Camera for 5 yo grand daughter: At a recent soccer game I let my 5 year old granddaughter, who was actually four at a time, use my SLR. She had a great time and actually took some nice...

MikeFromMT Loc: So Cal & MT

At a recent soccer game I let my 5 year old granddaughter, who was actually four at a time, use my SLR. She had a great time and actually took some nice simple pictures. My son tells me that she would like a camera for her birthday. Does anyone (of course you do) have any suggestions. Dpreview likes the Nikon Coolpix S31 (discontinued) but there is a S32 (sold out most locations). Any help appreciated. My wife wants to get it yesterday. What else is new.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

My daughter started using my EPM2 recently (she's six now). with a fixed prime lens. She loves (as did our nieces) the touch screen to shoot. The camera is less than $200 right now. It's nice an small and fits her hands great....and the IQ is nothing to laugh at.

Here's one she took last week.

http://douthittfamily.smugmug.com/2014/July-2014/i-fkhpN7p/0/XL/PM220307-20140702-XL.jpg

And yes, that's me and my SO.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

The perfect camera is D4s. The kid won't use it but you will have a great camera when she refuses. LOL. Seriously, any small light Point and shoot will do

amehta Loc: Boston

Cdouthitt wrote:

My daughter started using my EPM2 recently (she's six now). with a fixed prime lens. She loves (as did our nieces) the touch screen to shoot. The camera is less than $200 right now. It's nice an small and fits her hands great....and the IQ is nothing to laugh at.

...

And yes, that's me and my SO.

Hmmm... I'm not sure I want to lend this crazy guy my D800. It looks like the daughter will do a better job with it anyway. :lol:

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

amehta wrote:

Hmmm... I'm not sure I want to lend this crazy guy my D800. It looks like the daughter will do a better job with it anyway. :lol:

Wise decision :-)

Notice I did not hand her my EM1...just the backup (wife's camera). I also made sure I had the cheap lens on there (if you can call the 20mm f1.7 a cheap lens (it was the most expendable lens I had with me).

amehta Loc: Boston

MikeFromMT wrote:

At a recent soccer game I let my 5 year old granddaughter, who was actually four at a time, use my SLR. She had a great time and actually took some nice simple pictures. My son tells me that she would like a camera for her birthday. Does anyone (of course you do) have any suggestions. Dpreview likes the Nikon Coolpix S31 (discontinued) but there is a S32 (sold out most locations). Any help appreciated. My wife wants to get it yesterday. What else is new.

There are several "rugged" point & shoot cameras available, I think any of them could serve this goal. The Olympus Stylus TOUGH TG-3 could be a good option. Since it is designed for underwater use, the controls seem to be fairly easy to use. Of course, it's new and not out quite yet...

amehta Loc: Boston

Cdouthitt wrote:

Wise decision :-)

Notice I did not hand her my EM1...just the backup (wife's camera). I also made sure I had the cheap lens on there (if you can call the 20mm f1.7 a cheap lens (it was the most expendable lens I had with me).

:thumbup: :lol:

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I watched my grandson use his D100 and he seemed to enjoy it very much. I went out and got him a D7100 and an 18-200 f/3.5 lens and several books. He is absolutely loving it and I think I am getting a bigger kick than he is because I can give him good advise without over-cooking it. It's great fun and something we can share.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

MikeFromMT wrote:

At a recent soccer game I let my 5 year old granddaughter, who was actually four at a time, use my SLR. She had a great time and actually took some nice simple pictures. My son tells me that she would like a camera for her birthday. Does anyone (of course you do) have any suggestions. Dpreview likes the Nikon Coolpix S31 (discontinued) but there is a S32 (sold out most locations). Any help appreciated. My wife wants to get it yesterday. What else is new.

I would have to recommend a "kid proof" camera like the Nikon AW 110 (now replaced by the AW 120). It is waterproof and drop resistant to 6 feet. And it takes some really nice pics!

amehta Loc: Boston

DavidPine wrote:

I watched my grandson use his D100 and he seemed to enjoy it very much. I went out and got him a D7100 and an 18-200 f/3.5 lens and several books. He is absolutely loving it and I think I am getting a bigger kick than he is because I can give him good advise without over-cooking it. It's great fun and something we can share.

How old is he?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

MT Shooter wrote:

I would have to recommend a "kid proof" camera like the Nikon AW 110 (now replaced by the AW 120). It is waterproof and drop resistant to 6 feet. And it takes some really nice pics!

Good choice, since kids NEVER drop anything...:-)

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

He was 15 and just turned 16.

amehta wrote:

How old is he?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

another tough camera...$159
http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/outlet/reconditioned-cameras/tg-830-ihs-red-reconditioned.html

amehta Loc: Boston

DavidPine wrote:

He was 15 and just turned 16.

The suggestion for a 16 year old may not work so well for a 6 year old, both for the camera itself and how to help them use it. :-)

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I wasn't suggesting he buy one. I was merely stating what I did for my youngster. Did you notice I also bought him a few books? That implied he can read fairly well.

amehta wrote:

The suggestion for a 16 year old may not work so well for a 6 year old, both for the camera itself and how to help them use it. :-)