? Advice on digital camera for 12 y/o ?

[RachelTori]

Hi! Tori has been wanting her own digital camera for quite some time and I'd like to get her one for Christmas (mind you, I don't even have one yet!!! ) What I'd like is an inexpensive, yet reliable digital. Any advice on which brand or specific models; stores or on-line dealers would be greatly appreciated!

TIA

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I think you are going to have to define "inexpensive" for anybody to give much help.

Digital cameras can run from under $100 to thousands of dollars.

 

[faith]

I don't own one either. Try Sams Club or Walmart. The prices there will be reasonable...around $100.00? An employee should be helpful.

 

[pattyT]

Depends on what youconsider reasonable?
Most of the major stores usually have good ones on special the day after Thanksgiving if youshop that day and it would be a GOOD camera...

 

[Frantasmic]

Get at least a 2.0 megapixel, if you can anymore. If not, 3.2 would be great.

Canon, Fuji, and Olympic make good small end cameras.

Check www.cnet.com and review the models. Many companies (like Target, etc.) are bundling a good small end camera with a good photo printer. You find those packages all the time in the Sunday circulars.

 

[Brianne]

I'd be more apt to getting a really inexpensive one at first, to ease her into using it (handling it without dropping, losing it, etc.). Then upgrading her at a major holiday/birthday after she's used one for awhile.

Wal-Mart's got some around $40-50---we bought my DS one about a year ago. Nothing fancy, but the pictures turn out ok, and it uses the same cable to download photos to the computer as my digital camera.

 

[RachelTori]

I think you are going to have to define "inexpensive" for anybody to give much help.

Digital cameras can run from under $100 to thousands of dollars.

"inexpensive" is slightly vague, isn't it?!! OK, let's say around $100, give or take. Don't want a piece of junk but not willing to make an investment either. Want something that will be reliable for simple, 12 year old girl picture taking!!!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

well, my 12 year old son is using my old Olympus Camedia 4000, which seems to go for around $100 on EBAY used. That kind of kills me because I paid about $500 for it 3 years ago. We have several framed shots around the house that he has taken with the camera in 8 x 10 and 5 x 7 and just printed off on my printer.

Pluses: 4.0 MP and a zoom lens (kids love to play with the zoom). The lens cap is attached with a string so he can't lose it. It uses rechargeable AA batteries so the fact that he never remembers to turn it off isn't a huge deal. It has a video mode where he can do short movies --- we've got several cheap memory cards off of EBAY.

Minuses: It isn't incredibly big but it isn't pocket sized either. I see alot of the girls in his class on field trips -- they seem to like those small colorful fit in the pocket type cameras.

 

[RachelTori]

I appreciate the info, Toby's Friend! I would prefer to buy a *new in the box* digital since I will be giving it to her for Christmas.

Was just hoping that someone would have the perfect solution to save me the hours of research - plus I don't know diddly about digitals!

 

[ahutton]

Walmart has Vivitar brand digital cameras, good megapixel (3+) that have a flash for $60. They also had a few that were another step up from there at price increments. We're actually considering a $20 version (no flash, holds 152 photos) for my kids!

 

[Cindy B]

Thanks for starting this thread because we are considering a $100-150 camera for my then 11 year old son for Christmas as well.

We did look at Vivitar and that didn't wow my DH.

We want a decent brand but don't want to pay a lot either. My DH is a brand loyal person, and goes for the expensive quality stuff.

What is a good thing for decent quality and fair price? I'd spend more for quality if necessary.

 

[RachelTori]

Walmart has Vivitar brand digital cameras, good megapixel (3+) that have a flash for $60. They also had a few that were another step up from there at price increments. We're actually considering a $20 version (no flash, holds 152 photos) for my kids!

Thanks! That sounds like it might be worth looking into. Usually when I get to a camera counter (be it WalMart, Target, Ritz....), I get overwhelmed! And for whatever reason, my eyes always go to the $500-$1,000 models

 

[RachelTori]

Thanks for starting this thread because we are considering a $100-150 camera for my then 11 year old son for Christmas as well.

We did look at Vivitar and that didn't wow my DH.

We want a decent brand but don't want to pay a lot either. My DH is a brand loyal person, and goes for the expensive quality stuff.

What is a good thing for decent quality and fair price? I'd spend more for quality if necessary.

Wouldn't it be great to find a $100-150 decent camera?! I'm sure one exists. Surely someone on these boards has the answer.

 

[Cindy B]

Wouldn't it be great to find a $100-150 decent camera?! I'm sure one exists. Surely someone on these boards has the answer.

Well, my DH likes the higher end Nikons, Sonys and such. I think the Kodak Easyshare or Polaroid would do my son well, but my DH also wants a specific camera that uses the same memory stuff we do, so it can interchange.

 

[SplshMtn99]

We just bought this camera for work (insurance agency). $129 at Walmart (not online) Kodak 3.1MP Easyshare CD33 Digital Camera

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4104480

We wanted something that was easy for everyone to use & learn. It uses 2 AA batteries -- not a proprietory battery. We bought rechargables. It includes 16mb of built-in memory, so we didn't even need to buy any extra memory. We can if we need to later. We get about 20 pictures from the built-in memory, before we need to download. That's plenty for us.

Has zoom, flash, scene modes, video.

I personally tend to buy $500-$700 Olympus or Canon cameras, & I was impressed with how much this little camera had for the price. We were actually looking for an even more basic camera, but we are very happy with this one.

 

[RachelTori]

We just bought this camera for work (insurance agency). $129 at Walmart (not online) Kodak 3.1MP Easyshare CD33 Digital Camera

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4104480

We wanted something that was easy for everyone to use & learn. It uses 2 AA batteries -- not a proprietory battery. We bought rechargables. It includes 16mb of built-in memory, so we didn't even need to buy any extra memory. We can if we need to later. We get about 20 pictures from the built-in memory, before we need to download. That's plenty for us.

Has zoom, flash, scene modes, video.

I personally tend to buy $500-$700 Olympus or Canon cameras, & I was impressed with how much this little camera had for the price. We were actually looking for an even more basic camera, but we are very happy with this one.

Thanks! I will definitely look into this one! The price is right!