My 15 year old wants a camera...

My daughter is 15 and into photography. she is the grad book photographer for her highschool and loves it...BUT...

she is asking for a camera for christmas and I'm scarred this is a phase she is going through and don't want to spend a lot of money on a new camera....SO..

what would you suggest for a beginner DSLR. I have a 7D but that's way out of her league.

As a parent myself, one always takes the risk that a child will have a passing infatuation with a hobby. That's the nature of childhood. We bought my son a drum set. He was avid about it for two years. Then he lost interest. On the other hand, I asked my parents for a camera when I was young and it has been my lifelong interest. That your daughter is involved in a school photography activity is a little more solid than a simple "I want a camera, Mom." An entry-level Canon would suit her well if you can afford it. She can borrow your lenses. If you have a spare lens that you don't use, just get the body. Another consideration is the camera that she uses at school. You can't go wrong getting her something that's already familiar to her.

Another consideration is a large-sensor compact camera. They can challenge SLRs in terms of image quality. The primary limiting factor is actually the skill of the photographer.

This is a very crowded boat, too many of us in it My son also wanted a camera, so I jumped on it. I bought him a T2i($150 used in Craigslist) and gave him the lenses that came with my 70D kit, which means that I "HAD" to replace them in my kit with a 24-105LF4 and a 70-200L F4 IS It was a huge compromise on my part That was 7 months ago and he is still using it quite a bit, though not for "artistic" purposes, which is fine because it gets him out of the house to take pictures.

I bought this kit for video but it would be a great starting point and not a ton of money
http://shop.usa.canon.​com …-stm-lens-kit-refurbished

Would she be okay with a used camera? Older Rebels (T1i/T2i/T3i) can be had for very little money, and would be a good starting point for a beginner with questionable long-term interest. Add a used 18-55 kit lens and a 50 f/1.8 and you have a nice kit. Look at local Craigslist to inspect in person before buying and avoid shipping fees; Ebay or classifieds on this forum if you can't find something local.

That SL1 kit that 05Xrunner posted looks like a good deal, and comes with a Canon warranty

Yes, she asked for a used one incase she decides to quit. I'm looking

anitaw2 wrote in post #17796530
Yes, she asked for a used one incase she decides to quit. I'm looking

You can find used 40Ds for around 200. If her interest fades you can sell it for nearly that amount.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17796534
You can find used 40Ds for around 200. If her interest fades you can sell it for nearly that amount.

Has she tried out your 7D and liked it? If so a 40D or 50D might be the answer; they'll have a similar build quality and feel.
The Rebels (especially the SL1) will be smaller/lighter; this might actually be good a thing if she has small hands and the 7D feels too big for her.

I'd get her a nice kit from Costco or similar, good prices and if she treats it well and looses interest you/she can always sell it. But I'd not be too quick with that, I go through phases with my hobbies as well, might not take a picture (outside of family snaps) for weeks or months and then get into the groove again and take hundreds, if not more. I just tend to get bored with it sometimes and switch to one of my other hobbies.
Used is always an option, but I'd avoid craigslist or eBay and get it from b&h or Adorama etc instead. Checked, fixed if necessary, cleaned and maybe they'll even tell you the shutter count, don't know.

My kids show zero interest unless we're going to a car show, but after that, they never look at their photos either, LOL. Maybe that will change and I'd certainly support that venture. Maybe even take her to a store so she can handle a couple different models, see what feels best.

Heya,

I would look for a used APS-C, older model, here on POTN or elsewhere (fleabay, etc), and KEH.com (KEH usually has deals, and coupons, so just watch for that, percentage off deals are great).

Look for (at $80~200):

Canon XSi (pay no more than $120)
Canon T1i (pay no more than $150)
Canon T2i (there's a T2i, 50 F1.8 STM & 18-55 STM in the forum here on POTN right now for $350 shipped)
Canon 20D ($70 on KEH right now with battery & charger)
Canon 30D ($120 on KEH right now with battery & charger)
Canon 40D (pay no more than $150)

For lenses, Yongnuo makes a fast, sharp with AF lens: 50mm F1.8 for Canon for $50 new.

