Camera for my grandson, almost 7 years old
My daughter has asked me to research a camera for my grandson who is 6. We don't think he'll be thrilled with a "child's camera" because he wants to grab my Sony alpha 100, his mom's Sony S75 and he'd be disappointed if his picture couldn't make an 8 x 10 print on our inkjets.
He's relatively careful, but he's still all boy, meaning he can be forgetful and toss things. We think he'd know he'd have to be careful with a camera. It should be fairly simple to use -- we have Macs so it has to be multi platform.
But, we'd like something he could grow into -- and of course it shouldn't cost a lot of money :rofl :rofl :rofl
I would hate to buy used because one never knows how badly the camera was used and abused.
Any suggestions for an almost impossible request?
He's relatively careful, but he's still all boy, meaning he can be forgetful and toss things. We think he'd know he'd have to be careful with a camera. It should be fairly simple to use -- we have Macs so it has to be multi platform.
But, we'd like something he could grow into -- and of course it shouldn't cost a lot of money :rofl :rofl :rofl
I would hate to buy used because one never knows how badly the camera was used and abused.
Any suggestions for an almost impossible request?
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Comments
Comments and constructive critique always welcome!
Elaine Heasley Photography
Film cameras are also self limiting in that you can get 24 exposure rolls that teach the child how to manage limited resources.
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The Olympus 2020 is a great and capable digital camera which can be used on full automatic (great for a young kid), program, Aperture and shutter priority as well as on manual.
This camera ran close to $700 when new and is now sold on eBay at some remarkably low prices.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Olympus-Camedia-C-2020-Zoom-w-extras-Super-Condition_W0QQitemZ160180276339QQihZ006QQcategoryZ30003QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/OLYMPUS-CAMEDIA-DIGITAL-CAMERA-C-2020-ZOOM_W0QQitemZ110192358777QQihZ001QQcategoryZ31388QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
With digital, the youngster can shoot to his heart's content and it will cost you nothing.
You can print from your computer printer or use the very cheap Costco or Walmart printing services.
This camera is sturdy and the boy can "grow into it"
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_digital_sw.asp
They are made to withstand the war. Can be dropped from 5 feet up. Completely waterproof. Great for kids. They can drop it, stand on it, throw it in the pool, and it will still work great. Plus they have huge lcd screens.
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That is rather my point. My kids could have had Polaroid and, at one point, that's what they wanted. I resisted because I wanted them to learn how to be "responsible" with the camera as a tool.
If you want your kids to treat cameras as tools, and that means all cameras (unless you keep your own camera locked up), then get them something that forces responsible behavior. Otherwise a child will treat a digital (or Polaroid) as a toy if allowed.
BTW, I also bought myself a simple camera during that period and the kids and I would go on "outings", armed only with these simple tools. Kids learn by mimicking first, and then they learn by doing. If you don't spend some serious time with them, they may never learn.
My children are all grown now and I guarantee you that they all have a respect for cameras as tools, not toys.
I also taught 4H kids about photography and I used an old 5x7 view camera, adapted with a simple magnifier lens (around 180mm and f2.5 or so). We never even took pictures during the first session, which perplexed both the kids and their parents. My point was to teach the kids about "the image", how it was formed, how it restricted the view, how exposure and composition were affected, etc.
By the second lesson, the kids were invited to bring their own cameras and we would go on "safari" looking for potential situations for photography. Afterwards, the kids were encouraged to use their cameras and bring prints for the 3rd lesson, which was to review and critique, but only from a constructive perspective.
All this was using "simple" fim cameras.
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However, if you have to bow to modern times, look at this camera.
http://www.goprocamera.com/
Some of my kayaking buddies use these and they are nearly indestrucible. Which would be my first concern with a camera for a child that young.
If you Google the model you want, I've seen them discounted at less than 50%.
Sawyer
BTW, the first photos taken by my son, Mack -- almost 4.
http://mikesawyer.smugmug.com/gallery/3591382#204118818
I let him use my Pentax W30 when we're out together and he keeps the lanyard around his neck.
Thanks for the suggestion, Ziggy.
CJ has had digital cameras pointed in his direction since he was born. He's a rather bright young man, an only child and a product of his technically oriented parents, and his gadget queen aunt, and his grandma whose camera is "surgically attached." He's watched me download 100 photos I've taken in one session, watched his mom download her photos and then create digital scrapbook pages with the photos she's taken of him. Then he's watched the pages (and photos) come off my inkjet printer. He's aware we don't use all the photos.
He's also aware when the "memory" gets full, and that we can delete the "bad" images to make room for more, or lower the image size to make room on the memory.
The only thing he hasn't done is take photos off the camera's memory by himself, because his parents extremely limit his computer time and usage.
So in actuality he's probably more like a 10 year old, but he's a boy, an active boy. He's been taught from an early age to take care of his possessions because once lost, or broken, they will not be replaced.
He wants a "real" camera like his mom, his aunt and his grandma have...
I'm trying to find an inexpensive one.
Oh, I should mention his aunt let him take pictures with her camera phone when he was very young. I can't believe how "easy" all this stuff and how natural it will be for him to use it at such a young age. He's even put together a simple web page this year!
The simplest thing would be for his mother to give him her camera and buy herself a better newer model, but she refuses to part with her camera because she likes it so much!
My cameras have all been handed down through the kids and right now I don't have an extra one I could give him.
I need to hit the camera store soon, but I'm working on another project right now that has a deadline -- and I have some photo trips planned this week, so going into the camera store is the last thing I want to do right now.
I'm afraid "film" won't fly for my grandson... excellent suggestion though.
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Thanks for your suggestions. I was really hoping for a minimum of 3 megapixels, preferably 5. We have inkjet printers so getting prints is not a problem.
We will probably let him offload his image, open it in photoshop, crop it, and resize it for the printer, and print it out.
Six you say -- photoshop? Oh yes, he's just been waiting (very impatiently) for his mom to let him at her photoshop!
His mom jokes that in a couple of months he'll be better at it than she is...
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Those are neat, love the crocs!
I'll have to look into those when I have a little more time.
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I like the idea of the cameras that are shockproof and waterproof to a certain extent. I can see CJ putting the camera underwater at the aquarium's touch and feel tanks to get close ups,
I'm beginning to think an older Sony might be the best solution, as CJ and his mom could share memory sticks and have rechargable batteries. It will be easier, since his mom is familiar with the Sony menus etc., for her to help him, rather than learn an entirely new system.
I really don't like the fact that with every new camera, it's a new battery charger, new type of memory etc.
Rayna just got a H9 for her "run around" camera and it takes yet a different battery, a different charger, and a different type of memory. Grrrrrrrrr.
I still miss my F828 sometimes, even with its purple fringing. Miss that swivel lens! I can't wait to play with Rayna's H9 once the novelty has worn off and she lets me borrow it for a day or two.
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