Beginner Digicams
My 10yo son has asked about getting a beginner's digicam. On our recent trip to Disneyland, I let him use one of our old Olympus P&S film cams and he was bummed about the lack of instant gratification (gee...I wonder where he gets that from? 
), while I was bummed about the $30 I spent on film and developing just to see a bunch of crappy photos (we were all n00bs once). I figure after the initial expense of a starter camera, the mistakes will be very cheap and quick to learn from.
So...any suggestions? $50-100 is probably a reasonable range for a kidcam. :ear:
), while I was bummed about the $30 I spent on film and developing just to see a bunch of crappy photos (we were all n00bs once). I figure after the initial expense of a starter camera, the mistakes will be very cheap and quick to learn from.So...any suggestions? $50-100 is probably a reasonable range for a kidcam. :ear:
"Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
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I'd bet that at this point you could buy an old Mavica for $100 and stick a floppy adapter and media in it for another $100.
I think we paid $60 for the Barbie thang.
I got started in photography with an old Ektamatic I got for my tenth birthday. Later, I got an instamatic that had some ability to provide flash via those tall stips of bulbs (sylvania blue dots!)
http://www.zillions.org/Features/Digital/dcam001.html
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
Interesting article, porky...thanks for the link. Looks like I'm really looking at $300 (or something used).
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
- Ease of use. It's really simple, the menus aren't too complicated, there are few, easy-to-understand buttons and, when you insert it into the base, it automatically downloads into Photoshop Album 2.0 and recharges the batteries at the same time.
- Price. I set $100 as my "digicam for a 10-year old budget" - this one came damn close. If he loses it, we'll get over it.
- Quality. Takes pretty good pictures (2MP). Could be better, but I've gotten spoiled by my 10D.
But, most of all, The BOY is using it. He's already downloaded more than 200 shots into Photoshop Album and has learned how to crop, do red eye correction, adjust brightness, etc. If he keeps with it, I'll upgrade him in a year or two. Cheap, easy, functional. What more could you ask for?
Marc
Steve's Digicams did a complete review of this camera. They said it was a good entry-level camera for a novice photographer at a $200 price point. I got it for ~ $115, which made it perfect.
Here's the review:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/fuji_a205.html
HTH,
M
http://www.ritzcamera.com/products/542043104.html
M
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
I picked up a real cheap (for 2 years ago) DimageX from ubid.com for $245. Now I see auctions on Ebay for less than $100. It is hard to go wrong.
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Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au