Camera for an 8 yr old: My 8 year old daughter is interested in photography (guess I am rubbing it off on everyone around me!). She has a good eye and I am guiding her on composition...

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Camera for an 8 yr old

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Feb 22, 2018 18:31:14 #

tempest101 Loc: Indiana

My 8 year old daughter is interested in photography (guess I am rubbing it off on everyone around me!). She has a good eye and I am guiding her on composition and lighting. She has been using an old iPhone lying around, but I want to get her a point and shoot camera for an upcoming vacation. My older dslrs would be too heavy and cumbersome for her (and I know me or my husband will end up carrying it in addition to mine!)
Can anyone suggest a starter camera, probably in the $90-125 range? Thanks in advance!!

Feb 22, 2018 18:58:11 #

Joe Blow

For $100, any P&S with a zoom lens. If she continues with her interest you might consider an entry level crop sensor with some kit lenses. They are relatively light and do give good prints.

Feb 22, 2018 19:25:48 #

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

The reality is that not all 8-year-olds are equal. I'd get her a D3400 and see how she progresses. If you get her junk, she'll know it. You know her better than anyone else. I gave my grandson and granddaughter DSLRs. One makes snap shots and the other is selling images and is advanced. You never know.

tempest101 wrote:

My 8 year old daughter is interested in photograph... (show quote)

Feb 22, 2018 19:36:16 #

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

There are lot's of point & shoot cameras in that price range, go to Best Buy, Walmart, Target. Good luck.

Feb 22, 2018 19:58:26 #

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Get a nice used compact pocket camera of eBay. You can easily find one for a fraction of what it originally cost 4 or 5 years ago. A camera that is easy to master is a must. Giving an 8-year old a complex DSLR is counter-productive. Developing an eye for what makes an interesting photo and learning how to make a composition work is far more important than fiddling around with endless menus. That can come a few years later if she is still interested in photography.

Feb 22, 2018 20:10:47 #

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

I'd suggest something like a used NIKON COOLPIX 990 which is good enough to make awesome web posts, easy enough to use, small enough to carry, tough enough to take some abuse and cheap enough to not get too much brain damage if it gets lost or broken.

Feb 22, 2018 20:31:23 #

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Spoil the kid, get her a Sony RX100M4.

Feb 22, 2018 20:32:01 #

Photocraig

My 8 year-old experience is with BOYZ! But I suspect that a girl could benefit from something rugged. I know Pentax and Olympus both had extra tough waterproof cameras that were able to perform as P&S and maybe do a little more. I'd look for one used and go from there. Composition is everything. Stress finding the subject SHE wants to make a photo about, frame it with the best light angle.

Kids have a unique point of view--besides being shorter. You will be amazed about what SHE saw that you didint on any given photo outing.

Feb 22, 2018 22:27:03 #

Jesu S

tempest101 wrote:

My 8 year old daughter is interested in photograph... (show quote)

Your old DSLR with a simple nifty fifty would be only marginally heavier than a P&S but she would learn a lot more about photography than with a P&S. I passed on an old 50D to my nephew and it took him all of two weeks to abandon the auto mode and experiment with Av and Tv modes, and other aspects of the DSLR.

Feb 22, 2018 22:54:24 #

repleo Loc: Boston

Make it a bonding experience. Bring her to the store to check out the displays and let her choose. Use it as a learning experience to explain how a camera works. Any camera she picks will be capable of taking great pics.

Feb 23, 2018 05:25:57 #