Camera, kids, photography

dori2o

My daughter (14) is currently exploring photography through her Art class at school and is really enjoying it.

She's exploring different methods of developing pictures and is even starting to use photoshop software to edit them.

She's expressed an interest in getting a 'proper' camera rather than the Kodak C613 that we have at home.

I've been looking at websites and DSLR cameras and to be honest I haven'ty got a clue what I'm looking at.

I'm looking for a not too expensive camera that is suitable for someone who wants to do more than take family holiday snaps. Possibly something that can be built up with other bits and bobs over time, or a decent all in one/compact system camera which again isn't going to require the use of multiple credit cards to purchase and is easy to use.

Thanks.

London_Ash

Get a budget D3100 or D3000. It's an entry level DSLR.

Much more advanced than a compact camera, but at the same time, offers a range of professional features to get her started.

If she wants, she can then expand to different lenses, which are compatible. The camera will come with an 18-55mm lens, and the most common first purchase for a new lens is a telephoto, 50-300mm. It's not too expensive in comparison to other lenses, and allows the photographer to get shots from very far away.

We also have the macro lens, fisheye lens, portrait 50mm fixed lens, and they all serve different purposes. My fiancee studied photography at University.

Big_Graeme

Look at either a decent second hand Canon or Nikon DSLR (you can pick them up for buttons on eBay and Gumtree) or one of the entry level DSLR's from them. That will be the most flexible system as using a compact or all in one she will run into its limitations quite quickly.

Nilrem

It looks like the Kodak C613 is a fairly basic point and shoot camera.

Rather than going for a DSLR (which when you allow for lenses) is likely to cost a small fortune, it might be worth looking at one of the more advanced compact cameras that lets you select settings and ISO's manually.

From memory the Panasonic Lumix range for example start at around £100 or so and have a variety of modes ranging from full auto to letting you select various settings manually (I think my 3-4 year old one lets me select ISO and exposure time).

Or if you hunt around there are sometimes offers on models that whilst not full on DSLR's let you swap the lenses for different uses (i think a couple start at around £250 for the body with lenses at around £50+), or even some older DSLR's may be available cheap second hand and IIRC some of them take the same lenses old SLR's did (so you can often pick the lenses up cheapish).

torbrex

I second the 3100, I have one and it came as a kit with the 50-200mm lens for about £350

Alternately for smaller hands, a bridge camera might be a suitable starting point, no interchangable lenses but she will get the feel of a DSLR without the size and weight and most good bridge cameras come with at least a 10x digital zoom, prices range from about £140 for a decent one.

Delia_Cardei

Think this's a good option given that the uses and requirements you describe suggest you want something affordable and less bulky: Nikon Coolpix S32. Weatherproof, shockproof, and able to capture HD video. It has 13-megapixel CMOS sensor and 3x optical zoom---can shoot 720p HD video at 30fps, which is probably good enough for kids. And the price is affordable, perhaps below 100. HTH.

dori2o

Thanks all.

There's plenty to think about above. Thanks for your input.

I've decided I'm going to take daughter to a local camera shop. They've been open around 70 years, a small family run business, so hopefully I won't get ripped off. The guy who runs it also refurbishes and repairs cameras and is shown as an approved repair centre for a couple of the manufacturers. Hopefully this means he sells 2nd hand/refurbished items.

I'm hoping that there will be a way to try in the shop so that she can get a feel for the camera and we can see the quality of the pictures (much like the local darts shop we have where you can go in and try different sets in order to find the appropriate weight, or be measured for a personal unique set), and with them having 70 years experience they should be able to point us in the right direction.

For now she's continuing with the Kodak and gaining experience with Photoshop/pixlr/Gimp etc.

mr_fishbulb

dori2o wrote: »

I've decided I'm going to take daughter to a local camera shop. They've been open around 70 years, a small family run business, so hopefully I won't get ripped off. The guy who runs it also refurbishes and repairs cameras and is shown as an approved repair centre for a couple of the manufacturers. Hopefully this means he sells 2nd hand/refurbished items.

If they do second hand cameras then maybe they will have a Nikon D40. That was my first DSLR and it's great for learning on. Yes it's only 6 Megapixels (but you can get an 8x10 print from that easily), and the ISO means you need to take more thought around low-light shots, but it's really light, is great with the kit lens, and if you add the cheap & light 55-200 VR then you have a versatile and portable kit.

[Deleted User]

Maybe look into a camera that can use old, second hand lenses

My old, defunct, Panasonic L10 could also use ancient Olympus OM lenses. I was able to buy all sorts of lenses for £20-30 each. The only downside was manual focus; but frankly that's not a bad thing for her to learn to manage.

Those second hand dSLRs would also be pretty cheap too now.