Fairly inexpensive camera for 9 yo dd

[mrudman]

I'm thinking ahead for Christmas and Birthday presents (they fall within 3 weeks of each other), and one gift I've come up with for my 9 yo dd is a camera of her own.

She loves taking pictures, and has borrowed my dad's Leica several times, and loves taking my P&S out also.

When we were at the store the other day, she was drooling over similar cameras to my dad's.

So I thought now might be the time to get her, her own camera that she could take on trips, or just take along on hikes, etc (she's an outdoor enthusiast).

The type of camera I want to get her will be one that is slightly bigger than a pocket point&shoot.. the type that you can put a neck strap on to prevent her from dropping it.

Brand wouldn't really matter too much, although if she saw that it had a Leica lens (being a true Leica camera, or the Panasonic Lumix's with Leica lenses), it would probably thrill her.

I was really hoping to stick under $200, but not sure if that's possible.

Any suggestions on cameras? Would even be willing to get a used one, as long as it was in like-new condition, so I searched Ebay but didn't come up with much.

Thanks!
Michelle

 

[scootch]

I would get one that you can recharge(like lithium battery), rather than one with batteries...even rechargeable batteries. The kids are really hard on the battery life as they take picture after picture. Not sure if your daughter is into ipods too... but my kids both have digital cameras, but don't use them now as they take pictures with their ipod touches. If I can find one of their barely used digitals, I will let you know.. you can have it.

 

[Lucille1963]

Any chance you (or your father) could upgrade and she could get the hand-me-down?

I love my Canon G-11, since is small, it can function as a point and shoot, but if you want to get more technical, it has lots of functions that can be adjusted. Since there are newer models out, you might be able to find a deal.

 

[mrudman]

I would get one that you can recharge(like lithium battery), rather than one with batteries...even rechargeable batteries. The kids are really hard on the battery life as they take picture after picture. Not sure if your daughter is into ipods too... but my kids both have digital cameras, but don't use them now as they take pictures with their ipod touches. If I can find one of their barely used digitals, I will let you know.. you can have it.

Yea, I'm definitely planning on getting one with the rechargeable battery... so convenient! She does have an Itouch, but it's the 2nd generation, so no pictures on it. But I truly think she's like a camera more.. I have the 4th gen one, and she never asks to use that, but asks to use my camera all the time, lol. And thank you so much for the generous offer of one of your kid's cameras,

 

[mrudman]

Any chance you (or your father) could upgrade and she could get the hand-me-down?

I love my Canon G-11, since is small, it can function as a point and shoot, but if you want to get more technical, it has lots of functions that can be adjusted. Since there are newer models out, you might be able to find a deal.

My dad has actually upgraded a couple times since he originally bought the Leica, but I just don't feel comfortable with her carrying around a $700 camera, lol. That's a great idea though.. and in fact, I just upgraded mine too, but unfortunately the reason I had to is because my other camera has a developed a couple small problems with it.

I'll definitely have to look into the G-11 and see what kind of a price I could get for it.

Thanks,

 

[stsomewhere]

We just bought my daughter (11)

Sony waterproof camera. It is drop proof, waterproof, freezeproof.
I bought this camera last year. (hers is the upgraded version)

She has taken into the pool and has been making videos of her and her friends. Itis very easy to use. It is around $300.


http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/st...10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666427883

 

[sunlover13]

My daughter is 9. We bought her a camera for her 9th b-day. For X-mas she got an IPOD touch. She no longer uses the camera.

We got about 3 months of use of the camera and now she uses her IPOD touch to take pics and video.

Just something to think about if an IPOD touch is in your near future.

 

[mrudman]

My daughter is 9. We bought her a camera for her 9th b-day. For X-mas she got an IPOD touch. She no longer uses the camera.

We got about 3 months of use of the camera and now she uses her IPOD touch to take pics and video.

Just something to think about if an IPOD touch is in your near future.

It's a possibility a new Touch is in the future, but I do believe she'd actually like a camera more. She really loves using a true camera, and is concerned about the quality of pictures she takes, so I think she'd be disappointed with the pictures she would get from a Touch.

Thanks for the input,

 

[Dopey420]

Olympus Stylus. Waterproof, drop proof from 5 feet. Takes great pictures, especially in sunny conditions. approx $150.

 

[libinatorsmom]

I had a nice Cannon digital that I gave my daughter and bought myself a new SLR Camera last year for Christmas think about that... HE HE HE

 

[mrudman]

Olympus Stylus. Waterproof, drop proof from 5 feet. Takes great pictures, especially in sunny conditions. approx $150.

Thanks for the reply... looks like that one is a pocket-sized p&s though.. I'm looking to get a larger sized one that can use a neck strap.

 

[mrudman]

I had a nice Cannon digital that I gave my daughter and bought myself a new SLR Camera last year for Christmas think about that... HE HE HE

LOL.. yea, could do that.. but I did just buy myself a new P&S few days ago, so better lay off on another one for a while. I prefer the pocket-sized ones, but dd loves using the bigger sized ones, and has always drooled over those when we're out at stores, lol.

 

[ltl engine]

I got my son a camera at Target on clearance a few years ago...I was there about a month ago and notices they had several on clearance. They may not be exactly what you are looking for but its work checking out....

 

[bluedevilinaz]

Try looking at newegg(dot)com, tigerdirect(dot)com, or frys(dot)com. They all have really good deals on new and refurbished cameras and sometimes you can get brand new clearance one's for dirt cheap!

 

[mrudman]

So excited!,

Got just what I was looking for on Ebay at a decent price. Person had a Panasonic FZ8 camera in excellent condition with original box, documentation/cd, neck strap, 2 batteries, charger, lens cap & hood, and cables.

Was listed as a BIN price of $169, or best offer, so I gave an offer of $125 and he accepted it.

DD is going to love it! It's very similar to one I had way back when that I loved, and loved the picture quality from, but was just a tad big for my liking.

And if she really gets involved, it even takes external lenses, which she will think is really cool, .

Now just have to keep quiet about it for another 3 months, lol.