Can you recommend a camera for my 7yo son?

Buck

Buck

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Hi all

Wanting to buy my 7 year old a digital camera for Christmas as he loves to use my camera and to be fair can take some pretty good pics!

So, rather than him use/drop mine :eek: I thought I'd buy him one of his own.

It needs to be cheap (not bothered about it being brand new so happy to trawl eBay etc) but would like some recommendations if you could?

I've been directed towards the Kodak Easy Shares - any good?

Thanks for reading

Buck
 
I’d get his a Canon 1D MKIV with a few L series lenses. Of course, you would have to use it for a while until he grows into it.

Seriously though, its great to see someone his age with an interest in photography. Maybe a good second hand camera and after Christmas there should be plenty on the market .
 
Kemble3 said:
I’d get his a Canon 1D MKIV with a few L series lenses. Of course, you would have to use it for a while until he grows into it.
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:lol: had to laugh at that (it had crossed my mind but I don't think I'd get away with it :D
 
My boy got a Sony Cybershot 7.2mp a couple of years ago and enjoyed using it. To be honest, the quality is terrible, but it's cheap. It also shoots video (even worse!) and this year he is getting a compact video (flip). I think it's easier for them to take video than pictures as it doesn't rely on split second timing usually.

It's great to get a child's eye view of the world and they find different things interesting.

If you get too hung up on the reviews, you will end up paying more than you intended. Just try and picture it dropped on concrete to bring you back down to earth :D

Graham
 
blue max said:
My boy got a Sony Cybershot 7.2mp a couple of years ago and enjoyed using it. To be honest, the quality is terrible, but it's cheap. It also shoots video (even worse!) and this year he is getting a compact video (flip). I think it's easier for them to take video than pictures as it doesn't rely on split second timing usually.

It's great to get a child's eye view of the world and they find different things interesting.

If you get too hung up on the reviews, you will end up paying more than you intended. Just try and picture it dropped on concrete to bring you back down to earth :D

Graham
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Thanks Graham

That was exactly the discussion we had last night - that's why I'm not to fussed about buying a S/H one until I know he is enjoying it and it's not just a fad!
 
how do you think he'd get on with a DSLR ? they can be had for not a lot these days

maybe a used 300D or something similar? will make him feel grown up ! and be a great early start if he gets into it :thumbs:
 
i agree on the dslr - it gives more flexibility to experiment - aperture on a p&s never does much - and it's more fun zooming a slr

oldest and smallest you can get, with either a rubbish cheap zoom or a nifty fifty style lens - it's easier for kids to get around :)
 
something that bounces and is resistant to sticky fingers? (if my kids are anything to go by!) :D

I like it, i got my first camera (a boots instamatic 126film type thing) about that age, and loved being able to take my own (bad) photos. Never looked back.... Never got any better at taking them either, if i'm hoest! :lol:

Nice one, hope he gets something that suits and stimulates him :thumbs:
 
Bridge is good, I know a 14 yr old uses one all the time. The places it gets into would scare the heck out of me if he could split the lens from the body. when he got it I asked himm (half seriously, I had four at the time) if he wanted to borrow a 300D and he said no, not in his pockets or school! I breathed a sigh of relief but did appreciate his point. In your case even more so - a small bridge with a zoom like the Fuji s602 would be perfect, or event the 2800... they are smaller too so good for wee hands.

Arthur
 
-Rob- said:
How about a cheap bridge camera? I doubt a 7 year old will be able to tell the difference between that and an SLR. I wouldn't trust a 7 year old to change lenses on an SLR.
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my young neice got this Fuji finepix s5500...."here"

loves it ......:cool: .. a "grown-up" camera £130.....:thumbs:
 
i was gotten into photography when i was 7 and my uncle had bought me a non descript camera (aiptek i think) and thats what i started with. if i was you i would get a decent make such as panasonic, sony, canon, nikon and get a good model from like 1 or 2 years ago off ebay so you could get what was a £150 camera for around £50-70
 
How about a secondhand Canon 300D or a N..N..Nik (sorry cannot say the 'N' word) D40. with a nice 50mm f1.8. It's going to set you back a few hundred pounds but he'll have a camera "just like Dads" :)

I lent my 8 year old nephew a 300D/50mm combination and he loved it.
 
