Digital Camera for an 8 year old

My 8 year old son has been taking pictures with his film Canon Elph LT for a couple of years and he really enjoys it...takes good pics also. But his little hobby is becomming somewhat expensive with film and processing costs so I'd like to get him a digtial camera for his birthday. He's pretty responsible and will take the time to learn how to use a new camera...but he's still only 8. Anyone have any suggestions in the $200 or under range? We're partial to Sony but open minded to any other brand. Thanks

Andrew

Andrew said:

My 8 year old son has been taking pictures with his film Canon Elph
LT for a couple of years and he really enjoys it...takes good pics
also. But his little hobby is becomming somewhat expensive with
film and processing costs so I'd like to get him a digtial camera
for his birthday. He's pretty responsible and will take the time
to learn how to use a new camera...but he's still only 8. Anyone
have any suggestions in the $200 or under range? We're partial to
Sony but open minded to any other brand. Thanks

Andrew

Click to expand...

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Buydig.com has the A60 for $184.00. I think it's an excellent buy
at that price.

http://www.buydig.com/shop.php?category=DIGITAL+CAMERAS

Dell has the Kodak 6320 for 199.99 less 10%

Fil

Andrew said:

My 8 year old son has been taking pictures with his film Canon Elph
LT for a couple of years and he really enjoys it...takes good pics
also. But his little hobby is becomming somewhat expensive with
film and processing costs so I'd like to get him a digtial camera
for his birthday. He's pretty responsible and will take the time
to learn how to use a new camera...but he's still only 8. Anyone
have any suggestions in the $200 or under range? We're partial to
Sony but open minded to any other brand. Thanks

Click to expand...

The yesteryear's models almost always cost less than the current ones, and you can get them off eBay. It would be missing a lot of the features that are found only on the current generation of cameras, but there is no worry that the camera would become worthless after a few months -- it's already an outdated model.

If you're looking for the best bang for the buck, get a camera that uses Smartmedia cards. Very few manufacturers use it as storage, let alone for digital cameras, but the point is that you can get a few 128MBs for as much money as a set of rechargeable batteries and charger. Fujifilm and Olympus make some really nice ones based on Smartmedia.

Maybe the Canon A60. It's just under $200 at many places. Seems to have auto lens "cap", which would be good for a little kid. Will need to teach him to be careful w/ the telescoping lens mechanism though, but it looks more solid than most. Not sure if AA-type batts will work better or worse for him. If he doesn't shoot quite that often or much, then it can be great just using high power alkalines like Duracell Ultra's.

What might be hardest is teaching him to deal w/ the AF/shutter lag me thinks.

Man

Andrew said:

My 8 year old son has been taking pictures with his film Canon Elph
LT for a couple of years and he really enjoys it...takes good pics
also. But his little hobby is becomming somewhat expensive with
film and processing costs so I'd like to get him a digtial camera
for his birthday. He's pretty responsible and will take the time
to learn how to use a new camera...but he's still only 8. Anyone
have any suggestions in the $200 or under range? We're partial to
Sony but open minded to any other brand. Thanks

Andrew

Click to expand...

I have just purchased an Olympus C-150 for my daughter for her 14th birthday on Monday. My budget was around AUD$200....the A60 sells for about $500 here, so way over. The C-150 will be fine for her purposes....she wants to take photos of people (not the stupid STUFF her mother photographs and use them on her computer.

She has done a beginners photography course at school and plans on doing the more advanced level next year. I'm not entirely sure this interest in photograpy will be an on going thing, so I wasn't prepared to spend more than $200 on a camera for her.

The C-150 is a solid little camera, nice capsule design, so not lost lens covers.....and has enough dial-up settings to keep her amused. The photos are good enough for viewing on a monitor and 4"x6" prints are quite nice. it's not a whizz-bang camera, but for AUD$200 it's good value for money.

If she shows a lot of on going interest, she might inherit my A70 next year.

Gayle

Man-Fai Wong said:

Andrew said:

My 8 year old son has been taking pictures with his film Canon Elph
LT for a couple of years and he really enjoys it...takes good pics
also. But his little hobby is becomming somewhat expensive with
film and processing costs so I'd like to get him a digtial camera
for his birthday. He's pretty responsible and will take the time
to learn how to use a new camera...but he's still only 8. Anyone
have any suggestions in the $200 or under range? We're partial to
Sony but open minded to any other brand. Thanks

Andrew

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
http://members.iinet.net.au/~gayle_knowles/

My neighbor bought one for about $150 at KMart for his just 9 year old granddaughter and I saw her take some pictures that looked great on the lcd. He showed me a print and it was very sharp with excellent colors.

Your biggest concern might be will he realize it's not an indestructable Fisher Price toy and take good care of it.
Isabel

http://www.pBase.com/isabel95
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Digipets/?yguid=11497599
pBase supporter

Gayle said:

The C-150 is a solid little camera, nice capsule design, so not
lost lens covers.....and has enough dial-up settings to keep her
amused. The photos are good enough for viewing on a monitor and
4"x6" prints are quite nice. it's not a whizz-bang camera, but for
AUD$200 it's good value for money.

If she shows a lot of on going interest, she might inherit my A70
next year.

Gayle

Click to expand...

