First camera for a 6 year old

[Jimmy Two Times]

Hello People,

It's my nieces 6th birthday this week and I'd like to buy her a camera. She has already shown a very keen interest, snapping away with her Nintendo DS.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Budget around £50-£75.

Thanks

[LongQ]

Assuming you want something that looks like a camera rather than a toy that takes pictures ...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-PowerShot-A490-Sil...


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-IXUS-105-refurbish...

Sometimes the offer cameras in interesting colours but the site seems to be having a bit of a break oveer the festive period.

It's possible these may be more advanced than you were thinking of but at least you can see what is available for the money. They are 'refurbished' at that price but so far the only signs I have seen of refurbishment from several items purchased are slightly tatty boxes. In fact the last item received - a flash unit - the box was not so much tatty as very very dusty! Contents were perfect though.

[Jimmy Two Times]

You assumed correctly, I am looking for something that is a proper camera rather than a toy.

My main concern is that not having children myself, I have no idea of what is appropriate. If I get her a camera like either of the ones in the links that LongQ has kindly posted above ......will it be too advanced for? I don't want her to be overwhelmed resulting in her loosing interest. Or am I worrying about nothing and she will "grow into"?

A little background is that I'm taking up photography as a hobby and have just ordered a DSLR. The intention is to spend some time her as we learn together.

LongQ thanks for the links, unfortunately her birthday is on Thursday, so I've left it a bit late. Shipping on those items takes around a week. Otherwise either would have been fine.

I have found this and assume it will be as good as anything for this price?

[http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.210-8324.aspx]

[Jimmy Two Times]

oops ....having been an avid lurker of forums, but never posted until now ..... how do I post links?

The link above is to a Nikon Coolpix S2500.

[Schmeeky]

Jimmy Two Times said:

oops ....having been an avid lurker of forums, but never posted until now ..... how do I post links?

The link above is to a Nikon Coolpix S2500.

Take the [] away and it's clickable http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.210-8324.aspx

Or you can do this Nikon Coolpix S2500

Click on my quote button to see how I've formatted it.

HTH


ETA - Welcome to PH JTT!

[LongQ]

Jimmy Two Times said:

You assumed correctly, I am looking for something that is a proper camera rather than a toy.

My main concern is that not having children myself, I have no idea of what is appropriate. If I get her a camera like either of the ones in the links that LongQ has kindly posted above ......will it be too advanced for? I don't want her to be overwhelmed resulting in her loosing interest. Or am I worrying about nothing and she will "grow into"?

A little background is that I'm taking up photography as a hobby and have just ordered a DSLR. The intention is to spend some time her as we learn together.

LongQ thanks for the links, unfortunately her birthday is on Thursday, so I've left it a bit late. Shipping on those items takes around a week. Otherwise either would have been fine.

Basically probably anything will do as a starter - they all have simple modes and slightly less simple modes that should be fine for starting out and retaining interest.

Whether something is right and, shall we say, 'lasting' as an interest depends very much on the individual whether adult or child.

There may be some risk that a child (or more likely its friends or siblings) is unaware of some of the less robust aspects of small electrical devices ut I think one just has to take that risk if you want anything more than a very very simple point and shoot. Or an over-your-budget ruggedised and water resistant device. My kids always seemed to be breaking or losing their cameras when I was buying them. Mind you they were at University at the time ...

Bear in mind that you're in to memory cards and, probably, battery chargers and so on as well. Plus availability of a computer with which to view and edit the results (editing may well be the best fun to be had in the longer term ...)

Canon_Outlet delivery is usually quicker than they say but after the holidays who knows how long it might take and yes, Thursday is a bit too close for delivery comfort.

[Jimmy Two Times]

miniadventure said:

This one looks good for the money:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004I5C3Z8/ref=...

I ordered this earlier today. Thank you miniadventure for your suggestion, PH really does work . Amazingly the same camera in pink is £102 ....I'll take it in black for £65 thank you very much!

Thanks for the welcome Schmeeky .... I did click on your quote and am now that little bit wiser (now I just need to work out if and how I can quote more than one post in a reply lol)

[Jimmy Two Times]

LongQ said:

Basically probably anything will do as a starter - they all have simple modes and slightly less simple modes that should be fine for starting out and retaining interest.

Whether something is right and, shall we say, 'lasting' as an interest depends very much on the individual whether adult or child.

There may be some risk that a child (or more likely its friends or siblings) is unaware of some of the less robust aspects of small electrical devices ut I think one just has to take that risk if you want anything more than a very very simple point and shoot. Or an over-your-budget ruggedised and water resistant device. My kids always seemed to be breaking or losing their cameras when I was buying them. Mind you they were at University at the time ...

Bear in mind that you're in to memory cards and, probably, battery chargers and so on as well. Plus availability of a computer with which to view and edit the results (editing may well be the best fun to be had in the longer term ...)

Canon_Outlet delivery is usually quicker than they say but after the holidays who knows how long it might take and yes, Thursday is a bit too close for delivery comfort.

I have watched her destroy some of her toys, lol. However, I noticed she does take real care with her Nintendo DS, so I'm fully expecting her new camera to be treated the same. Another factor for me was, even though £100 is nothing nowadays, is it too much to spend on a 6 year old - would I be spoiling her?

Computer availability isn't a problem. I hadn't even thought about the editing though, something else to look forward to, in time.

Thank you all ..... one happy uncle and hopefully one happy niece come Thursday

[Schmeeky]

Jimmy Two Times said:

Thanks for the welcome Schmeeky .... I did click on your quote and am now that little bit wiser

Cool

Jimmy Two Times said:

(now I just need to work out if and how I can quote more than one post in a reply lol)

It can be done! You need to get PH opened in two windows, have one where you compile the message, and the other where you quote the post you want, then copy it across to the other window, then go back across and do the same with the second post you want to quote. HTH

[miniadventure]

Jimmy Two Times said:

I ordered this earlier today. Thank you miniadventure for your suggestion, PH really does work . Amazingly the same camera in pink is £102 ....I'll take it in black for £65 thank you very much!

Thanks for the welcome Schmeeky .... I did click on your quote and am now that little bit wiser (now I just need to work out if and how I can quote more than one post in a reply lol)

No worries - don't think you can go wrong at that price