Camera for a young grandson
Jun 25, 2018 23:40:17 #
Hi all. My grandson is turning six and has shown an interest in "taking pictures." I want to encourage him and promised to buy him a camera of his own for his birthday. I haven't a clue as to what to get him...obviously thinking of a point & shoot, and would greatly appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks. Dave.
Jun 25, 2018 23:54:08 #
Jun 25, 2018 23:59:02 #
Google "digital camera for kids" you will get a long list of places to look - among others Walmart and Bestbuy sell cameras for kids.
My local camera store has several of one brand on display, in various colors and covered with rubber, sort of an armored camera.
My local camera store has several of one brand on display, in various colors and covered with rubber, sort of an armored camera.
Jun 26, 2018 01:18:26 #
Don't spend too much on the camera... with children at that age, their interests often change from month to month.
Jun 26, 2018 06:01:55 #
Get a used Olympus tough camera. Both my kids have them and they’re really durable and super fun to use, even in the pool. I paid about $50 for them (each). I got them the cameras when they were 6 and 9 years old.
Jun 26, 2018 06:50:54 #
Don't make the mistake of gettin an 'el cheapo'. Give the kid somethikng he will appreciate. My 8yr old GD has benn taking pictures for several years now. I got her a small camera, but quality Nikon.
Jun 26, 2018 07:06:45 #
Cdouthitt wrote:
Get a used Olympus tough camera. Both my kids have them and they’re really durable and super fun to use, even in the pool. I paid about $50 for them (each). I got them the cameras when they were 6 and 9 years old.
I got them this old model (perhaps even older).
https://m.ebay.com/itm/Olympus-Stylus-Tough-8000-12MP-Digital-Camera-w-3-6x-Zoom-467/202339917163?epid=100101349&hash=item2f1c661d6b:g:WPMAAOSw48dbH-Bz:sc:UPSGround!49685!US!-1
The tg 3 and tg 4 (and of course the new tg 6) are all awesome too, but likely out of your price range.
Jun 26, 2018 07:32:19 #
Cdouthitt wrote:
Get a used Olympus tough camera. Both my kids have them and they’re really durable and super fun to use, even in the pool. I paid about $50 for them (each). I got them the cameras when they were 6 and 9 years old.
One of the “tough cameras” from Olympus or Panasonic is a great suggestion.
Jun 26, 2018 07:32:49 #
Cdouthitt wrote:
Get a used Olympus tough camera. Both my kids have them and they’re really durable and super fun to use, even in the pool. I paid about $50 for them (each). I got them the cameras when they were 6 and 9 years old.
I think this advice is right on target! The advantages of a durable and/or waterproof, outdoors type, point and shoot should be obvious and Olympus makes some good ones. There are others available, but this is a good choice and if the kid shows real interest you won't be losing a lot of money when it's time to upgrade and farther his or her development. Good luck and good shooting to all, especially the new junior photographer!
Jun 26, 2018 07:34:07 #
LarryFitz
Loc: Beacon NY
I purchased a Fisher Price camera for my granddaughters. It was bigger then standard cameras. That provided for good gripping, plus had some drop protections. I suggest that you also buy a digital frame, so that he can display his work.
Jun 26, 2018 07:36:52 #
blackhorse 1-7 wrote:
Hi all. My grandson is turning six and has shown an interest in "taking pictures." I want to encourage him and promised to buy him a camera of his own for his birthday. I haven't a clue as to what to get him...obviously thinking of a point & shoot, and would greatly appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks. Dave.
My daughter bought a waterproof Nikon for my then 7 year old grand son, he uses it quite well.
My son has given his son a small Canon point and shoot to my then 5 year old grand son(#2 grandson), his old ELPH to my grand daughter, (then 4) and we just got a marked down Vivitar for his youngest (#3 grand son) and he loves and shoots that, interesting stuff and angles, remember little kids see from a different angle than we do.
Jun 26, 2018 07:45:15 #
Cdouthitt wrote:
Get a used Olympus tough camera. Both my kids have them and they’re really durable and super fun to use, even in the pool. I paid about $50 for them (each). I got them the cameras when they were 6 and 9 years old.
This would be high on my list for a 6 year old as well. Nikon and Fuji both make waterproof cameras that would fill the bill as well. As a fun side trip you might want to consider the Lomography Konstruktor a cheap ($35.00) kit to build a 35mm camera. It is an interesting way to teach the basics of cameras to a child even if it is never used to actually shoot a picture.
Jun 26, 2018 08:10:50 #
Just don’t get the Discovery Kids one. It is plastic and very sturdy, but pictures are crap. I would recommend one of the new instamatic ones that print the picture. Kids that age love having the picture right away to put on refrigerator or wall. They sell at Michaels (behind the counter ). I think they are about $100
Jun 26, 2018 08:12:11 #
Make sure what ever camera you end up with you get one with video capabilities.
Jun 26, 2018 10:00:34 #
Blackhorse,
For a six year old turning seven shortly, that may be something he use for a longer time than else, but I think your first priority should be cheap; the second as simple as possible with as few option settings as possible. With too many options, he's bound to get some wrong and be disappointed in the experience, and it will encounter several drops, hopefully repairable. Who is the Bank of Camera Repair bank, you or his parents? I was given my first camera, a plastic (everything was back then) Kodak Baby Brownie (JPTB--Just push the button), for Christmas when I was seven; that Camera led a hard life and survived until I was 11-12 (now in my mid-70's), and replaced it with a twin lens reflex. I doubt you'll be able to get one as cheap as either of them, but even with an entry digital, I think the reasoning stands.
Most of our cameras have so many options that the majority of us only use about half of them so we have paid for a lot of technology we never use, and I'm sure the other half are all looking back at that age.
For a six year old turning seven shortly, that may be something he use for a longer time than else, but I think your first priority should be cheap; the second as simple as possible with as few option settings as possible. With too many options, he's bound to get some wrong and be disappointed in the experience, and it will encounter several drops, hopefully repairable. Who is the Bank of Camera Repair bank, you or his parents? I was given my first camera, a plastic (everything was back then) Kodak Baby Brownie (JPTB--Just push the button), for Christmas when I was seven; that Camera led a hard life and survived until I was 11-12 (now in my mid-70's), and replaced it with a twin lens reflex. I doubt you'll be able to get one as cheap as either of them, but even with an entry digital, I think the reasoning stands.
Most of our cameras have so many options that the majority of us only use about half of them so we have paid for a lot of technology we never use, and I'm sure the other half are all looking back at that age.
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