Cameras for "Mini-Togs"?

I picked up my youngest son a Fuji FinePix XP60 for his fifth birthday a couple of years ago. At the time, it seemed like a good choice. The XP60 is quite durable, and should be able to handle the normal accidents that children have with things.

Just over two years later, I think it may be time for something else. His photographic eye (which I love) and his level of patience are at odds with each other. His photos are chronically OOF, and the "auto" settings aren't doing him any favours.

The photograph settings ("Sports," "Portraits," etc.) are buried in the menu system. He doesn't have the patience to go into the menu system and change the settings. And, I find that the auto settings aren't that great. I was playing with his camera yesterday, and "Sports" mode was selecting a shutter speed of 1/30 sec. For a kid who engages the shutter button and then runs to his next subject . . . 1/30 sec just doesn't work. His photos aren't in really good focus until 1/250 sec.

I'm thinking of passing my EOS-M down to him. It would fit his small hands, we could choose more sophisticated "auto" modes like Tv (which would allow me to teach him about how shutter speed, aperture, and ISO affect images). The modes are still buried in the menu system . . . but they're pretty easy to find and set. It would also be nice to have him shooting in RAW+JPEG, which would give him his instant photos, but still leave me the option to work on anything that needs fixed.

There will be a T1i available to him sometime this year. DSLR equipment is passed down in my family: it goes from me, to my eldest son, and then down to the youngest son. I'll be replacing my 70D with the 5DIII replacement. My eldest son will get my 70D. The T1i my eldest is presently using will be passed on to #2 son.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the best way to go? Keep using XP60, give him EOS-M, have him wait for T1i . . . get him something completely different? I really want to encourage him and keep him motivated (he's in a wonderful exploratory stage right now with photography), and he's becoming quite frustrated.

If he is seriously bumping up against the limits of his camera, then it is obviously time to get him something better, that will allow him to keep growing photographically. A compromise might be to let him use the M, in situations where you know that he will be significantly limited by the present camera, until the point where the cameras are going to be able to be passed down. That should keep him interested until then.

Alan

BigAl007 wrote in post #17897816
If he is seriously bumping up against the limits of his camera, then it is obviously time to get him something better, that will allow him to keep growing photographically.

Thank you for this!

I honestly hadn't thought about it that way. Probably ageism at work. His images were particularly inconstant yesterday, probably at least partly because he was trying to keep up with me instead of just doing his own thing.

I've set him up on the M, on Tv mode, and we went over focussing and holding the camera still until the screen isn't black anymore and his image is on the screen. He's getting really good results. His images are nice and crisp, and his framing is nice. The M is doing a good job of exposure for him.

The touch screen on the M is working well for him, too. He likes that he can touch the screen where he wants to focus, and that he can set it so the shutter is triggered by the touch screen as well.

He knows that as long as he respects the M and is careful with it, that he can use the M around the house and when mom is using her "big" camera. I advised him that when mom is using her little camera (Olympus Tough) that he'll use his Fuji.

I didn't make a big investment in the M. I bought it for less than what I paid for his Fuji when the Canon Canada store was clearing out the EOS M kit (with the 90EX). The M just has the 18-55 lens, and he knows that I don't plan picking up any more lenses for it. He'll get to use other lenses once he has the T1i.

Heya,

My 2 year old uses my EOS-M. It's still kicking it. Great durable little camera. I mean seriously, that M has been dropped, thrown, etc, so much. Even on asphault in theme parks. They're very durable. And they're so cheap ($200 for a M + 22 pancake) these days.

But it's also limited by battery life, purely LCD use, slow autofocus, etc. It's very good for simple stills, higher ISO, decent in low light, etc. But not great for someone chasing things around, etc. Subject matter for your kid will really make an impact as to what the M can really handle. And that's where a smaller dSLR (SL1, TXi series, etc) with a small fast lens can matter if you want to have both options (LCD, etc; view finder and faster AF, etc).

My advice to you is this: Just get a camera in their hands if they love it. The cost of a camera is nothing compared to the memories, time and image you'll enjoy over the years when they're gone out the door and it's all you have left over to look at while they explore their own lives. Don't worry about things. Cameras are tools, and replaceable. Just get something in their hands.

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The EOS-M form factor seems perfect for kids. If you're considering alternatives a 40/50/60D may worth checking out. I purchased my 13 year old a used 50D + 17-85 for a very reasonable price. It's a great camera for learning on. The image quality, AF, frame rate, etc are quite good. Doesn't do video natively but will with Magic Lantern.

Lee

MalVeauX wrote in post #17898457
My 2 year old uses my EOS-M. It's still kicking it. Great durable little camera. I mean seriously, that M has been dropped, thrown, etc, so much. Even on asphault in theme parks. They're very durable. And they're so cheap ($200 for a M + 22 pancake) these days.

Oh my! She is an adorable little thing! I think more than just one of them are "wall worthy," but No.2 is priceless (especially as the camera has no viewfinder ). She wants to be like Dad. So cute.

My little guy is shooting anything and everything right now. Our dog is presently his most challenging subject. If he becomes frustrated with the speed of the camera I'll try directing him towards more static subjects until he gets the T1i (which is quite fast).

I'm pleased to learn that you're experiencing good durability with the M. I did wonder about that . . . when I saw it suction cupped to the hood of your car! (Awesome photographs, BTW ).