Recommendations for a starter camera for a teenager (Page 4): For a teenager to use a camera, it needs to be small and easy to carry. I bought a used Sony RX100VII and when I want to...

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

mikenolan wrote:

Our 16 year old granddaughter has requested some kind of digital camera for Christmas, she wants one that is lightweight but still has ISO/aperture/shutter speed controls. It should accept filters but does not necessarily need to support interchangeable lenses, but a step up from iPhone or point-and-shoot cameras. (I think lightweight is a key consideration.)

One that she suggested is the NEZINI 4K digital camera, not a brand I am familiar with.

Any suggestions?

For a teenager to use a camera, it needs to be small and easy to carry. I bought a used Sony RX100VII and when I want to go somewhere without lugging along a bigger camera, I pick this camera. It can fit in my pocket. I do have the adapter needed to use filters. The early models, I & II, provided a 28-100mm equivalent range at f1.8-4.9. Recent models III & IV provided 24-100mm at f2.8-4.5. The model V was 24-70mm at f1.8-2.8. And models VI & VII are 24-200mm at f2.8-4.5. All models can still be found.

The take superb photos and can be carried inconspicuously. They wouldn't embarrass a teenager.

https://photographylife.com/sony-rx100-series-comparison

btbg

mikenolan wrote:

Our 16 year old granddaughter has requested some kind of digital camera for Christmas, she wants one that is lightweight but still has ISO/aperture/shutter speed controls. It should accept filters but does not necessarily need to support interchangeable lenses, but a step up from iPhone or point-and-shoot cameras. (I think lightweight is a key consideration.)

One that she suggested is the NEZINI 4K digital camera, not a brand I am familiar with.

Any suggestions?

Unless you are going to spend a lot of money you are going to have trouble finding a camera better than the iphone is. A number of professional photographers are now shooting with it.

It has iso and aperature controls and can shoot panaramas jand held. On addition you can purchase apps for things such as hand held long exposures.

It also effectively has more than one lens and is loght weight. Unless you buy a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses it os unlikely that you can beat her iphone.

srt101fan

gvarner wrote:

Is she computer literate? Most teens are but some aren’t. Snapping a photo is just the first step in creativity. I view the digital camera as a computer accessory if it’s going to be used to its fullest capability.

That's too narrow a view of the hobby of photography, especially when talking to someone just starting out.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

srt101fan wrote:

That's too narrow a view of the hobby of photography, especially when talking to someone just starting out.

OK, leave out digital post processing, how far will your creativity take you?

srt101fan

gvarner wrote:

OK, leave out digital post processing, how far will your creativity take you?

There was photographic creativity long before digital....

rcarol

mikenolan wrote:

Our 16 year old granddaughter has requested some kind of digital camera for Christmas, she wants one that is lightweight but still has ISO/aperture/shutter speed controls. It should accept filters but does not necessarily need to support interchangeable lenses, but a step up from iPhone or point-and-shoot cameras. (I think lightweight is a key consideration.)

One that she suggested is the NEZINI 4K digital camera, not a brand I am familiar with.

Any suggestions?

Take a look at the Panasonic Lumix ZS100. I have one and it performs admirably.

PhotoPhred Loc: Cheyney, Pa

A few years ago, I gave my Nikon D3100 to a friend's teenager. I added an 18x140 lens. It takes good pictures, it has a handy "guide mode" in the menu that is helpful for a beginner. I have printed photos up to 13x19 inch with this camera. I read an article a few years ago where the author felt that the D3100 was a good intro to DSLR photography.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

mikenolan wrote:

She's 900 miles away, so a sitdown isn't likely un... (show quote)

Look at the format of the camera. Your DSLR isn't going to cut it. I'm not suggesting throwing away $120, but that's a rather cheap outlay over nearly any other digital camera option, as well as simply 'answering the mail' to the specifically requested model (gift).

The Nikon z** models are similar (like Zfc), but a lot, lot more expensive. So are Canon Powershots or Sony Cybershots. I'd go with the requested item and see if photography grows and a better model in the future is the right time to discuss better cameras -- and more expensive.

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

mikenolan wrote:

Our 16 year old granddaughter has requested some kind of digital camera for Christmas, she wants one that is lightweight but still has ISO/aperture/shutter speed controls. It should accept filters but does not necessarily need to support interchangeable lenses, but a step up from iPhone or point-and-shoot cameras. (I think lightweight is a key consideration.)

One that she suggested is the NEZINI 4K digital camera, not a brand I am familiar with.

Any suggestions?

I have recommended to young people wanting to start in photography to first use their smartphone. This allows them to focus on light and composition. Since they already have a cellphone camera, there is no additional expense to starting.

Once they better understand lighting and composition, the I recommend a small low-cost ILC camera with an APS-C sensor. There are a number of them, but they need to have all the controls of a larger prosumer cameras and be of the big 4 so there is a better selection of additional lens, if there's enough motivation to continue with photography.

My favorite is the Sony A6000 with the 16-50 (24-70 35mm eq) pancake lens. It's very $ cheap, but built like a tank. It's extremely lightweight, I use it as my hiking camera where weight is a huge consideration. It has all the controls of a more expensive mirrorless and there are a huge number of available lens at all price points.

Just my thoughts
Mike

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Let me first wish you good luck in your quest. At first my thoughts were to stay as far away from the Nezini as possible. Having said that, maybe you should buy her what she asked for with the assurance that you stand ready to buy her a camera that will serve her better if and when the Nezini doesn't work out. Other than a few point and shoot cameras, I have shot exclusively Nikon for many years except when I was tempted by a Sony A6000 kit at a $500 price point with two zoom lenses. The Sony has not supplanted the Nikons, but I love it. It's small, easy to use, and delivers great shots. I wish you luck.

mikenolan Loc: Lincoln Nebraska

Several Lumix models are already on my suggestion list. She and our older son will be here for two weeks around Christmas, I've suggested she could play with my T6i and an older Nikon Coolpix point-and-shoot (which I still use at times because it fits in a pocket and takes good pictures.)

I suspect she's not used all the capabilities of her iPhone yet, either. (And neither have I, I'm sure.) Aside from depth-of-field control, I find my iPhone takes decent enough pictures most of the time. My son pointed out that the best camera is the one you have in your hand right now.

A visit to the local camera store is also on the suggestion list.

Don't know the budget, probably well under $500 though. (Her first flute was an inexpensive one, now she's got a high quality one because the private flute teacher she's been studying with thought she was ready for it.)

I suspect size/weight is going to be a major consideration, which is why Lumix is on the list. She's likely to want something that will fit in a handbag or backpack (and needs to be durable enough to survive there.)

BebuLamar

mikenolan wrote:

Several Lumix models are already on my suggestion ... (show quote)

I think the T6i would work fine. You can buy her the T6i which isn't too expensive on the used market.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

srt101fan wrote:

There was photographic creativity long before digital....

Yes there was and it involved manipulating the negative to get the whole story that the photographer was trying to tell.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

BebuLamar wrote:

I think the T6i would work fine. You can buy her the T6i which isn't too expensive on the used market.

If the desire is the format and style of the NEZINI, no DSLRasaur will ever fit the bill ...

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

If you decide on an Olympus Pen camera, like an EP-7 or 10, she will have a small and light camera, very capable that for the future will accept interchangeable lenses.
They are small and easy to use. My most important recommendation is that she learn basic photography.