Rugged camera for kids

[hamlet]

Kids these days drop their expensive stuff like: ipads, ipod, smartphones. The blasé attitude of these kids make my head spin, because it's almost like they don't care how expensive these things are, just no discipline. So i want to teach a 11 year old the ins and outs of photography, but i don't trust her with my gear alone, so i need a camera that can survive dirty, muddy, grimy, greasy, blunt damage from falling and hitting things. The camera has to have all the functionality of a entry level dslr at least. Frankly i have had nightmares about it, is there a camera that can handle kids? Sorry about the rant, I had to get that off my chest.

 

[Civchic]

I don't think it's "kids these days". I think it's some kids, and for all through the history of the world. I valued my things and treated them properly - my brother was a klutz and didn't take as good care of his stuff.

I think before you get a camera to suit the disrespect, you have to ensure the respect. Make the 11-year-old earn the camera. Teach her the value of the item you are lending/giving her. 11 is old enough to know that something is of value and to take care of it. Of course, accidents happen, but an 11-year-old should be as trustworthy as an adult in the "don't drop the delicate machinery that is worth $1000". And get her a T3.

 

[vintagesnaps]

You could get a used 'bargain' condition camera and I agree - set rules and discuss expectations on how to use and take care of the camera. Then you could keep the camera with you and go out taking pictures together, that could be the time that she can use it.

At some point maybe it would be an option to let her keep the camera if she shows that she's being responsible in using it. If you give it to her, I'd consider that to be giving it a as a gift and then I think it's up to her to take care of it (and if she doesn't and it breaks then she won't have a camera to use, or she'll be responsible for repairing/replacing it).

 

[tecboy]

Just let the kid shoot film instead of digital.

 

[hamlet]

I was wondering about getting a old work camera, with a rugged pro-body.

 

[hamlet]

I'm looking at all these bodies and they are all ridiculously expensive. At these prices i could just buy a d7100, pad it up and be done with it.

 

[Designer]

Does this 11-year-old have the desire?
Does she have any money of her own?
Would she purchase a camera if she could?

My reason for asking is that if the child had some sense of ownership toward the camera, she might want to take good care of it.

If not, get her a cheap digital camera. It doesn't have to have all the functionality of a DSLR, IMO. She can practice composition with practically any camera.

 

[runnah]

Got to a flea market. Most have bins of early digital cameras for pennies.

 

[hamlet]

Does this 11-year-old have the desire?
Does she have any money of her own?
Would she purchase a camera if she could?

My reason for asking is that if the child had some sense of ownership toward the camera, she might want to take good care of it.

If not, get her a cheap digital camera. It doesn't have to have all the functionality of a DSLR, IMO. She can practice composition with practically any camera.

Well, every time she takes pictures with a dslr, her eyes light up. Just constantly moving, looking for interesting angles, composing and recomposing. There is some serious potential there for something great, because some of the shots she takes are really impressive. i'll looking into those compact mirrorless cameras.

 

[unpopular]

mavica and a stack of floppies!

 

[pthrift]

Did you check keh.com?

 

[pthrift]

Because I see like a d3000 for $182 in ex+ condition, or a d70s or a d40 both for around $100 in bargain condition.


That being said if the child isn't ready and responsible for a nice anything then it should fall to the parents to teach the child responsible behavior for caring for their things

 

[hamlet]

I've decided on those small cameras. With less moving parts, it should be more sturdy. I'll also macgyver some form of padding, because the probability dropping it is high. There is just no way around that.

 

[Nevermore1]

Give her an older second hand camera with a good strap on it. She's old enough to learn responsibility and to follow some basic rules you and her parents set (such as clean, dry hands at all times while handling the camera). Being a typical teen is one reason I did not give my daughter a new camera for her photography class (gave her my old Canon 20D, it was also a good excuse for me to upgrade and get a new one for me), I figure it will get banged around at school and other kids will probably figure out a way to mess with it. If she takes good care of it and enjoys her class I may get her a new low to mid-level one for her birthday in January. Once she proves to me that she is responsible enough for one that's worth more she'll get it.

 

[molested_cow]

Get her a dirt cheap used camera. If she doesn't learn to take care of it, then she bears the consequences. There's no point trying to "protect" her from failure.