Position:Home>Visual Arts> Need help deciding what camera to buy for daughter..?

Cameras are delicate things, and if your daughter is a typically active soon to be teenager, you should consider the Olympus SW series of cameras!.

These cameras are waterproof (spillproof), shockproof (drop-proof), crush proof, and really good cameras besides!.

http://www!.olympusamerica!.com/cpg_sectio!.!.!.

Review:
http://www!.steves-digicams!.com/2008_revi!.!.!.

If you feel these features are overkill, check out the Canon A590 IS!. It's my favorite entry level camera!.

It's a good quality camera, with good features, and many manual exposure controls not available in similar cameras in it's class:
8mp
Image Stabilization
Face Recognition
Movie Mode
4x optical zoom

Review:
http://www!.dcresource!.com/reviews/canon/!.!.!.

Available at Newegg!.com for about $150!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Any of the brand name point and shoots would be an excellent choice!. The difference you want to look for are the zoom factor (3x up to about 12X)!. The larger the zoom factor, the more range the camera has!. Any camera over 6mp will work fine, there is no use in pounding megapixels on her at this point!. Don't even look at "digital zoom" that will destroy some pictures, look for optical zoom only!.

My son, who is a very good photographer, bought an 8mp Sony and loves it!. I rather like the cameras made by Panasonic - the cost a little more, but they are worth it!. Stay away from second brand camera, store brands and things like that!.

She might be getting bored with the camera in about a year and then you can look for in the range of 6-10 MP with a Digital SLR!. This will add more features!.

If you know anything about photography that you can teach her, you might want to look at film SLRs, used ones, that you can now find rather cheaply!. A 35-70 zoom and a 70-150 or 200mm Zom will be as much as she needs!. With this, she can learn the basics of photography, the school book stuff, such as the relationship of shutter speed, aperture, and light!. You can get a roll of 24 exposures printed at Target for about $8!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

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I'd agree with kaiy2k, whose answer is below me even though he really answered first!. If you want to get a little "cooler" camera that is quite a decent camera, look at the Canon Powershot SD1100-IS!.
http://www!.dpreview!.com/reviews/canonsd1!.!.!.

The A590-IS is in truth probably a better camera (slightly), but the SD1100-IS will be the envy of the neighborhood!. The image quality ought to be identical, as they are using the same processor and sensor and the A590-IS allows more user control should she (or you) decide to learn more than how to point and shoot, too!. It zooms somewhat more, also!. The A590-IS also uses commonly available "AA" batteries!. Yes, you should be using rechargeable batteries (easy to get in "AA" size), but you can always use some "AA" alkallines if the batteries die and you can't wait long enough to recharge them!. This might matter for a child!.

You can compare features, including size, here:
http://www!.dpreview!.com/reviews/compare_!.!.!.

If you like the A590-IS better, please choose kaiy2k as the best answer, because he gave a nice comprehensive answer and he was actually here first with a recommendation!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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I need help deciding what camera to buy for my daughter!.

The Christmas buying season is coming in a little more than a month and I want to begin researching what to get for my daughter!. Lately, she has really acquired an interest in photography, and I want to get her a camera for her own personal use!. My problem is that I do not know what camera to get her since she is a beginner!. Please assist me with any suggestions!.

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself, AND her before you buy a camera system!.

How much do you want to initially spend, under $250!.00, $500!.00, or over $500!.00!? In the future, keep in mind the cost of additional lenses, external flash, and other accessories that you or she might incur!.

What kind of photography does she like!? I am guessing that she will be taking pictures of her friends, family, birthday parties, weddings, small events, flowers, pets, vacation, and travel scenic, etc!. That kind of general photography covers most people’s needs!.

Does she plan to print pictures larger than 11x14, or 16x20!? If that is the case, then almost any camera that has five to eight mega pixels will be sufficient!. However, many current cameras will have eight or more mega pixels!. Most compact, pocket cameras will be fine and sufficient!. You have a lot of great choices online and in your local electronic stores!.

If you buy her something that is too advanced, and heavy, then she may not be able to put the camera in her pocket, purse, or around her neck!. If she is young, and still in grade, middle, or high school, then be careful that other, not so friendly, students might also have interests in her camera equipment!.

I have taken the liberty to give you a few website links for you AND your daughter to review!. Even though I have given you several Canon links, she is the ultimate user!. She should get a better idea of how the camera feels in her own hands!. Any camera, such as Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Leica, etc!. will do the job!. The camera is like a paintbrush, and is just a tool for your daughter to create a great picture!. Good luck, you have many great choices ahead of you!.

Aloha!

Alex, San Francisco, Freelance Photographer

Re: Additional Details: price range does not matter!. When I was 16 years old, my father offered to buy me a 500mm telephoto lens!. He was not rich, and did not know how much it cost!. Canon made two lenses, one was an FD 500mm 8!.0, $350!.00 and the other was FD 500mm 4!.5L, $1,500!.00!. I chose cheaper lens, because I did not want to embarrass him!. Now, I am older and can afford to buy it on my own!. Again, good luck on your decision!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

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