Camera for a child

[MouseMadness]

We got all our kids digital cameras as early birthday/ Christmas presents for this last trip we took, and they all did fine (ages 11, 8 and 7) But the cameras we found were all around $200, but they are really nice cameras, for a first camera. But I was forever hovering over them :lol:

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Use of wrist straps or possibly neck straps helps a lot in control and not leaving it somewhere (For adults too!)

MouseMadness: But I was forever hovering over them

You hover?

 

[wannab@dis]

Here are some of her shots:

Looks like she has some natural talent. Thanks for sharing. :wave:

 

[mousebymarriage]

Wow! I think your 6 year old takes better pictures than I do and I'm 35!

 

[mrtoad]

Thanks all. She is very creative as well. She would rather draw then color in a coloring book. She like to make things as well. As long as she is happy in life, I am happy in life.

 

[hoppypooh]

Mr. Toad I just bought my first digital camera yesterday - a Nikon Coolpix L3. I am no expert, but I am really impressed with the quality of the test shots so far - sharp and vivid. I have very small hands and the controls are easy to manage and the camera itself is pocket sized. The screen is about 2 inches. There is also a one page display menu of 15 different "scenes" so it is easy to pick your settings i.e. museum, fireworks, sunset, parade, beach etc. These are all depicted by picture icons which would be easy for a child to understand. I've seen advertised prices to be well under $200.

I am all for getting your daughter a digital camera. She has proven herself responsible with other cameras and her photos are just gorgeous. Talent in children should be encouraged. Perhaps you could set some firm ground rules i.e. camera must always be in the case when not in use or no food/drinks around the camera etc. and if the rules are disobeyed - no more camera for awhile.

Good luck and I can't wait to see what she shoots next!

 

[KeithVH]

I would suggest a Canon A410. Our middle daughter has one and just loves it - gave up her huge 35 filmm SLR for it in a heartbeat. They can be had for about $100 dollars new and have just enough control for her to be creative w/o worrying about settings and everything. For something fancier, the A610. The flip screen and extra control MIGHT be nice but not really needed for her.

I would disagree about worrying about a 6 year old not treating it properly. Not all kids are the same. Just make sure the wrist strap is on her wrist and let her go. Unless she plans on a ninja attack on a Power Ranger, I don't think it'll be a problem.

 

[wannab@dis]

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?

Interesting timing...

http://gearlog.com/blogs/gearlog/archive/2006/08/16/18619.aspx

 

[mrtoad]

Mr. Toad I just bought my first digital camera yesterday - a Nikon Coolpix L3. I am no expert, but I am really impressed with the quality of the test shots so far - sharp and vivid. I have very small hands and the controls are easy to manage and the camera itself is pocket sized. The screen is about 2 inches. There is also a one page display menu of 15 different "scenes" so it is easy to pick your settings i.e. museum, fireworks, sunset, parade, beach etc. These are all depicted by picture icons which would be easy for a child to understand. I've seen advertised prices to be well under $200.

I am all for getting your daughter a digital camera. She has proven herself responsible with other cameras and her photos are just gorgeous. Talent in children should be encouraged. Perhaps you could set some firm ground rules i.e. camera must always be in the case when not in use or no food/drinks around the camera etc. and if the rules are disobeyed - no more camera for awhile.

Good luck and I can't wait to see what she shoots next!

Thanks, I will look at that one as well.

I would suggest a Canon A410. Our middle daughter has one and just loves it - gave up her huge 35 filmm SLR for it in a heartbeat. They can be had for about $100 dollars new and have just enough control for her to be creative w/o worrying about settings and everything. For something fancier, the A610. The flip screen and extra control MIGHT be nice but not really needed for her.

I would disagree about worrying about a 6 year old not treating it properly. Not all kids are the same. Just make sure the wrist strap is on her wrist and let her go. Unless she plans on a ninja attack on a Power Ranger, I don't think it'll be a problem.

Thanks. My niece has that one and is happy with it. There is a newer version out to replace it and I was thinking of looking at it.

Interesting timing...

http://gearlog.com/blogs/gearlog/archive/2006/08/16/18619.aspx

Good timing indeed. When it comes out I will look at the 3 mp one and decide. If the the shots are quality enough and the build is right I might go for it. If build is great but not so hot shots, I would most likely avoid it. I will let you know what I do.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Disney camera is cute, but it's only 3MP. If you're going to go ahead with a digital, I would think you would want to give your daughter some reasonable creativity/flexability.

Kodak C340 is 5MP for about $130
Nikon Coolpix 5.1 for about $180
Canon A530 5MP and 4x optical zoom $200
Olympus Stylus 6MP for $200

Other than the Canon all have 3x optical zoom

 

[mrtoad]

Disney camera is cute, but it's only 3MP. If you're going to go ahead with a digital, I would think you would want to give your daughter some reasonable creativity/flexability.

Kodak C340 is 5MP for about $130
Nikon Coolpix 5.1 for about $180
Canon A530 5MP and 4x optical zoom $200
Olympus Stylus 6MP for $200

Other than the Canon all have 3x optical zoom

I would prefer to go to at least 4 but if the build and price is right I might do it. I really would like to stay below $150, hopefully use either CF or SD cards as I have them already and would like it to be built well. My only concern with the Kodak is how light it is. Some of the Kodak models seem very fragile to me. If the Disney one is built well but is not a great picture taker, I won't get it. I toying with something in the A5xx models from Canon as suggested be Wannab@dis and also waiting to see what Canon or others put out next. If something is announced this month (which is the rumor) on new models, there is a chance to get something that will be dicontinued at a good price.