Ambermile said:
Sadly, not for a 300D - trust me :(
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Oops! Fair enough! Well there must be something similar about: I saw one for the 400D that fits the 350D too apparently on amazon. Or you could make something out of bubblewrap; kids love that! :lol:
 
I got my ( then ) 8 year old son a Fuji S5600, picked it up boxed for £50. He love's it, cheap and still takes reasonable photo's, true its not 10mp or anything like that, but it's good to get the basics.
 
fuji, sony or lumix bridge camera would be my choice

all in one and plenty of room to expand
some of the 6pm + ones are really nice too, old now...but very capable
 
To be fair, my nephew took good care of the 300D. However, I did warn him that if he broke it then it'd cost him his pocket money for the next 100 years! :)
 
i have a minolta dImage Z10. 3.2mp. 8x zoom, nice silver colour, takes sd cards. Mt 4 year old can use, as can my six year old. Has Apeture and shutter priority, as well as doing video. small enough to hold and use, no moving parts, takess AA batts, and has a larger than average sensor to take good photos with. has a continuos shooting mode, as well as a max 15 second exposure for "Beight dancing". £40 or less on the bay, when they on there.
 
I think the best option would be a bridge camera (the ones Fuji do are good). They look like SLRs but are considerably smaller (good for kids), the lens on them is usually very versatile (big zoom!) and I reckon your son would be much more pleased to get a bridge which looks the part rather than a compact for Christmas! I know I would at that age.

A cheap SLR would be good, but I think he's probably a bit young for that, at 7 he's probably pretty small so yeah, I reckon bridge :)

The Fuji S5500s are good and also the Sony H9 and H7 are quite good (look on ebay for H7s, you'll surely find some deals). The H7 also gives you a lot of SLR settings (shutter speed up to 30s) which he could have fun experimenting with :) And it has a really good video setting where you could use the full zoom! I'm not sure about the Fuji as I have no personal experience with it, but I'm sure it's a similar deal.

My vote is for a 2nd hand H7 or a similar Fuji :):)
 
Tricky69 said:
how do you think he'd get on with a DSLR ? they can be had for not a lot these days

maybe a used 300D or something similar? will make him feel grown up ! and be a great early start if he gets into it :thumbs:
Click to expand...

I like the idea - I just think he is a little too young at the minute - I don't want to put him off and at his age a year will make all the difference so if he's still interested in 12 months I'd have no hesitation at stepping onto a good starter DSLR for him

sheridant said:
i agree on the dslr - it gives more flexibility to experiment - aperture on a p&s never does much - and it's more fun zooming a slr

oldest and smallest you can get, with either a rubbish cheap zoom or a nifty fifty style lens - it's easier for kids to get around :)
Click to expand...

...as above, maybe next year?

sgt_pepper46 said:
something that bounces and is resistant to sticky fingers? (if my kids are anything to go by!) :D

I like it, i got my first camera (a boots instamatic 126film type thing) about that age, and loved being able to take my own (bad) photos. Never looked back.... Never got any better at taking them either, if i'm hoest! :lol:

Nice one, hope he gets something that suits and stimulates him :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Agreed. I almost don't want to have to go "ouch" if he does drop it and nor do I want to not be able to replace it if it goes to camera heaven!!!

-Rob- said:
How about a cheap bridge camera? I doubt a 7 year old will be able to tell the difference between that and an SLR. I wouldn't trust a 7 year old to change lenses on an SLR.
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Rob, this sounds sensible - imagine dropping the lens let alone the camera :eek:

Ambermile said:
Bridge is good, I know a 14 yr old uses one all the time. The places it gets into would scare the heck out of me if he could split the lens from the body. when he got it I asked himm (half seriously, I had four at the time) if he wanted to borrow a 300D and he said no, not in his pockets or school! I breathed a sigh of relief but did appreciate his point. In your case even more so - a small bridge with a zoom like the Fuji s602 would be perfect, or event the 2800... they are smaller too so good for wee hands.

Arthur
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Will take a look at the Fuji

Yardbent said:
my young neice got this Fuji finepix s5500...."here"

loves it ......:cool: .. a "grown-up" camera £130.....:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Hmmm - good camera but a bit more than I want to spend at the mo

mastertrinity said:
i was gotten into photography when i was 7 and my uncle had bought me a non descript camera (aiptek i think) and thats what i started with. if i was you i would get a decent make such as panasonic, sony, canon, nikon and get a good model from like 1 or 2 years ago off ebay so you could get what was a £150 camera for around £50-70
Click to expand...

Good advice

Organic said:
How about a secondhand Canon 300D or a N..N..Nik (sorry cannot say the 'N' word) D40. with a nice 50mm f1.8. It's going to set you back a few hundred pounds but he'll have a camera "just like Dads" :)

I lent my 8 year old nephew a 300D/50mm combination and he loved it.
Click to expand...

I think a DSLR is proably 12 months+ off as yet...

Ady Williams said:
I got my ( then ) 8 year old son a Fuji S5600, picked it up boxed for £50. He love's it, cheap and still takes reasonable photo's, true its not 10mp or anything like that, but it's good to get the basics.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ady - will take a look at these

DizMatt said:
fuji, sony or lumix bridge camera would be my choice

all in one and plenty of room to expand
some of the 6pm + ones are really nice too, old now...but very capable
Click to expand...

Will take a look at these too...




