, so far so good.

 

[maelstrom]

I'm a fan of Canon as well, but I think their elph line may be a bit too delicate for a six year old. Look into one of those bulky Kodak ones. My aunt has one and it's definately idiot-proof, so I'd imagine it's also six year old proof. Nikon also makes some chunky ones. I think you should definately go with chunky. I haven't had horrible luck with Nikon and my aunt loves her Kodak.

 

[wannab@dis]

http://www.instructables.com/id/EUPGSH34KFEQC10Q7O/?ALLSTEPS
Found this site a few minutes ago... seems like a decent idea. Would take some of the concern away from buying a "decent" digital camera. You may have to look for a decent case based on the size of camera.

My suggestion on the camera would be the old standby... Canon Powershot series... maybe the A510? It's a good camera, but a little slow between flash shots since it only has 2 batteries. Otherwise, a really good camera with nice features. The size is about right for small hands. (friends and family have used this one or similar models.)

 

[mrtoad]

Thanks all. That case might be the trick or another waterproof case. I had an SD20 which I carried around WDW last year in a waterproof case. It was great for protection on wet rides but had not really thought about it for shock purposes.

I have the A620 which my daughter had handled which is larger that the A510 but close in terms of shape and she did well with it. She actually does something that many people in the now digital camera age do not do. She uses the optical viewfinder so she gets pretty good shots as you are more steady that way.

Thanks for the recommendations, I will start some pricing.

Mike

 

[Hakunamatata]

Good luck.

I personally would not buy any type of equipment for my child. The chance of it getting damaged or lost is too great.

 

[GenerationX]

One more suggestion, even though you said you don't want to go used. When we decided to get my middle son a camera, we got a new digital camera for us and give him our old one. The advantages are that the kid is already familiar with the camera, you have all of the accessories and drivers you need, and you don't worry as much about the kid destroying it.

 

[mrtoad]

Good luck.

I personally would not buy any type of equipment for my child. The chance of it getting damaged or lost is too great.

I am not worried about the lost part as she will only be using it with me. I will keep it in my bag. Broken, there is a chance there but I am going to risk it.

 

[mrtoad]

One more suggestion, even though you said you don't want to go used. When we decided to get my middle son a camera, we got a new digital camera for us and give him our old one. The advantages are that the kid is already familiar with the camera, you have all of the accessories and drivers you need, and you don't worry as much about the kid destroying it.

This thought is one that has crossed my mind but I need to figure if the one I would want would be within range for me this year. We have created quite a river with the cashflow this year. We are in the middle of installing new windows right now and then siding in the Fall. We are doing the work ourselves which is saving tons of money but still we are spending tons of money. I have had my eye on a few cameras that I like that if I can swing it, I would most likely give her my A620 as the cost I would get if I sold it would be too little to warrant selling it.

I will keep that option open. Thanks.

 

[wannab@dis]

Yeah, kids have a whole new perspective when it comes to taking pictures. I've seen some great pictures from toddlers... usually using a disposable, but if supervised, the digital makes better sense financially. (until they break it of course)

I'm surprised Disney has not released a simple 1 or 2 MP camera with a very rugged build. Should be able to price it low enough to make people want to buy it.

 

[mrtoad]

Yeah, kids have a whole new perspective when it comes to taking pictures. I've seen some great pictures from toddlers... usually using a disposable, but if supervised, the digital makes better sense financially. (until they break it of course)

I'm surprised Disney has not released a simple 1 or 2 MP camera with a very rugged build. Should be able to price it low enough to make people want to buy it.

It is true, kids do have a whole new perpective in regards to photos and take photos of things you might never think of, which can be good in some cases and sometimes not so good. Last year we gave our daughter a cheapy 35 mm to use on the trip and we saw her taking a shot and we did not know what she was taking it of so we asked. The answer she gave was, "That man". Just some random guy. She also took a picture of her knee on purpose. :lol:

These are other good reasons for a digital vs. film as with film you might get a ton of shots not worth printing but not know it until you print them. But among the ones not worth printing, you get some extremely nice ones so with digital you could pick and choose.