She'll only get the A70 cause u want a A80 =P $500 for A60? Dream on I found it in Aus for $427 =P

I think A60 would be a great choice for your 8 yr old, i found a place which sells it for $179.99 USD
--
Waiting for my A80 (Hurry up!! Due at my place on Oct. 17th!!)

Unless your 8 year old is exceptionally mature and in possession of remarkable dexterity (for his age), then you might consider something a little less 'delicate' than many of today's mid-range/top-end digitcams (including the very versatile, but relatively fragile, A60/70/80 cameras). Perhaps your 8 yr. old is skilled and careful enough to handle a fairly delicate piece of electronics equipment, with an electronically collapsible lens, exposed LCD screen, and a body that won't survive too many slip and falls before it turns into an expensive paperweight. That's for you to decide...

Personally, I would suggest shopping for something more along the lines of an A300 (though not necessarily the A300, specifically). Something that doesn't have as many "moving parts" as an A60/70/80, but still takes quality pics and offers some control over exposure so there is still a learning curve built-in for him. I think the weakest link in many of the optically zooming cameras might be the extending/retracting lens which could prove to be the ultimate downfall of those cameras for an average 8yr old. I can't see the collapsible, zooming, GLASS lens being able to take any abuse whatsoever, so I would favor a fixed lens, still with autofocus, and with a more simple lens capping mechanism (sliding cover, or whatever).

For this, you might wish to extend your search outside of Canon's line of cameras (although, if you find the A300 to your liking, they're probably dirt cheap when available?). Maybe folks here (Canon Forum!) would be willing to pony up some advice on a camera for REALISTICALLY suited for an average 8yr old, yet still retaining some exposure control capabilities so as not to function strictly as a 1-to-1 replacement for a 35mm P&S? For some reason, many people think the A60/70/80 are hammers and every photo opportunity is a NAIL. ;-)

NOTE: I've had 3 8yr olds.. working on my 4th, now. While the 8yr olds themselves prove to be rather durable, they tend to expose the physical weaknesses in the things around them. =D

-icmp

Andrew said:

My 8 year old son has been taking pictures with his film Canon Elph
LT for a couple of years and he really enjoys it...takes good pics
also. But his little hobby is becomming somewhat expensive with
film and processing costs so I'd like to get him a digtial camera
for his birthday. He's pretty responsible and will take the time
to learn how to use a new camera...but he's still only 8. Anyone
have any suggestions in the $200 or under range? We're partial to
Sony but open minded to any other brand. Thanks

Andrew

Click to expand...

I bought this camera for my SO, he wanted something that was small enough to fit in his pocket and under $200.

It has been a great camera, 3.2 MP.

Cons:
No zoom, well....it has digital...but it sucks.

No RC/TV connect.

Other than that....a great camera.

Andrew said:

My 8 year old son has been taking pictures with his film Canon Elph
LT for a couple of years and he really enjoys it...takes good pics
also. But his little hobby is becomming somewhat expensive with
film and processing costs so I'd like to get him a digtial camera
for his birthday. He's pretty responsible and will take the time
to learn how to use a new camera...but he's still only 8. Anyone
have any suggestions in the $200 or under range? We're partial to
Sony but open minded to any other brand. Thanks

Andrew

Click to expand...

My 4 (nearly 5) year old "borrowed" my G3 a couple of weekends ago and took the best portraits of my wife and I that anyone has taken for a very very long time! They even included our new 2 month old - captured well too!!

He doesn't have much clue about 95% of the functions (sometimes wonder if I do!) but he can turn it on, chose from a couple of modes, zoom, focus and shoot!! What more do you need?

I'm not for a second suggesting a G3 as a sensible option, but it does show what youngsters are capable of with a little bit of help and a fairly user friendly camera.

AdamSC said:

I'm not for a second suggesting a G3 as a sensible option, but it
does show what youngsters are capable of with a little bit of help
and a fairly user friendly camera.

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Yes I have to agree, my 6 year old daughter takes some great pictures with me nearby with my s110 canon and her pictures come out nicely. She has taken all kinds of pictures from of the tv to us, the parents and her younger brother and other scenes. She knows its not a toy and I am letting her learn on it as a regular 35mm doesn't give her the instant results and I don't need to waste film As I wait for my A80 she will probabley want to use that one too (yikes) Youngsters are much more computer and digital capable as ever .... so with the needed assistance photography can be made fun for all ages So what ever digital camera - its the photographer not the camera that takes the best shots!

No, I want the 300D! and I'm halfway to having enough money for it.

I can actually get the A60 for around $400 wholesale (I work for a computer company and am able to buy wholesale through them) but no way I'm spending that amount on something she might lose interest in.

The recommended retail price for the A60 is currently $499, although I have seen it on special at various large stores.

An interesting point on how little retailers make from digital camera sales.....the C-150 retails for $245, I purchased it direct from a wholesaler for $214. It's hardly worth the effort of trying to sell it and provide after sales service for that tiny amount of profit.

Gayle

BenGaL^TiGeR said:

She'll only get the A70 cause u want a A80 =P $500 for A60? Dream
on I found it in Aus for $427 =P

I think A60 would be a great choice for your 8 yr old, i found a
place which sells it for $179.99 USD
--
Waiting for my A80 (Hurry up!! Due at my place on Oct. 17th!!)

Click to expand...

--
http://members.iinet.net.au/~gayle_knowles/