First Video type camera for an 11 year old

[Skyedriver]

We've been scratching our heads for a "not too expensive" Birthday present for number one (and after him there won't be another) son. He's 11 in two weeks time.
He seems to enjoy making Powerpoint presentations and then this morning I suddenly recalled the little "movies" he was making on a long journey in the back of the car on his little Canon "still" camera. Basically had a few toys talking to the camera. Then remembered him trying to film dolphins off Skye and Canna a few months ago. He enjoyed that too even though he missed most of them.
So is there a decent, not too expensive and not overly complicated Video type camera he could use.
I have a Sony Video camera but it's 12 year old and uses little cassette tapes and I reckon there must be better digital stuff out there now that he can maybe edit and play with on a lap top or something.
Thanks all

[singlecoil]

Sony video cameras are very good, but then so are all the other makes. My suggestion would be to decide on a budget and then choose from whichever make you feel comfortable with. You will also need to decide what type of camera to get, I should imagine size and weight will be major considerations. If you fancy a dslr-style camera then I understand Panasonic are very well thought of.

[GetCarter]

How much do you intend to spend Tony? Most 'still' cameras take great vid these days.

[gary71]

iPhone. Kill two birds with one stone as if he hasn't got one already he'll be begging soon. Anything past a 5S has a 'reasonable' camera and you can get iMovie for the iPhone to keep it all self contained and stop him stealing your laptop!

[JulianHJ]

GetCarter said:

How much do you intend to spend Tony? Most 'still' cameras take great vid these days.

A DSLR from the lower end of the range of one of the main manufacturers might be ideal. Plenty of opportunity to expand with different lenses and accessories as he learns. Something like this, for example.

[Skyedriver]

GetCarter said:

How much do you intend to spend Tony? Most 'still' cameras take great vid these days.

Hello Steve
He currently has a Canon Sureshot(?) which he can pop in his pocket and he gets decent results considering his age and camera limitations.
It was that camera he using for his little videos which were a bit poor quality but quite clever.
Personally, I'm still in the dark ages, have two Fuji S5600 (?) and hadn't realised a DSLR would do decent vids!
Must admit it was more the dedicated "camcorder" I was thinking of though.
Trouble is I was starting to research and the usual story - thats only (insert price)more and its got a better lens/ zoom, optical not digital etc.I was thinking of £100 initially as a starter camera, don't want something overly complex but don't want something that'll not do the job either.

Thanks

[GetCarter]

As you've seen there are loads of vid cameras out there, and from about 2009 onwards Nikon & Canon DSLRs started to take video (loads of them second hand available).

Had you considered one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GoPro-CHDHA-301-EU-HERO-C...

The free editing software is pretty damned good.

It'll fit on his bike, surf board, dogs collar, or your car!

There are cheaper versions.

I took this with said camera (this is a low res version, it does full HD)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn8xzp7fUlI

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 17th October 12:25

[rich888]

gary71 said:

iPhone. Kill two birds with one stone as if he hasn't got one already he'll be begging soon. Anything past a 5S has a 'reasonable' camera and you can get iMovie for the iPhone to keep it all self contained and stop him stealing your laptop!

That's a good idea indeed, just remember to hold the iPhone in landscape rather than portrait before you press the record button. Why Apple don't have a 'Landscape' or 'Portrait' option in the video settings is beyond me, or have they added this option in the latest iOS update?

I have a dedicated Panasonic video camera which writes to a 64GB SD card which is currently gathering dust in a draw somewhere having been replaced by my Sony RX100 M3 camera which records video as and when required.

My wife has been recording some video footage of the kids using her iPhone 5S and the results look pretty good. Most teenagers want an iPhone and the latest ones are excellent. This combined with the iMovie app for editing the footage and other effects does make it mighty impressive.

[Tycho]

I bought a camera similar to this from Amazon and it worked great, the accessories will allow him to attach it to a tripod, bike, helmet or pretty much anything. It will do 1080 @ 60fps or allow him to do 720 @ 120fps for slow mo. They all do time lapse as well. I used mine on holiday and was really happy with the results.

https://goo.gl/photos/Qiys2zrTUies9pGE9

https://goo.gl/photos/4bCpcRTQ4hwZ2FdZ7

[Skyedriver]

GetCarter said:

As you've seen there are loads of vid cameras out there, and from about 2009 onwards Nikon & Canon DSLRs started to take video (loads of them second hand available).

Had you considered one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GoPro-CHDHA-301-EU-HERO-C...

The free editing software is pretty damned good.

It'll fit on his bike, surf board, dogs collar, or your car!

I took this with said camera (this is a low res version, it does full HD)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn8xzp7fUlI

Excellent video Steve - it's a while since I was over there, back on Skye shortly though.
That go pro looks good actually and hadn't considered one previously.
Been looking at the Sony hand held ones which are a bit cheaper.
I can just see him annoying the dogs with one of these on their collars but might go for the hand held one at the minute. Put it on his bike, i could watch him go straight through a hedge while he fiddles with it rather than watch the road though.

[opieoilman]

I got my nephew a GoPro copy for Christmas as he'd started making little videos. Apparently it was very good (not seen him for a while due to various things going on this year). I have a Sony AS30V that I bought for surfing and to record my son as he grows up. They are just over £100 now I think and I find it a really good camera. Okay, it has no zoom, but the picture quality is pretty good, it's waterproof and I found it surprisingly good for stills. I have a little handle attachment for it to make it easier to use than just as the bare camera.

[rich888]

A few things to bear in mind if you're intent on buying a camcorder is that most of them are supplied with a flip out LCD touch-screen, the problem with this is that it's a bit delicate so perhaps not the wisest choice for an 11 year old.

The GoPro action camera suggested by a few users on here may be the way forward, though there are some cheaper competitors in the market offering similar products, am sure I read somewhere that GoPro were discontinuing quite a few of their range of cameras so you might be able to pick up a bargain.

Take a look at a few of the video reviews posted on YouTube by TechMoan, link to his website is: http://www.techmoan.com

[Skyedriver]

Thanks for that
Yes I had thought Gopro were in financial trouble
Have read above that their battery is not replacable and dies in a couple of years .. that's a worry.

Think I'm probably going with a Sony, not sure if it'll be travel documentaries, animated stuffed toys or just general mucking about, just hope he uses it rather than lets it lie around in his midden of a room.