leftj Loc: Texas

To much generalization in your statement. The best advice is to make it specific to this 8-year old by assessing her interest and abilities and involve her in the decision process.

drmike99 Loc: Fairfield Connecticut

And plenty of talented 8 year old pianists who’d “do well” with a Steinway or Bosendorfer concert grand rather than a $200 used spinet. Why are so many projecting their GAS attacks on kids who could learn photographic “seeing” with a last generation deactivated iPhone or Android as a first camera? Are these kids tech savvy enough to use a sophisticated camera? Many are. Do they “need” one? I doubt it.

drmike99 Loc: Fairfield Connecticut

👍👍👍👍👍

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

To answer your actual question of $125 or under I think the Sony W800 is good choice if want to work mainly on composition or a lower end Nikon CoolPix (500?) if more control. Check selling apps for used - find the interest level before a higher investment. Eight year olds attention spans/interest change weekly or monthly.

Ancientdave

I will second that I have a Canon G12 it is a great camera, my son start at eight and now is a top commercial DOP

tam3737

I gave my granddaughter free use of my camera (at that time a mid level P & S ) gave her some simple instructions on composition, and instructions to go around our family gatherings and take shots of everybody. The results were stunning. She took face & shoulder portraits of several members of my family who were impossible to shoot. You may know the type , weird forced smiles, moving, turning away, sticking out their tongue etc, I bet you know at least one, that in all your family pictures you never had a decent shot. There must have been something disarming about a little girl, that allowed her to shoot from 4 ft and never get a flinch . I still treasure some of those pictures. She's 16 now and furthur instruction in photography is " difficult" at the moment. If you have a teenager I'm sure that like her they already know everything.

tallshooter

This rocks, the wireless remote is a 3 button watchband that overrides camera mode to take pic,movie or turn off the camera. Get it at Walmart for the same price.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vivatar-DVR-789HD-Action-cam/173148945663?hash=item28507b3cff:g:w9UAAOSwPGpafJNe

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

It was, and she wouldn’t be holding MY 5D3 😱, but as I said, she took some pretty nice compositions. I gave her an older Sony P&S Christmas before last and when she outgrows it’s capabilities, i’ll be asking the forum for advice on the next step.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

One of the great things about photography is you can take from interest to interest. No mater the activity, there is always room for a picture!

CanonShot Loc: Lancaster County, PA

I was dealing with this same thrilling possibility with a 7 year-old grandson several years ago. Finally, decided to quickly dig out an "old" Canon S5 IS point-n-shoot instead of buying one that my heart was telling me to do. So, I took him to several places where birds and flowers abound. I kept downloading his pix quickly. With all the activities youngsters have these days, I wanted to keep his photography eye in the mix. About six months later, I made him a frame so we could walk around at a park so he could handle it, or I could, so he would develop the composition idea without even knowing what that meant.

When he turned 9, all I got was "Where are we going next?" with cameras in hand. Well, the whole photography idea just exploded. I said, "Let's go out on the sand bar at low tide near Lewes, DE, and photograph gulls. As you can see in the progression of pix, he hasn't put that "old" point-n-shoot down, but I am dying to get him the real deal on birthday #11.

Sorry, if this seems about us... it's just a look at what may very well warm your heart in short order. So glad you have this opportunity.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

I second the motion!

1950Dan Loc: Lockwood, Nevada

Gave my Canon Powershot SX20 to my 7yr old grandson. SX10, SX20, or SX30 $40-$90 on eBay. Has the look and viewfinder like an SLR.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Nikon and Canon also have current model point and shoot models that have the look and viewfinder of a DSLR, but they are all over $250. I think your idea of a Canon SX10 or SX20 makes sense since they are within the stated price range.

A camera with only an LCD can be difficult and frustrating to use for young people in strong sunlight. Also, holding a camera at arm's length is not the right way to learn how to hold and steady a camera. The SX10 and SX20 are good choices. The current E-bay price on the SX30 seams to be out of the price range but would also be sutable.

broncomaniac Loc: Lynchburg, VA

You can pick up a nice Nikon L320 on eBay and still be well under budget. All of my kids have owned one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-COOLPIX-L320-16-1MP-Digital-Camera-Black/222681021324?epid=170091572&hash=item33d8d2bb8c:m:m9FvemcLwT8RYHFMqQD5juQ

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

Would suggest a used better quality one with a viewfinder. Anything new in that range will not have a viewfinder. The way you have to hold a camera without a viewfinder is inherently unstable (arms out to see the monitor).