hummer Loc: Denver, Colorado

I have had cameras lenses tripods film etc around the house all her Mothers and her life. So now my 12 year old grand daughter wants a camera. I don't feel she is ready for an expensive camera, but one she can use to learn shutter aperature and iso relationship. I need your input and suggestion on camera or camera's I can get for her. Is it possible for $100 or less?
Thanks so much. This will be exciting.
Lee

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I have 14 and 16 year old granddaughters. We started on learning photography and videography 5 or 6 years ago. I learned that what they wanted to learn was not what I thought they should learn. It is a smartphone world and they produce wonderful images. I'm not sure they know what ISO is yet! They sure know what composition is!

Good luck!

jim quist Loc: Missouri

My 16 year old daughter wanted to get into photography and to use my cameras. So I gave her a Canon 1d Mk3 with a 50mm lens. But what she uses is her cell phone.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

What make of camera do you have? Is it a DSLR? Reason for questions; if the answer is, say, Canon DSLR'S, my suggestion would be to get a good used EOS 40D. It's kind of old but Canon made a whole lot of them and it's a great camera to learn digital photography with. If she's truly interested in learning digital photography with a real camera, maybe even a 50 or 60D. More expensive but better cameras and they are also good for video. If it turns out she's not interested in learning how to use a real camera, you can either keep it or sell it. Reason for same make as yours, lenses...

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I don't know if it can be done for $100.00 or less, but a Nikon D90 is a good camera to learn on. You should be able to find one at a very reasonable price on eBay or Amazon, with a lens. it's a full function camera that she can learn and grow with. Nothing against Canon cameras (I have one, a G16) but I'm only familiar with Nikon DSLR's.

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Coincidentally, Lee, I am buying MY 12 year old granddaughter a Fuji film SX1000 digital camera today for $25. I don't know if it has an ISO setting, but for the price of this used camera, she can have fun and I don't have to worry about it breaking or her losing interest.

Jcmarino

Why not teach her with what you already have? Having one of my grandfather's cameras today would make my heart melt. A camera for less than 100.00 may stifle her rather than wet her palette. Or save up to buy her the Sony a6000 which is under $500.00 if she is serious about photography.

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

My granddaughter is allowed to use my camera when we are together, mostly @ sporting events. However, I know that she would like to shoot more often. I am not about to let her use my equipment without my being with her, and rightfully so. Oh, she especially likes to fire off shots in continuous mode. A 12 year old doesn't have the eye yet (IMHO} to take carefully thought out photos.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

First, ask her how involved she wants to get with changing settings. Shooting anything in Auto can produce excellent results, provided the shooter knows what she's doing. A good subject and composition are essential to a good photo. I would suggest she use any camera to find and shoot good subjects with good composition.

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

I understand your heartfelt desire for your granddaughter but you would really be taking an extreme risk to buy a camera for $100 or less that has manual mode as well as shutter and aperture modes so that she can learn how to shoot. The best I can do as for a recommendation is to refer you to Canon's refurbished ones. The reason why is because every camera listed has been thoroughly inspected and repaired by Canon's own technicians AND they come with a full 1-year warranty. The least expensive one right now that has manual, aperture, etc. is the SX530 which she would probably be excited to have because, for one thing, it has a lens range of 24-1200mm for getting EXTREME closeups. It also has 46 different built-in special effect settings which can also help teach her how to think creatively. The camera has a cost of about twice what you want to spend but, again, this is probably your best investment for what you hope she'll learn to do. It also has a look that is similar to a "real" camera and this alone can dazzle her friends and create that extra punch of excitement for her. So, 1-year warranty, extreme closeups, filter effects, a real camera look, and that WOW feel that will be a natural source of amazement from her friends, all for, well, you take a look and decide if she's worth the investment:

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/powershot-sx530-hs-refurbished

By the way, the price for this camera is good through December 3rd according to the fine print at the bottom of the page, so if you're considering it, don't lollygag!

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

As I own both Canon and Nikon DSLR'S, I can honestly and accurately say that it would be easier to learn with a Canon DSLR. I'm not saying they are better cameras, I'm saying they have better ergonomics. I wish my Nikon's were as easy to use as my Canon's; I like my Nikon's.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I was just the opposite. I like Canon's, but I like the Nikon's ergo's better. Just me.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

There are plenty of used D70 and D100 Nikons around for under $100. Some of them will be equipped with a lens for about the same. Many of us on UHH either started with this combo or had the in our progression in life. In fact our kids are shooting our old ones now. Don't worry about them being 6mp. We still have pictures on our walls that were taken with 6mp and 3.2mp.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I understand why one would be reticent to give a 12 year old a full function camera, at any price, let alone give him/her your own gear and let them use it unsupervised. But not all kids that age are irresponsible, and some do, indeed have the eye. That is the case with my grandson. As far back as we can remember, he was always playing with a camera, taking pictures of everything, even if they were shots of the dog's nose or his nose, or something else silly. We all though that was pretty funny, until after awhile (and he started doing this at about age 3) we started noticing that there was something more there, and quite a few of his shots were actually pretty good. For a kid. He'd use his mom's cheapie digital P&S, or her cell phone, but the older he got, the better his pictures got. He's 19, now, in college, and wants to study photography and hopefully make that a career. He has the "eye," and has since he was a little kid.

So as for your 12 year old granddaughter, if photographer is, for her, more than just a passing fancy, and she has demonstrated a knack for it, I don't see why she wouldn't be up for learning on a full function camera. I will say this: Despite my having earlier recommended a used/refurb D90, there's nothing wrong with learning on a decent P&S that has full function controls, or a bridge camera. A camera that allows one to select ISO, or has all the PASM functions, even on a P&S, will allow her to learn how to use these functions, without having to lug around a DSLR and a ton of lenses & gear. I won't take long before you would see how she is taking to photographer and how her skills are developing. Will she have "the eye?" That's hard to say. Some do and some don't. My grandson definitely does, his mom does, and I don't, and I've been into photography since I was 10 years old. Give her a chance, but don't burden her down unnecessarily. You'll know soon enough if jumping up to a bigger camera is justified.

Laura72568 Loc: Anderson TX

I have seen many Canon 30D or 40D bodies on eBay for less that $100 (I saw one as low at $64) Just look for one from a reputable seller who is selling because they "never use it". I just looked out there and saw several. Then there are 50mm 1.8 used lenses for around$50. I wish my Dad had bought me something like this at that age...I would have learned the basics about shooting in Av/Tv/Manual modes instead of automatic. The reason I wouldn't suggest a P&S is because the P&S cameras I have used aren't that easy to change settings in manual. My two cents...Good luck!