I agree as well on the Disney should make a kids digital, they make kids DVD players, CD players, TVs and computers, why not cameras?

 

[wannab@dis]

The other thing that I love about kids' pictures are the exageration of size. They are already small and most seem to squat to take a picture so they always have a great view of things in a "bigger than life" perspective.

You should post some of the pictures your daughter took. :wave:

 

[mrtoad]

The other thing that I love about kids' pictures are the exageration of size. They are already small and most seem to squat to take a picture so they always have a great view of things in a "bigger than life" perspective.

You should post some of the pictures your daughter took. :wave:

I will post some tonight, I need to find them on my PC and resize. They will be local shots with my camera because sadly her film shots from Disney are still sitting undeveloped on my wifes desk, another reason for digitial....

 

[DisneyBride94]

FOr a six year old I'd really advise buying something gently used... because, as the mom of a six year old myself, she will drop it... or loose it...

I worked at Polaroid for years...and gave my son an old Polaroid digital camera I had.... he enjoys taking pictures with it... and I must say, I enjoy seeing the pictures that depict the world from his vantage point. But he has dropped it... and I've found it sitting around in places in the house where it has obviously NOT been cared for... Somehow, it still works... lol.

I'm sure that you could find something second hand that you would not cause you too much stress if it were broken and had to be replaced at some point down the road...

Wish I could give you some opinions on certain models... but I bet you could find something nice in your price range...

 

[Yellow Shoes]

It sounds like you are an experienced photographer, and it think it's great that you are passing on that love and knowledge to your daughter.

Whatever you decide to get, I would suggest that you get a neck strap. When my kids use my camera, I insist that the strap goes around their neck before they do anything else. That way, if it slips out of her hands, it won't fall far, and won't hit anything hard.

Also, as long as her head stays attached to her body, the camera won't get laid down and forgotten.

 

[mrtoad]

Well, I am more like an experienced amateur photographer. I don’t like to shoot auto mode at all, hate it. I shoot in aperture priority mode usually as I am not good with shutter speeds. I really need to learn to do that.

I totally agree on the neck strap for her. I don't like to use one as I have big belly and when I walk I find the camera bounces too much.

I have a neoprene wrist strap that is adjustible that you tighten to your wrist so you can't drop the camera that I make her use usually but the neck strap would be way better for her.

It sounds like you are an experienced photographer, and it think it's great that you are passing on that love and knowledge to your daughter.

Whatever you decide to get, I would suggest that you get a neck strap. When my kids use my camera, I insist that the strap goes around their neck before they do anything else. That way, if it slips out of her hands, it won't fall far, and won't hit anything hard.

Also, as long as her head stays attached to her body, the camera won't get laid down and forgotten.

 

[mrtoad]

Here are some of her shots:

She knows I like to take macro shots so she has tried that here doing fairly well except for the shadow on the side:

More of the same flowers: You can see that here she is standing on the ground and just about looking up at the flowers:

This was of her valentines she taped to her door after Valentine's day this year. R2D2 was her favorite one so that was her focus:

Lastly a macro she took that I think is quite impressive as it was taken with no flash quite close and is sharp. She held still nicely.

She even tells me what she wants me to take pics of quite a bit. Usually her dolls, or toys but in this case she had me go in by a ton of bees to to take these next two shots. She stayed fairly close as well so she was not only throwing me into the danger. :lol:

They were both taken in my sister's garden on Great Diamond Island off the coast of Portland, Maine last week. The garden was full of butterflies and bees.

Last shot is of her with her cheapy 35mm last August (4 1/2 at the time) winding the film after a shot in the MK.

 

[jeffb]

Great shots!!!! She is ready for the weekly photo contest!

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Here are three I got from a quick link to BestBuy.

For ease of use, I have been pleased with Kodak products. Their docking station and software are very user friendly. There are also packages available where the docking station is also a photo printer.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=category&cmp=&id=pcmcat66000050013