Help in thoughts on camera for granddaughter (Page 2): I would say that #1 should be a camera for what she wants to do and #2 is comfort/ease of carrying. The most comfortable camera...

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

latebloomer wrote:

I believe that Canon, as Nikon, has a great opportunity to upgrade and/or find refurbished glass along with getting really good glass that can be used even with FF cameras.

That said, I believe that comfort with the camera helps keep the camera with you under more circumstances than an uncomfortable camera. I am thinking that the most important criteria is how comfortable she finds the camera. Should this be the first criteria?

I would say that #1 should be a camera for what she wants to do and #2 is comfort/ease of carrying.
The most comfortable camera in the world will get left to gather dust if it can't do what she wants to do.
On the other hand the best camera in the world for her preferred photography will gather dust if it needs her to hire a football player to carry it.
Talk this over with her, she is the one who will use it. Find out what she wants to do and make a list of requirements and cameras that will meet them. Take her to a camera store to see the choices and feel them. Then pick something and hunt for the best price in refurb, used etc.
For variety of choices in the future Canon and Nikon would be at the top of the list. In your case you are already into Nikon so a good starter level Nikon body makes sense. (One day you will want a 7200 or ?, right? Then the 7100 will need a new home.)

Costco has a special until Aug 1 on the D3300 $650 with two lenses and goodies in a bag.

http://www.costco.com/.product.100161421.html?cm_sp=RichRelevance-_-categorypageHorizontalTop-_-CategoryTopProducts&cm_vc=categorypageHorizontalTop|CategoryTopProducts

It should do a good job of everything except BIF and fast action. But they got those kinds of pics before AF was invented, just takes learning the right techniques. And she can always "borrow" the 7100.

Get someone else to get her a little P&S that she can carry all the time. I have a Panasonic ZS6 that stays in my shirt pocket for "just in case".

BebuLamar

If she did well with the D7100 she probably will do well with the D7200. If you want to give her an OMD then how about an OMD-E-M5 which is now less expensive than the E-M10.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Why don't you just hand her $600 and tell her to do her OWN research. Do you not trust the poor girl. You yourself said she is smart.
I'll bet if she did everything herself, her pride in ownership and self esteem would be off the charts!!!
I'm sure she knows to ask you for advice, that's if she trusts YOU!
I mean, what's too young to start teaching REAL responcibility, not "I don't trust you", responcibility"?!?!
Just my disillusioned two cents! ;-)
SS

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

SharpShooter wrote:

Why don't you just hand her $600 and tell her to do her OWN research. Do you not trust the poor girl. You yourself said she is smart.
I'll bet if she did everything herself, her pride in ownership and self esteem would be off the charts!!!
I'm sure she knows to ask you for advice, that's if she trusts YOU!
I mean, what's too young to start teaching REAL responcibility, not "I don't trust you", responcibility"?!?!
Just my disillusioned two cents! ;-)
SS

As a rule I tend to look at SS's replies with a he's bragging up Canon. This time he makes a lot of sense. Take her to a camera shop if one is near and let her do her own testing. While Grandpa might have Nikon, she might prefer a Sony instead of Nikon or Canon. Above all don't try to push her in any one direction other than to set a budget for her to work with.

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

jethro779 wrote:

As a rule I tend to look at SS's replies with a he's bragging up Canon. This time he makes a lot of sense. Take her to a camera shop if one is near and let her do her own testing. While Grandpa might have Nikon, she might prefer a Sony instead of Nikon or Canon. Above all don't try to push her in any one direction other than to set a budget for her to work with.

You make a good point. I probably will have to have her look at a close replica of what is new. I hope, but do not have confidence, that my local camera store, Wolfe's, has a large selection of refurbished Canon's and Nikon's. I don't know about Sony and Olympus.

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

SharpShooter wrote:

Why don't you just hand her $600 and tell her to do her OWN research. Do you not trust the poor girl. You yourself said she is smart.
I'll bet if she did everything herself, her pride in ownership and self esteem would be off the charts!!!
I'm sure she knows to ask you for advice, that's if she trusts YOU!
I mean, what's too young to start teaching REAL responcibility, not "I don't trust you", responcibility"?!?!
Just my disillusioned two cents! ;-)
SS

I hear you. On the other hand, when I was a high school principal I witnessed what happened when parents gave cash to a child and said spend it how you want. It wasn't pretty. My ex wife did this with my son and he got a hot rod Oldsmobile (better than 400 cu in) before he was 14. Yep, before he was 14 he had a rocket whose greatest value was in robbing a bank. I damn near shit my pants. Thankfully he didn't kill himself or anyone else. He did total the car running into another car. It is a miracle how young people survive. :wink:

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

OK, she likes your Nikon 7200, which happens to be a hign end (meaning very versatile camera. To me that indicates something, although I can't quantify what.

