Too Young for DSLR?

[Gdad]

My Daughter is in 1st grade- she will be 8 in October. She has a lot of interest in photography and likes to use my wife's old P&S. Her biggest problem with it is the small size and compact controls. Since my wife upgraded her Nikon D40 to a D80- and the resale value of the D40 is pretty minimal compared to what we paid for it last year- I was considering picking up an inexpensive 18-55mm lens for it and giving it to her.

Any thoughts or experiences with kids using a dslr?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I would say a hearty "why not?" What a great learning experience to start off with a dSLR!

Using it will become second nature (unlike with some of us adults ).

Cons I can think of: her carrying it; equipment costs; possible breakage.

Pros: will give you a focus for birthday and holiday gifts, starting, perhaps, with a nice girls' SLR camera case/backpack; eventual ease of use; strong hobby interest (even possible career focus), etc

I just ordered my first ever SLR and my DS10, who also loves photography (has been using our S2 and S3 and won a local contest last year), is already asking when he can use it, how it works, etc. The little bugger will probably pick it up faster than I will!

 

[Furgus]

I agree and say why not? You might want to pick up some body armor for it. Even if she is very careful, kids do have a tendency to drop things.....heck I drop things, maybe I should get some

http://store.made-products.com/products/nikon-d40-slr-camera-armor-black

The D40 would be a great little camera for her to learn on. Even though my daughter is only a month old, I can't wait for our first father, daughter outing....

 

[jann1033]

since you already have the camera and i'm assuming it has auto controls i would say it's a good investment..she can use the auto for photos( faster gratification) till she learns the manual type controls and an 8 yr old is getting old enough to be careful with prized possessions. maybe let her keep using the point and shoot to take photos of the cat etc unless mom and dad around to make sure the dslr is handled carefullly( ie photo outings)
i don't think i was much older when i got my first camera, not a slr but it's still in one piece

 

[donaldduck1967]

I say go for it. My 5yr old enjoys using mine.

 

[Gdad]

I love the Camera Armor idea- I wonder if it comes in PINK?

 

[DVC Jen]

I agree with everyone else - I wouldn't go out and BUY a dslr for a child that young but if you have an older one sitting around not being used - makes perfect sense.

I personally wouldn't let her just have it - but have it available for her use when Mom and Dad is around. I let my youngest DD (14) use my XTi - but considering how many cell phones and pns cameras she has gone through in the past few years I don't let her keep it. I don't have a lot of faith that it wouldn't end up dropped in the pool - or the toilet (as two of her cell phones have) - or simply abused by being carried around in her backpack.

But then again - your 1st grader isn't a teenager who knows she is right and Mom is wrong when it comes to how responsible she is.

 

[photo_chick]

My second grader (will be 8 in June) uses a 35mm SLR and if I got a new DSLR I'd be passing mine down to her with no questions. She's got a pretty good grasp of how sutter speed, ISO, light and aperture work to make the exposure and she's always playing with the settings, trying new things.

 

[DebºoºS]

Absolutely! If they have an interest in it I say do what you can to encourage it. I gave my DS#1 one of my Nikon 35mms when he was about that age. DSLRs didn't exist at the time. If I had an extra one he would've gotten one. We went on shoots together it was so much fun. He's still in love with photography. One of his pics is in the contest this week, Mstergrump.

 

[Gdad]

I found a good deal on an 18-70mm kit lens and picked it up at lunch today- we went up to the park to try it out tonight. She is a happy camper.

 

[emmabelle]

I found a good deal on an 18-70mm kit lens and picked it up at lunch today- we went up to the park to try it out tonight. She is a happy camper.

OMG...she's so cute! I'm also jealous, I'd like that camera!

 

[YEKCIM]

Boy, that is an ear-to-ear grin if I ever saw one, and who could blame her! And, she has a built-in expert instructor to boot. Can't wait to see HER keepers from your next WDW trip!

~Ed

 

[Furgus]

She has a better hand holding technique then me

Can't wait to see some of her pictures.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

She is a happy camper.

I'd say so! This is a beautiful picture.

 

[Evad]

I found a good deal on an 18-70mm kit lens and picked it up at lunch today- we went up to the park to try it out tonight. She is a happy camper.

Can't wait to see the results of your dd's photo outing Jeff. Keep us updated please!! Thanks