Can somebody suggest a camera?

[LBAK]

I'd like to get my 12 yo daughter a camera for Christmas. She is very mature and responsible for her age. She loves to scrapbook and use photoshop for her pictures. I want something she can learn with but I don't want to break the bank. Any help will be aprreciated.

 

[MELSMICE]

We bought each of our girls (14, 14 & 17) the Kodak Easyshare C530 camera - 5 megapixels. We purchased it at Wal Mart. I just saw it recently for about $89 at Wal Mart.

For someone just starting out I would highly recommend this camera. It is about the size of a deck of cards.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

If she's really serious about photography, I'd consider a Canon Rebel or Nikon D50/D40. You might also consider the low end of the Pentax DSLR line, although I really don't know much about them. I'd look at picking up a used one to hold down costs.

She'll learn a lot more about photography with an SLR than she will with a P&S camera. If you don't think she'll continue with photography as a hobby, that's probably overkill.

 

[ukcatfan]

You might also consider the low end of the Pentax DSLR line, although I really don't know much about them.

If you do consider this option, you can get the Pentax K110D for a little over $400 with the kit lens b/c it has a $50 rebate right now. They are great cameras with much room to grow.

Kevin

 

[captaincrash]

I imagine the better answers would...

... take into consideration what your detailed objectives were for a digicam and your daughter. A DSLR for a 12 year old would require some time with your child to develope their ability to exploit some of the unique advantages inherient to a DSLR. On the other hand an under $100 P&S could achieve a ton of developement too. I think valuable experience can could be gained by engaging your daughter with the post camera potential of her images. Learning to refine and manipulate images can be an art form unto itself. As such, you might want to invest more resources into software or photography classes suitable for your daughter.

At any rate, a more direct answer to your primary query from me could best be summed with what I did for my oldest daughter. I started her on a $30 Polaroid digicam with a primitive LCD screen. Then I stepped her up to my old G1. The eBay value of the G1 was about $135-150 at the time I passed it on to her. Since then I started involving her more with a computer so she was no where ready for a true photo managing or manipulating application. You have to consider though that shes not even 6 yet! So - she's still learning about the basics of a modern computer.... plus she is just barely reading now!

So - for a 12 year old I know you can accomplish a lot. What you get for her in the way of camera, software and classes depends upon what you hope to achieve through an exploration of digital photograhy in the short thru mid term ahead.

 

[ndelaware]

Costco has the Canon SD 550 digital camera and the Canon iP6310 printer packaged together for $280.

 

[horsegirl]

Costco has the Canon SD 550 digital camera and the Canon iP6310 printer packaged together for $280.

Well aren't you the smart shopper. We have the Canon Power Shot A 620. We love it. Got it through Amazon with free shipping for $220. No printer included. The zoom is amazing. And the cards hold 500 pix each.

 

[ndelaware]

Well aren't you the smart shopper.

Thanks Horsegirl, I think?!