Kids with Cameras

Monopods are great. I let my 9 year old son help me sometimes, but they really can't hold that big set up on their own. Nice capture. She's got good posture for it.

JaGWiRE wrote in post #2238630
I think jumping into these things is the way to go, =). Plus, P&S have unrealistic zooms compared to what you'll probably use on an SLR, so might as well let your kid learn to use something where you have to think more about getting in on composition and all.

I agree completely. My 11 year old uses my 10D fairly regularly and does a bang up job with it. I'm trying to teach him the joys of prime lenses right now.

liza wrote in post #2246012
I agree completely. My 11 year old uses my 10D fairly regularly and does a bang up job with it. I'm trying to teach him the joys of prime lenses right now.

It's funny, I really enjoy primes myself, even though I'm new to photography and the world of SLRS, I like using my prime, the feet as your zoom comes natural and being able to shoot with light lenses that are really fast is more then nice, and it teaches you to play with DOF.

I'm another that occasionally lets my kids use my DSLR. Under supervision and always with the neck strap on. That said, they now have their own P&Ss that I bought off of eBay. My daughter took hers on one of the Brissie POTN get togethers, made her feel part of the group and she got some nice shots also.

My son has used a point and shoot but quickly found that limiting. He shot some killer macros last year and won third place in a nature photography competition. He opted to enter in the adult category, which is very competitive, and even beat me! (But I got the top three prizes in the sports category. )

Thanks for all the replies! I might let her have a go today(actually perfect lighting being overcast) and if you don't mind I might share a pic or two depending on what they come out like I'll be sure to shoot her shooting!

Well my girl is outside and taking pics and so far she's doing pretty good! Here is one that she took of her younger sister outside. No PPing done whatsoever.

Im somewhat ashamed to say thats probably better than what i can take now.lol

thekid24 wrote in post #2249551
Im somewhat ashamed to say thats probably better than what i can take now.lol

Hey I just own expensive gear, my actual skills are much lower then what my gear deserves, hahahaha.

im just glad the expensive gear can due all the things i cant...only bad thing is i dont have any yet

thekid24 wrote in post #2245074
I really like that shot.Experience is everything so starting them out young isnt a bad thing.Alot more expensive than Barbies but far more rewarding.I know that in the months that Ive really gotten into the technical side of photography Ive learned so much.It is now in my veins and Im loving it.Going back to P&S,for me would be like going back to crawling,Im having too much fun running around,lol.Even for a todler giving them and disposible camera would be a great idea.No telling what their little eyes would see.

Thanks, she loves using the camera. I know she didn't have the strap on there (she does when it's not on the monopod) but she did have the hand strap on the monopod on.

elise1030 wrote in post #2238088
I was reading a thread over in the lenses forum and there's a post about what lense a kid should work with . I'm really amazed that some of you guys give your kids DSLRs to play with.

It's the opposite in my family. I never let my parents touch my camera.

Calzinger wrote in post #2251339
It's the opposite in my family. I never let my parents touch my camera.

Ditto to that.

I got my first p/s when I was 12, Minolta Dimage Z3. The AF broke about a year after (not my fault, honest), so I had to abandon it. However just before my 15th birthday I got the 350D, along with the 60mm, 50mm. Now half a year on, I hope to get the 17-40 for Christmas, and 70-200L during the summer, after my GCSEs (if I don't end up in an orphanage).

The annoying thing is I know many people who have far better equipment than I do, and the camera is stuck on Program. Still I guess I'm fortunate enough as it is - can't complain.

You know I don't have a problem with my nephews using my camera. I have always made sure that understand 2 things. make sure the neck strap is on and if they break it they pay for it. they are old enough to understand what the cost of things.

the camera is just a tool, it's just case of letting them know that it's a tool and to respect it as such.

I have no problem with my 5 year old son Reece using my gear, he always usews the neck strap and takes great care.
But at the end of the day accidents can and will happen, so all my gear is insured against accidental damage.

Here is an old pic showing Reece using my 300D, I have since upgraded to a 20D, and Reece has inherited the 300D.

He doesn't use it much, and I don't want to push him. He knows were it is whenever he feels the time is right