Photography

[horseshoes]

Are there any keen photographers on AB. My granddaughter wants a "proper" (her words) camera for Christmas. She's only nine and saw my neighbour with his "proper" camera about a year ago and has wanted one ever since. It's one of those big black cameras with an attached lens - proper "proper looking", if you see what I mean. Anyway, is there such a thing as that type of camera but in a digital version. I believe that chldren should be able to try different things, but I also believe in NOT rushing it and spending a fortune, so I'll look for something 2nd hand or a bottom of the range one to start. Any comments please.

Thank you.

[Tilly2]

Horseshoes, if you Google Digital SLR cameras, there are loads to look at.

[Sycamore3House]

My daughter (who is 21) and I were looking the other day. She fancies getting a Fujifilm fine pix and they had them in argos for £45 to £50. I have the same make but a older model. It takes good pictures.

[Stephen_G]

Be prepared to pay through the nose for the "Proper looking" DSLR Camera though...

I have the Fujifilm HS30 Bridge Camera

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

I am looking to upgrade to a "Proper looking" DSLR, but my Fuji does me, and the zoom is great.

[jomifl]

Does she want a proper film camera or a proper digital camera? There are some excellent bargains on Ebay if you want a proper film camera, you can get a very good SLR film camera for £20 and interchangeale lenses in mint condition for as little as £5 for a standard lens and £20 for a high quality zoom lens. Equivalent digital 'proper' cameras (DSLR)will cost 10 times as much. The daughter (11 years old) of a friend has got into film photography and has really taken to it and has produced some excellent work....

[MichaelZZ]

My granddaughter is just turned seven. She has had a cheap pocket digital camera for a couple of years ever since her dad was given it as a freebie at a conference. She now understands the very basic rudiments of taking snapshots (hold the camera as steady as poss, don't shoot straight into the sun, try not to chop off people's heads, etc).
Recently when they came to stay with us I lent her my Panasonic Lumix FZ and told her she could take as many photos as she wanted and we'd go through them on the computer later. She managed to capture some excellent shots which she was very pleased with. We actually printed a few of them out for her Summer holiday scrapbook.
You probably know that the Lumix isn't a DSLR with interchangeable lenses but is what is termed a "bridge" camera. The advantages of this type of camera are that it gives very encouraging results in "Point and Shoot" mode and is also light and compact enough to carry around, snapping as you go. Also, it looks like a "proper camera"!
I haven't checked but I would guess that you could pick up a second hand camera of this sort for around £100

[horseshoes]

Thank you for all your replies. I'm afraid I know NOTHING about cameras. I have an Olympus digital camera (I have to have a camera because I do a lot of ebaying). Our granddaughter is used to using that and their similar one. I don't want to get her a camera which takes photos that have to be developed. In other words a camera which has lenses to attach but one that is also digital. Perhaps there is no such thing.

[Prudie]

Yes there is horseshoes, you are looking for a Digital SLR (DSLR). There are lots available but you are looking at £150 minimum. Have a look on ebay

[horseshoes]

Right ho. I'm off there now. Thank you.

[Eve]

I'm a Lumix fan too. I love taking photographs and very amateur but it has been all over the place with me and has helped me take some good photos.

I'm loathe to move to an SLR and expense until I have a greater understanding of the mechanics of photography. I am quite happy pottering around snapping away so it's been great for me.

[Prudie]

Good luck. Remember if you want interchangeable lenses you need a DSLR not 'DSLR style' or Bridge

[keyplus90]

I would say that you should go for a bridge camera as they look like proper digital SLR without the hassle of changing the lens, therefore good for children. Fujifilm are the best in that regard as they are quite affordable too. Look at ebay or Argos. Here are few examples.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=fujifilm+bridge+camera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&gws_rd=cr&ei=Fp1EUoKQIoqN7QbUxoG4CA#q=fujifilm+bridge+camera&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&tbm=shop

[joko]

yes the fuji finepix is a good one - i got one for about £35 on ebay

as she is 9, pretty much anything you get will be brilliant if it looks the part.

[keenonhist]

I have a ,now quite old,Samsung 400 digital camera,and I must say that it takes very good pictures with 100% results.
Before the Samsung I was using a PentaxMV SLR with all the lenses.In the end I found it a pain having to change lenses.
So a digital camera with an all in lens to start of with would be great.
keenonhist

[EDDIE51]

As said a full interchangeable lens DSLR will cost at least £150 and a separate lens at least another £50 new. I also have a Fuji finepix 'bridge camera' no interchangeable lens just a fuji zoom , I recently took some photos of the Moon and put them here on AB , I will post a link.

[Zacs-Master]

How bizarre but I also have a Fuji bridge camera (fs100s) it comes with a 24 mm (wide-ish) to 400mm zoom lense. I think it, and most DSLRs, might be a bit advanced for a 9 year old. There are some really good compacts with interchangeable lenses now. Sony do some good ones.

[EDDIE51]

Some Moon shots here this is with a 'bridge' camera no interchangeable lens
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1267212.html