Common question, new reason.

[Sam]

Hello,

Recently my six year old daughter has taken an interest in my favorite hobby and as a result I bought her a 2.1 MP HP camera that was on sale open box for $20.

The only reason I bought her a camera is because she seemed sooo interested in what I have been doing and when we found that camera for $20 I couldn't pass it up. I just picked up my first DSLR and became a lot more serious, although I have used film SLR cameras for a while now as a novice.

I want to buy her a better camera and was hoping for some advice. I have a Nikon Coolpix 4500 that I had planned on giving to her in a few months if she stayed interested but I am worried that it will be too complex for her. Keep in mind she is only six.

Please share your ideas with me. I would like her to use a Canon camera because I have always been happy with them. I have no Idea what I was thinking when I bought the Nikon :o.

If you have the time please check out the blog we set up for her to share her photo's with family members. I would love to hear what someone not biased has to say about her ability. Her camera is very basic and has a tendency to over saturate and she is only six so please be kind with any comments. I think she has a great eye for composition and it is a huge thrill to watch her walk around with me and set up her shots. You can click here to check them out (http://lexpictures.blogspot.com/). She chooses the pictures to be posted, but all of her pictures look very well put together to me. She chooses her shots so effortlessly too.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Moppie]

Wow, she's got a very good eye for composition!

I honestly can't remember how technicaly capable I was when I was six, but if I were you I would let her use the HP untill either it stops working, or she takes a greater interest and starts asking about how to do more.

Then prehaps get a used A series?
The beauty of Canon digitals is they offer all types of use.
My A80 can either shoot in full auto, where the only thing you get to set manauly is photo size, exp compensation and drive mode, or full manaul inculding focus, and any number of variations inbetween.
A used A40 could cost next to nothing, and give you the same options.
She could start use Auto, move to P and choose ISO, then onto Apature and Shutter priority, then onto full manual.

[Sam]

well, she wants to use my Rebel but you can probably guess why I don't want to let her :). The HP eats batteries like crazy though.

[Skip Souza]

I agree with Moppie on all counts. You should at least get her into the Canon line. Start with the best. Any of the PowerShot A series offer a taste of decent controls plus auto. They also are good with rechargeable AAA's. Get the best deal in your budget. The is a PowerShot S1 IS listed in the Marketplace.
It is great that she shows such intrest at her age. It is something you will be able to share for many years to come. Of course she will eventually deserve a camera as good as yours, and you will love it!

[jbakerii]

Your daughter takes very good pictures! I think that both her and her pictures are adorable. You should encourage her to keep it up. Make sure you save the pictures she takes as they will make wonderful memories for both you and her tears from now.

[Bodryn]

What an impressive young photographer! I can tell you must be very proud of your daughter. She must be a little genius! Not all of her photos showed up in my browser but the ones I saw, I notice she is pretty good about keeping the horizon level.

In my opinion she couldn't go wrong with a Canon A70 or similar model if you can get one. It was my first digital camera and my first few hundred pix were taken as point and shoot and almost all came out with what I considered perfect saturation and contrast. Also I found I could get over 400 pix on one set of alkaline batteries. Good luck!

[embdaw]

Great pictures- she's headed in the right direction!!

[wavshrdr@airpost.net]

Keep the camera until later. If it takes AA or AAA batteries just buy the good rechargable NiMH and save some money! That is what I did for my son that uses my KM Z3. This had turned out to be a great camera for a budding photog! He is 9 and was complaining that his old camera Kodak 6490 didn't have IS like my big lens on my dSLR. Now I have to upgrade his harddrive to keep his photo collection going. Kids are wonderful and I wish I had such a nice camera when I was that young.