It would be best if it were regular looking camera vs. the Disney one for one other reason. I don't want her to get the idea the camera is a toy and the Disney one might do that. Again though if it is built tough I will consider it. We will see.

 

[mrtoad]

One other thing to mention, is the A5xx models do have manual control. Not that she will need it yet, but it would be nice for her to have that going forward going under the assumtion she does not break it (which I am going with).

 

[wannab@dis]

That's a very good consideration for the not getting the "Disney" model. Even though she may use "auto" for a while, if she can keep the camera for a few years, she can start learning the manual modes as she starts understand the techniques of photography. Kids learn quickly when given the opportunity.

I'm a huge fan of the Canon digital cameras. Each brand seem to have their strong points, but overall, I've never been disappointed with the Canon cameras. I know there are several sites online that sell the discontinued models at very good prices. I bought a G2 from Abes Of Maine after it was discontinued for a very good price. I've not looked lately to see if they are still selling the old models, but that seems to be a good avenue to explore.

If you do end up getting the "Disney" model, let us know how it works.

 

[mrtoad]

Thanks. I will check out Abes. I have mostly been a Canon person. My first digital was a Kodak my parents bought me when my daughter was born. Since then I have been through a ton of cameras. I kind of can't help myself and buy and resell all the time. All since the first except for one (Sony) have been Canon and have been really happy with them.

That's a very good consideration for the not getting the "Disney" model. Even though she may use "auto" for a while, if she can keep the camera for a few years, she can start learning the manual modes as she starts understand the techniques of photography. Kids learn quickly when given the opportunity.

I'm a huge fan of the Canon digital cameras. Each brand seem to have their strong points, but overall, I've never been disappointed with the Canon cameras. I know there are several sites online that sell the discontinued models at very good prices. I bought a G2 from Abes Of Maine after it was discontinued for a very good price. I've not looked lately to see if they are still selling the old models, but that seems to be a good avenue to explore.

If you do end up getting the "Disney" model, let us know how it works.

 

[cmatt]

I would consider perhaps an unknown brand - as long as you can play around in store any brand could potentially be considered. The only thing that makes a BAD piece of kit is the firmware and the response time for the menu systems. Also the realiabilty of it not whiping your photos! Obviously you dont want anything complex....

 

[SewIn2Disney]

I'm going to throw my 2 cents in here. I would recommend the Nikon Coolpix line. I only use Nikon, and my family only uses Nikon now, and I've recommended them to all of my friends. We have 6 Coolpix's and one Nikon SLR in my house currently, and never had a problem. My first camera, the Coolpix 2100, was dropped off of a table twice (the cat seems to think it's a soccer ball), taken to the beach, gotten wet in the snow, thrown in my purse, etc, and still works fine. It's easy to use, and they now come with the built in "help" feature, that is basically the manual built directly into the camera. Some of the new coolpix's have the "manual" option as well. They all take two double A's, and most if not all take the SD cards. Plus, you have the Nikkor lens, which they are famous for, that takes amazingly crisp pictures. And, you said your daughter loves macro settings, and the Nikons have some of the best capabilites as far as macro goes, that I've ever seen.

(And no, I'm not a representative for Nikon, I just love them so much!)

 

[mrtoad]

Thanks, I will look into them. Getting close to her birthday and getting some pushback from my wife right now on getting her one due to cost right now. If not I am really pushing for Xmas as I want her to have it in January when we go to WDW.

Thanks,
Mike

I'm going to throw my 2 cents in here. I would recommend the Nikon Coolpix line. I only use Nikon, and my family only uses Nikon now, and I've recommended them to all of my friends. We have 6 Coolpix's and one Nikon SLR in my house currently, and never had a problem. My first camera, the Coolpix 2100, was dropped off of a table twice (the cat seems to think it's a soccer ball), taken to the beach, gotten wet in the snow, thrown in my purse, etc, and still works fine. It's easy to use, and they now come with the built in "help" feature, that is basically the manual built directly into the camera. Some of the new coolpix's have the "manual" option as well. They all take two double A's, and most if not all take the SD cards. Plus, you have the Nikkor lens, which they are famous for, that takes amazingly crisp pictures. And, you said your daughter loves macro settings, and the Nikons have some of the best capabilites as far as macro goes, that I've ever seen.

(And no, I'm not a representative for Nikon, I just love them so much!)

 

[mrtoad]

Well, I finally purchased the camera for my daughter. Rather than give a s birthday gift last month we got it to give for Christmas. We got her the Canon A530 and it was quite reasonable. It was $135 shipped. I have spare rechargable AA batteries and will give her one of my SD cards so the cost was just the $135. My mother is going to get her a bag for it.

Then yesterday I had my company holiday party and they do a thing where they buy a bunch of gifts and you can steal from others when you number comes up. I lucked out and went last and there was a Fuji A500 that was one of the cameras so I snagged it and thought I would return the one I bought and give her that one but after checking it out it was quite cheap feeling and don't think it would last. The admin for our team said she got it at Best Buy and is going to give me the receipt to exchange so either way I have about $120 to spend now for Xmas gifts so happy all around.

I will let you know what she thinks when she opens it.

 

[SewIn2Disney]

Sounds awesome! I'm sure she'll be great with it! You'll have to sign her up for the photo contests now.

 

[lilclerk]

I lucked out and went last and there was a Fuji A500 that was one of the cameras so I snagged it and thought I would return the one I bought and give her that one but after checking it out it was quite cheap feeling and don't think it would last.

I got that camera free with my printer. It does not take wonderful pictures, but it does the job.
I adore my li'l Olympus though. I gave the Fuji to my 4-year-old nephew He takes some great pictures of the dogs with it =)