Great for yearbook portraits.

Maybe toss in a used 18-55 II ($50~60 these days on KEH.com) for wide stuff and group portraits, functions, etc.

Throw in a TTL flash, like a Bower SFD728C ($40 new on Adorama). Or Neewer NW680/TT680 for $60 on Amazon right now. Bounce TTL is awesome for portraits in the dank dark places in schools.

A Canon 20D, Yongnuo 50 F1.8, and Neewer NW680 would be an awesome "journalist" setup for a student. Under $200.

Very best,

Canon refurbished T5 for $200. With kit lens.

http://shop.usa.canon.​com …s-ii-lens-kit-refurbished

DMax82 wrote in post #17796768
Canon refurbished T5 for $200. With kit lens.

http://shop.usa.canon.​com …s-ii-lens-kit-refurbished

^^^This, great deal. Will probably be undetectable from new.

MalVeauX wrote in post #17796584
Heya,

I would look for a used APS-C, older model, here on POTN or elsewhere (fleabay, etc), and KEH.com (KEH usually has deals, and coupons, so just watch for that, percentage off deals are great).

Look for (at $80~200):

Canon XSi (pay no more than $120)
Canon T1i (pay no more than $150)
Canon T2i (there's a T2i, 50 F1.8 STM & 18-55 STM in the forum here on POTN right now for $350 shipped)
Canon 20D ($70 on KEH right now with battery & charger)
Canon 30D ($120 on KEH right now with battery & charger)
Canon 40D (pay no more than $150)

For lenses, Yongnuo makes a fast, sharp with AF lens: 50mm F1.8 for Canon for $50 new.

Great for yearbook portraits.

Maybe toss in a used 18-55 II ($50~60 these days on KEH.com) for wide stuff and group portraits, functions, etc.

Throw in a TTL flash, like a Bower SFD728C ($40 new on Adorama). Or Neewer NW680/TT680 for $60 on Amazon right now. Bounce TTL is awesome for portraits in the dank dark places in schools.

A Canon 20D, Yongnuo 50 F1.8, and Neewer NW680 would be an awesome "journalist" setup for a student. Under $200.

Very best,

DMax82 wrote in post #17796768
Canon refurbished T5 for $200. With kit lens.

http://shop.usa.canon.​com …s-ii-lens-kit-refurbished

John from PA wrote in post #17796850
^^^This, great deal. Will probably be undetectable from new.

MalVeauX: Where do you find these places and I thought I am a slick buyer. But then the older nature of those cameras, small LCD, difficult menu, lack of LiveView and Video, lack of high ISO and overall poor IQ and worse than all, the possible only one single wrong word from a peer may cause a total haul in the young ones interest in photography.

DMax & John From PA; Totally agree. Just for sake of curiosity and to know how different T5 is from T5i (That I had before) got one of these fantastic deals (I got the same T5 and same lens but with 50mm F1.8STM for $20 more and what a deal.
Even the SL1 for $230 or 2 lens deal for $270 would make a fantastic camera full package for a first time serious photographers, specially a photographer with smaller hands. The touch screen of SL1 and its ease of navigation by touch, similar to very much familiar to young ones, cellphones, make the transition very smooth and surely pleasurable.
There where better deals but I just check and this is the only one currently available:
SL1 + Kit lens $250

In any case; You simply can't go wrong with the Canon Refurbs.

The problem with a refurb, even a bargain one is you still have a significant depreciation if you try to sell used. An older but still capable xxD series has already taken that hit so you have a better chance of recouping the bigger chunk of your outlay should she decide that photography isn't her thing.

A used rebel and kit lens or 50 1.8, for under 300.