Leitz Loc: Solms

You would do as well to just stick with your cellphone.

Chadp Loc: Virginia Beach

Get him an IPhone and set it up on your icloud if you have an iPhone. That way you will have a copy of his photos backed up. Or even if you don’t use iCloud now, you can set up an iCloud account up for him on any computer to back up his photos. At 4 he is probably starting to borrow mom or dads iPhone to play games anyway. I have a 4 and 6 year old who constantly ask to use my phone. So the iPhone will serve multiple purposes.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Consider a Tough camera.

eBay will offer lots of good choices for various compact cameras, depending on how much you want to spend.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

They start at $699.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

It is great to want to mentor your grandchild, they benefit greatly. However, he is 4 years old, an age when toys lead to tools. Let him have his imagination and play with life. 4 years old is too young to comprehend what a camera does. Give a tool to a child? Give him something he can understand. You are stroking your own ego maybe?

ISO100 Loc: Richland City Indiana

Go with a camera. That is what he wants. You have the opportunity to share and spend quality time invested in nurturing a child. Help him create memories of that time with you. Don't pass it up. From experience, get a camera with a viewfinder for use outside. I bought my 5 year old granddaughter a Sony DSC H9 nearly 10 years ago. We have never looked back. At soon to be 16 she now has her own website and has already had photo sales. Not every situation is the same. You have an opportunity "capture it".

Grey Ghost

You can transfer his photos directly to an SD card or you can save to the iCloud or you can transfer and save them directly to a computer.

drumme

I’d look for some of those early point and shoot cameras available on eBay that you could pickup for a few dollars. They often had auto focus and large screens to compose. Few controls and some telephoto features. If he drops it or damages it. You can find another cheaply on line or move him to a new level.

jtm1943

The TG6 or a used TG 4 or TG5 is the way to go, but be advised that is only the beginning. The oldest 8 of my 10 grandkids are cell phone addicts, but the 2 youngest expressed a definite interest in having a camera. I got them each a refurbished TG4. They are on their local swim team so I figured these cameras could reside in their swim bags. Worked out great. BUT - They soon wanted more stuff on their cameras. I got them each an Olympus EPL9, but soon realized they were not taking pictures. Reason - couldn't see what they were taking in bright sun light - no EVF. SOOO - I then got them each a refurbished Olympus EM10 v ii and bags to carry/store their stuff in. The EPL9 came with a 14-42 EZ lens and I added a 40-150R lens and a 25 f1.4 lens for each of them. Finally, they wanted to do close ups so sent them each a Canon close up aux lens. Now they are taking great pictures - naturals. They are a little older now - 10 and 12, but are well on their way to a lively "career" as excellent photographers. I also sent them a book on basic photography which they have shared during the forced idleness of the pandemic - and extra batteries, etc. It never ends. We communicate by email now and and I try to answer their questions. Their parents are both committed cell phoners, although their Dad used to be a super photographer (Canon gear) in his own right, so they get some guidance there.

Mostly to maintain interest - Keep it fun, fun, fun!!! Best Wishes! A "natural" at composition is rare - nurture it!

BebuLamar

Get him the R5

Chadp Loc: Virginia Beach

I understand where you are coming from on this. I have 4 boys. Ages 25,21,6 and 4. Things have changed a lot between my oldest and youngest. Technology plays a much bigger role in a child’s development. The 4 year old can be ready for a camera. All kids are different as far as maturity on things like this. The important thing is to limit their time on one device if you have to. Usually at 4 you don’t have to worry about limiting time due to the short attention span they have. But my 6 year old will play on my phone for hours if we let him.

Cshoier

Ok, I'm going to go a different route...

I've got a nephew who was 5. He loved my cameras, and his dad said he was always taking pictures with dad's phone.

Last Christmas, I was shooting a Nikon F4s, b&w film. I had to explain what "film" was, that I couldn't show him the pics until I went home and developed them. But, I showed him the OTHER camera I brought with me that trip - a Polaroid SX-70. He LOVED the idea of a unique, one-of-a-kind photo.

So, his dad and I went out and, after looking around, got him an Instax with a rubber case. It's primitive as all hell, but he ran through 50 pictures in an afternoon!

When he's with me or his dad, he can use our stuff. But the Instax has taught him a LOT about light, and how to use it. His pictures are WAY above what his age would lead you to expect.

The film isn't terribly expensive, but self-limiting both in turns of how much time he can spend on it, AND in teaching him to take better photos so film isn't wasted!

Just an idea... Forces him to work on basics.

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

I frequently upload images from my iPhone and email them to myself. I then open the Email and save the attachments. I don’t know of any point and shoot camera that’s as easy to use as my iPhone.

Oh, as for quality, I’m about to teach a course an they asked me for an image to go in their ad. I sent them three and said, “You can pick.” Two had been taken with my D800E, one with me iPhone 11Pro. Yep, they picked the iPhoto, this shot:

(Download)

btbg

I would agree that a phone with a good camera is the best choice. He already knows how to use it and it is easy to transfer photos from a phone to a computer, regardless of whether or not the phone has a micro sd card.

Just teach him that photos have to be downloaded from camera to computer for post processing and storage. And, don't listen to those saying he is too young, or that you should buy him a kids camera. If they show interest and are being successful there is no such thing as too young.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Vivitar makes several inexpensive P&S cameras suitable for a 4-year old and if he loses it or drops it in the kiddie pool, no great monetary loss. I would NOT invest in any of the cameras thus far mentioned in this post until the child shows a real interest in the endeavor and recognition of image quality.

Stan