Need P&S Camera for my 10yr old

Okay, should be simple enough to find a first camera for a 10yr old. Cheap, decent picture quality, under $200 (I would prefer $50). Honestly they don't care about the picture quality, they care more about capturing the moment.

But the kids these days are getting more advanced and tech savvy and I'm guilty of encourage that in my home. I have a 3yr old using my wife's iPhone like a pro, the touch concept seems so intuitive and natural to him.

So my 10yr old has an iPod touch...so she just started her research for a camera and wants the same touch interaction.

What can I buy? sounds like something Sony would do for sure...but I just read about Nikon S80. I'm certain were in the $300 range now.

Any recommendations for a cheap touch screen P&S?

pstugatz said:

So my 10yr old has an iPod touch...so she just started her research for a camera and wants the same touch interaction.

What can I buy? sounds like something Sony would do for sure...but I just read about Nikon S80. I'm certain were in the $300 range now.

Any recommendations for a cheap touch screen P&S?

Click to expand...

Besides Sony and Nikon, you can take a look at the Kodak SLICE. She might like the Youtube, Facebook, Flickr features.

--
chiue -
Nikon D5000 / Kodak 880 7590 6440 915
Kodak Digital Cameras Galleries
http://www.wix.com/chiuestar/Kodak-DC

Some of the Samsung cameras have touch screens, and the prices are reasonable.

Second on Samsung - got one for my 9 year old - he's worked out hor to take stop frame shots and play them back to look like movie! - He also uses the movie function as much as photos - but heavy on storage!

Figs

Clever boy

Figsbury said:

Second on Samsung - got one for my 9 year old - he's worked out hor to take stop frame shots and play them back to look like movie! - He also uses the movie function as much as photos - but heavy on storage!

Figs

Click to expand...

Thanks guys...so Kodak Slice and Samsung. I have to believe the price of either to be lower compared to Nikon/Sony. Any particular model in Samsung range?

Thanks.

this would be perfect for preteens. i could see my 13yo using this.

This is one of Samsung's latest, low price -

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1008/10080410samsungpl90.asp

Or, hunt around for a closeout at a lower price yet -

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0902/09021708samsungpl50pl65.asp

Kelly Cook

Kelly, those would make a great cam, built in USB a plus. However, my main criteria is touch screen. I think the TL240 from Samsung has it, found it online for $179. Seems like a decent deal. Sony has the T99, TX7 and TX9 but the price range is from $249 to $399.

I wish DPReview would flag camera specs for "touch screen". I can search on any attribute but that one.

The Sony TX5 has a touchscreen and is waterproof - your daughter might enjoy that. But it also has a higher price.

However I'm not sure if you should be as keen on the touchscreen as you are currently. There are a few disadvantages, such as battery drain, frustration if the controls aren't as precise as you need them to be and lack of visibility in bright daylight (all lcds have trouble in strong daylight). I'd suggest you actually get into a store (preferably with your daughter) and have a go at the touchscreen interfaces and see what you think of them. Also I don't like to be an apple fan, but the intuitive aspect of their touchscreen devices is due more to clever design than simply the fact that they are a touchscreen. I'm not sure if the user interface in the touchscreen cameras is as good.

Good luck - I'm sure you'll find one that's perfect. There are a few different touchscreen cameras listed here: http://reviews.cnet.com/touch-screen-cameras/

Nikon S4000 also has touchscreen feature. Sells for lower price than that Samsung. Dunno how their performance compares.

Kelly

I personally agree with your points, were on the same page but we're dealing with a 10 year old LOL But good advice, I really do need to take her with me and see how strongly she wants a touch screen vs. a camera with better feature set, picture quality and maybe better interface. I may have to pull "look at this cute red one" to take her attention away from touch screen.

There are definitely a few cute cameras out at the moment Good luck with your purchase, whichever you end up going with I doubt your daughter will be disappointed. Just watch out you don't infect her with the 'photography bug' too early on or you'll be spending lots of money on cameras and their accessories for the next few years!

I just noticed one of the online retailers selling the Sony TX1 for under $200. I've been very disappointed with my Sony P&S cameras of past, lot of noise in low light. But tx1is supposed to have a backlit CMOS for better low light photos.

Thanks again for all the input.