Budding Photographer: My 13 yo granddaughter says she would like to learn photography. Now-a-days kids use their phones to take pictures but I want her to learn about shutter speed...

tita1948 Loc: North Idaho

My 13 yo granddaughter says she would like to learn photography. Now-a-days kids use their phones to take pictures but I want her to learn about shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Any inexpensive ideas?

Thanks for your input.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

If she has an interest beyond just selfies maybe there is hope. Let's say she would like to make a good picture of a landscape or a closeup of a flower. Have her shoot it with her cellphone then shoot it using your camera on a tripod and go home and compare the results and see if it's worth it.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

No disrespect but youtube is a good place to start followed up by a camera. Suggest a bridge camera for her first. Lots of choices for products and budget.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Have her check out https://digital-photography-school.com/.

maggiemae Loc: North Carolina

YouTube has been an amazing source for me. There are a lot of good videos on there. Recently I discovered Andrew Boey. His videos are short but he explains things in such a way that anybody can understand it. His website is beyondphotography.com.my

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

EVERYTHING she needs to learn about shutters, aperature, ISO, lighting, composition, etc is available FREE on-line with articles, illustrations, You-Tubes, etc. She just needs to have the desire to learn and you need to help her in which order to start, which is usually shutter & aperture functions & relationship. Remember she is 13, at 14 she might change her interest to boys. <grin>

If interested in getting her a camera, here is a good used one from respected Adorama for under $100. Still one of my back up cameras on trips when I don't take my prime camera out on the streets after dark. She can start in Auto, graduate to all the Manual settings she wishes. And not out too much if her interest wanes.
https://www.adorama.com/us%20%20%201058450.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk6qn-IaB5gIVxZyzCh2Vjg6FEAQYBCABEgL2bfD_BwE

maggiemae Loc: North Carolina

Stardust wrote:

EVERYTHING she needs to learn about shutters, aper... (show quote)

I had a similar camera to this one before I got my DSLR and it was a great camera.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

JMHO DSLR with interchangeable lenses. New or refurbished body and lenses from a reputable dealer. Lenses should be something you can use if she looses interest. Or just a body and let her use your lenses until she decides if she wants to be photographer or not.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

tita1948 wrote:

My 13 yo granddaughter says she would like to learn photography. Now-a-days kids use their phones to take pictures but I want her to learn about shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Any inexpensive ideas?

Thanks for your input.

She and you can learn all you need to know about shutter speed, aperture, and ISO from the internet, or from her phone, Utube is full of video's that explain all three in great detail.
I would suggest she starts with Utube, before you even look at camera's. I don't know about you but most 13 year old's go hot and cold about a lot of things, sort of goes with the age.
I would strongly suggest, if you buy a camera, there are many kits out there new under $500.00. That way if the 13 year old fuse goes out after a month or so your not out a lot of money.
Here is an example of what you can get for less than $500.00.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1433065-REG/nikon_1588_d3500_dslr_camera_with.html?sts=pi-ps&pim=Y

JDG3

tita1948 wrote:

My 13 yo granddaughter says she would like to learn photography. Now-a-days kids use their phones to take pictures but I want her to learn about shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Any inexpensive ideas?

Thanks for your input.

Not a super experienced or pro photographer but I have used several different lines of cameras and have formed some opinions. I have used Nikons, Sonys and Canons and basically liked them all for one reason or another. They all have their strengths and weakness.

However, I recently purchased a used Canon SL1 (18 mega pixel) to use as a portable carry around camera. It is a delightful camera. Not heavy, not overly feature rich but has everything a starting photographer needs. I use only prime lenses so I purchased a 24 mm f/2.8 lens as a general purpose lens. The whole setup was less than $350.

It is very light but very capable and would be a great fit for smaller hands. Canon probably has the best and largest selection of used, very reasonably priced lens of all the camera manufacturers.

You can find the camera and lens (used) at B&H, Adorama or where I bought mine at KEH. All give great service.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

tita1948 wrote:

My 13 yo granddaughter says she would like to learn photography. Now-a-days kids use their phones to take pictures but I want her to learn about shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Any inexpensive ideas?

Thanks for your input.

But does she want to learn about shutter speed and aperture and ISO? Start her out on composition and work out from there. Explain how those factors would affect the results. Show her the EXIF data from various phone pix to see what the camera was doing. If she shows no interest, stick with composition. Go through the various modes on your own camera and how they affect the end result. There are photo apps that give full manual control over a smartphone's camera. That would be a cheap way to introduce those features.

mffox Loc: Avon, CT

Have you thought about giving her an online or DVD course on photography? National Geography has some great DVS's and Shaw Academy has a wonderful online photography course.
Mark

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

tita1948 wrote:

My 13 yo granddaughter says she would like to learn photography. Now-a-days kids use their phones to take pictures but I want her to learn about shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Any inexpensive ideas?

Thanks for your input.

My 13 year old GD also wanted to learn about photography, but it did not last very long. Bought her a camera, but as soon as she had an iPhone her desire diminished. However, she uses her iPhone frequently and actually has a great eye for composition. She's now almost 20.
Let her use your camera with you as her mentor. If her interest is serious, you'll know pretty soon.
Good luck and enjoy the time with her. Grandkids are gifts from God!!
Mark

n4jee Loc: New Bern, NC

Cheapest solution would be to download a free photo app for her phone. The big disadvantage to most point and shoot cameras (including phone) is they don't have an eye level finder which makes shooting in bright sunlight difficult at times.
A couple years ago I picked up a GE X500 off eBay for $21. It's 16 MP, 35x Zoom and has manual capabilities. It also has a tripod socket. I got this to use as a loaner for kids to learn photography. It's a little large to put in your shirt pocket, but maybe that's a good thing. I'm sure there are other similar cameras out there for a minimal investment.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

When I was about that age Dad gave me one of his old cameras and a meter and explained f-stops to me and setting the shutter speed and selecting the right ISO film. He didn't give me extensive lessons but helped me learn composition by example. With a DSLR have her start out on auto and learn composition and subject selection, then add in the other elements. I have some of my old photos from 60 years ago, and Dad's patient teaching led to some decent compositions.