The Nikon D3000 series cameras seem to be very good starting points, the Nikon D5000 series cameras offer some more advanced options, the Nikon D7000 series are even more versitale and advanced and she seems to be comfortable with one of them.

Unfortunately, that leaves out several other cameras, Canon, Sony, Pentax, Olympus, and others, which are also excellent cameras.

If you are committed to Nikon, AND if she might be borrowing some of you lenses or flashes or other accessories, then be a bit more serious about emphasizing Nikon. If that is not the case, she needs to consider options like Canon, Sony, Pentax, Olympus, and others.

If there is a good camera shop nearby, take her there and let her get the feel of different cameras.

I think you have a great opportunity here. I have several grand-daughters (6 if I counted right). I view this as a great learning experience for both Grandpa and Granddaughter as well as a great bonding experience.

The bottom line is: It is not the camera brand that is important, the important thing is the bonding experience between grandpa and grand-daughter. I'll have to add, that your budget is also rather important.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

latebloomer wrote:

I hear you. On the other hand, when I was a high s... (show quote)

Ah, the 455 Rocket, makes me want to listen to Kathy Mattea.

Edit: I did listen to Kathy Mattea and that 455 Rocket is still made to burn.

And as to the high school/junior high school aged when given money to spend and no supervision. My 34 years saw a lot of "fashion disasters" when they were just allowed to dress themselves.

I think she needs some supervision and guidence. If nothing else to make sure someone doesn't sell her the "move these turkeys special of the month".

authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

latebloomer wrote:

I need help with opinions of a camera for my grand... (show quote)

I bought a mint condition Nikon D300 with low milage from my local camera shop for $400. A D300 is an excellent camera, has all the modes, is weather sealed and built like a tank. Also will take virtually any lens you want to attach to it, even old manual lens. I get excellent photos from this D300.

Buildrt Loc: Sarasota Fl

I would get her a refurbished D7100. You already know all the reasons.

Ed

latebloomer wrote:

I need help with opinions of a camera for my grand... (show quote)

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

robertjerl wrote:

Ah, the 455 Rocket, makes me want to listen to Kat... (show quote)

:thumbup: :thumbup: on the rocket! On the supervision as well!

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

My granddaughter has a good eye when it comes to taking a photo, so I gave her my older D80. She can grow with this and if the love of photography continues, she will have the knowledge to select her next camera and continue on.
Any of the older Nikon, Canon, etc. are good starts for a young man or woman to improve their skills. Just a thought!

Shoot Happens

I would normally say let the person try different ones to see what fits best for them but with it being your granddaughter who will work and shoot with you, it might be a good idea to steer her towards Nikon because you have one. That way you could share lenses and other gear, while shooting together, thus giving more opportunity to increase that grandfather/granddaughter bond. What I am saying is, in this case, the relationship opportunity may be more important than the gear. The lower end Nikon dslr's are great cameras and buying a used one as a first camera could work well.
Good luck enriching your bond with her. Many would be envious.

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

So many good suggestions already. I think both Sharpshooter and Larry had good ideas. First, let her make the decision but make it a project between the two of you to make the choice. Maybe the surprise component is a gift card with your promise to pay for the camera.

I know Olympus makes great lenses and if you already have Nikon that has the advantage of her borrowing some lenses for specialty type shooting. But the hot thing for the future is mirrorless - especially for young people. I just drool over that little Sony A6000 and it kind of fits your budget. It is a crop-frame camera that even some pros are using. Plus, it can use all your Canon or Nikon lenses with available adapters.

You are a great Grandpa with a great Granddaughter so I'm sure you will have fun with whichever decision.

latebloomer wrote:

I need help with opinions of a camera for my grand... (show quote)

kiddrich

I suggest the Canon SL1. It is small, light weight and does a nice job. Bought one for the wife last year then they came out with a white version so I got her that one and took her's. We have T2i, T3i and 7D would trade the 2Ti's for the SL1 any day. Don't let her burnout from a heavy camera and too much complication. The wife has over 250 published photos from her camera. It is that good.