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What Camera for Grandchildren.
- Thread starter Elderly
- Start date
pegelli
Well-known member
Most people these days don't use a viewfinder (phones don't have them 
) so wouldn't worry too much about that to get the youngsters interested in photography.
Given their age I would go as simple as possible and see if the develop "the bug" before getting a more complicated camera.
Maybe this article can give you some ideas
) so wouldn't worry too much about that to get the youngsters interested in photography.Given their age I would go as simple as possible and see if the develop "the bug" before getting a more complicated camera.
Maybe this article can give you some ideas
Michiel Schierbeek
Well-known member
Most people these days don't use a viewfinder (phones don't have them
Given their age I would go as simple as possible and see if the develop "the bug" before getting a more complicated camera.
Maybe this article can give you some ideas
That little Sony does look like a nice snap camera. I almost want one, but I am an addict.:ROTFL::banghead:
cgastelum
Member
I bought my 4year old daughter a Fujifilm FinePix XP80 . the camera was under $65 used (in purple, her favorite color) the camera is shock proof, water and dust proof.
She didn't use it much when she was 4, but now that She's 5 , She keeps the camera in her backpack and takes pictures everywhere we go.
She didn't use it much when she was 4, but now that She's 5 , She keeps the camera in her backpack and takes pictures everywhere we go.
Godfrey
Well-known member
I gave a nephew a Fuji Instax mini of some sort two years ago when he was five. Didn't use it much then, now he's using it all the time. Loves the fact that there's a print in his hands when he takes a picture. One of these days, I'll scan all the prints he's made with it; some are remarkably good quality AND good photos!.
Oh yeah: His dad gave him a beat-up iPhone 6 this February too ... no cellular service, just to use as a toy. He takes a lot of photos with that too now.
G
Oh yeah: His dad gave him a beat-up iPhone 6 this February too ... no cellular service, just to use as a toy. He takes a lot of photos with that too now.
G
iiiNelson
Well-known member
I’d look at a older camera on a close out deal. Not really sure of your budget but you can likely find an older Canon or Nikon DSLR for a couple hundred bucks or so...
Godfrey
Well-known member
Godfrey
Well-known member
Canon ELPH? What about the cost (and difficulty in finding) APS film and processing? And having to send it away to have it processed, and wait a few days for it to be returned (like with virtually any film these days unless you happen to be willing to sign up for doing the processing and printing all the time)?
Five packs of Instax film is 50 exposures that the child can see and share a photo in minutes. That can be priceless. Most kids I know shoot three or four exposures, and then don't touch the camera for weeks. And they also learn that there's not an infinite amount of pictures ... when they take out the camera and finish a pack, they're done until there's more film available ... which isn't "all the time." It's a good learning experience.
Sorry, I can't say I agree with you at all on this.
G
Shashin
Well-known member
Perhaps one of those rugged underwater adventure cameras. Most have zooms lenses and they will take a beating. I think Olympus, FUJI, and Ricoh have a good range. They also come in interesting colors.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ilters=fct_camera-type_4056:waterproof-rugged
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ilters=fct_camera-type_4056:waterproof-rugged
Godfrey
Well-known member
Hmm. I didn't know Canon reused that name. I hadn't heard of an Elph camera since the APS cameras died.
My experience: Most young children will beat any of those cameras to junk way too quickly to be worth spending that money. Too many small buttons, etc.
The nice thing about stuff like the Fuji Instax is that they're "toy" cameras ... big plastic things that take a beating and aren't affected by kids dropping them, throwing them into a school bag with books and pencils, etc etc.
But whatever. Buy what you want to buy for the kids. I know what I'd give them. Whenever the youngsters next door see me, they always ask me if I can take another picture of them with the instant camera, and even though I've made dozens of photos of them with digital cameras, they have absolutely no interest in them.
G
My experience: Most young children will beat any of those cameras to junk way too quickly to be worth spending that money. Too many small buttons, etc.
The nice thing about stuff like the Fuji Instax is that they're "toy" cameras ... big plastic things that take a beating and aren't affected by kids dropping them, throwing them into a school bag with books and pencils, etc etc.
But whatever. Buy what you want to buy for the kids. I know what I'd give them. Whenever the youngsters next door see me, they always ask me if I can take another picture of them with the instant camera, and even though I've made dozens of photos of them with digital cameras, they have absolutely no interest in them.
G
Elderly
Well-known member
This all got put on the back burner as there have been *other* things happening !
I like the idea of Instax but my daughter said "NO" because the ongoing expense;
apparently my grandson uses the camera on her iPhone like a machine gun.
I've just ordered an XP140 from the Fuji refurb store for him (his 8th birthday is next week).
It's waterproof, shockproof and freeze proof - but I suppose that he could manage to lose it :grin:.
Thanks all for the ideas :thumbup:.
Under $100. 16x zoom. In a rugged body. With second "selfie" screen. Even does video so they can vlog. And because they can take it swimming with them, they probably will use it in a pool or lake or ocean
Jorgen Udvang
Subscriber Member
I bought a second hand Olympus TG-something for my daughter when she was 5. It cost me $150, and it takes any abuse a child will normally expose it to, including visits to the swimming pool.
I bought my daughter a cheap pink rabbit camera from Amazon when she was six. It’s very simple and she takes it everywhere taking snaps. She doesn’t have to worry about any technicalities including focussing. Just composition. When she’s ready for more I’ll trade it up to a compact.
k-hawinkler
Well-known member
iPhone?