Thanks for all your replys/thoughts - keep 'em coming!
 
At 7 I'd get him one of those waterproof, bounceable point and shoot cameras that were on TV, the ones that fall down stairs into mud, get chewed by the dog and washed off under a tap.

I bought my 11 year old a 400D (second body for me as well) with a kit lens and apart from the pins breaking on the CF card slot it's been really good for him. I've lent him my 70-200 F4 as well and it's a perfect setup for him.

Last night he setup his own studio at the school fete and was taking portraits
 
Organic said:
How about a secondhand Canon 300D or a N..N..Nik (sorry cannot say the 'N' word) D40. with a nice 50mm f1.8. It's going to set you back a few hundred pounds but he'll have a camera "just like Dads" :)

I lent my 8 year old nephew a 300D/50mm combination and he loved it.
Click to expand...


will a nikon D40 work in auto focus with a nice cheap 50mm?? not sure that it will
 
Byker28i said:
At 7 I'd get him one of those waterproof, bounceable point and shoot cameras that were on TV, the ones that fall down stairs into mud, get chewed by the dog and washed off under a tap.
Click to expand...

This is the way forward. My niece got one and it shoots movies and allows her to add glasses, false noses etc to the images and she loves it. So did we actually so good fun all round. Looking to get one for my son when he is a touch older.
 
Must admit to thinking of buying one for when you don't want to carry the DSLR around, or using in the water etc.
 
Random suggestion but why not get him an oldish film cam? i used to have just a compact film cam at around that age, teaches him to be carefull with his stuff (Not opening the back and exposing the film XD) and to be fair you can pick them up for b****r all in charity shops and such
 
If he's a sensible kid, just get him a proper camera :p He might be a bit insulted if you get him a Fisher Price one :D
 
The fuji finepix range are very good value for money.

If he likes gadgets, one of the fuji J series cameras will make him happy, they have some street cred and take good shots, video too @ 30fps and sound with most models.
For £40 ish the j10 is a steal.

z20fd is a very nice shirt pocket camera and good quality construction, video with sound, scene modes etc..some nasty colours though, but hey its a good point and shooter.

Browse the fujifilm uk store and get a bargain on a factory refurb, These cameras are just like new, I am sure you will find something suitable here

https://secure.fujifilm.co.uk/shop/consumer/digital/digital-cameras/view-all

And corect me please if i am wrong but fuji cameras are all made in japan, a bit of a rare thing nowerdays.

:thumbs:
 
I have the Olympus MJU 770 SW I never have a problem
handing it over to the village kids in Turkey, its dropable from
5Ft and waterproof to 33' without a casing. Its fascinating
looking at photos taken from a childs perspective.:D
 
GlasgowGunner said:
What about the Lego one in the argos website very cool looking i thought, forget the v-tech and fisher price they are major naff.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produ...3/4|cat_14419441|Digital+cameras|14419442.htm
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I am getting my 6 year old son the lego camera this year, last year he had a vtech one and to be honest the quality wasn't that good it is basically a very cheap phone camera in a big platic case, to be honest the screen is useless as you can't even work out what the picture is until you download the images and any use of the flash results in a big white mess.

The Lego one is 3mp and should produce a reasonable quality picture and his other favorite thing to do is build Lego which he will be able to build up around the body (Look forward to his first Lego tripod).
 
Rolyratman said:
I am getting my 6 year old son the lego camera this year, last year he had a vtech one and to be honest the quality wasn't that good it is basically a very cheap phone camera in a big platic case, to be honest the screen is useless as you can't even work out what the picture is until you download the images and any use of the flash results in a big white mess.

The Lego one is 3mp and should produce a reasonable quality picture and his other favorite thing to do is build Lego which he will be able to build up around the body (Look forward to his first Lego tripod).
Click to expand...

Lol, well i have a girl and she says lego is for boys, though i thought it was very cool and the fact you can build onto the camera is also very cool. Well i had to get a PINK fuji for her.

And yeah she had a pink vtech one to £65 i think it was too and a bit of junk from day one not to mention the batteries you go through.
 
I am 14 and I started when I was 11 with a samsung i6 - a nice 6mp camera which shoots stills and videos. I got a DSLR and lens (D60 and bigma) in March 08 and haven't looked back. Once I realised that it wasn't just a fad, I went and bought a D300s :D

I think a bridge camera would be good, and then if you are sure that it isn't a fad, then you could get him a DSLR like a Nikon D40/40x/60 later.

Oscar ;)
 
After trying him with my old Canon G3 and also my DSLR I decided a compact was better for his small hands and also I want him to enjoy taking photographs and not see it as a toil of a pleasure

So, I bought him a nice little compact (Fuji) that will be spot on and will gradually intorduce him to the world of bridge and DSLR cameras as he gets older etc.

Thanks to all for their input and recommendations
 
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