Need Advice. One of my kid's has some raw photography talent and..

[TexasLady]

I want to get him a not TOO expensive good first camera for Christmas. I have five kids, so I have to plan these pretty early in the year. He wears out my cellphone taking pics, and uses a cheapie digital cam, because it's all there is round here. Last night he brought over his dad's cam and damn if the footage of the family wasn't pretty good, like he edits as he goes. I had a good camera years ago, but have NO idea what good stuff there is out there for a beginner.

Help!

Edited to add. He's fifteen and I feel he is a good age to care for something nice.

[intheflow]

1. Hi TL.

It would probably be helpful if you could give us a price range you're willing/able to spend.

For an upgraded point-and-shoot digital, I liked my Canon Powershot (about $250). Photos can be taken on either auto settings or manual, which will introduce him to the fabulous world of f-stops, depth of fields, shutter speeds, and film speeds. If looking for something more upgrade than that but still reasonably priced (always relative in photography) and not something Annie Liebowitz would use, I've had good luck with my Canon Rebel ($500-900 range, depending on the specific model). This is an SLR, a "real" camera (which I define to non-photo geeks as having a lens that can be removed and changed with other lenses). You'll want to make sure you get a kit, which includes a basic lens, and not just the camera body because it'll cost more to get a lens separately.

You can also check out these Photo Group threads to see more suggestions:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=280&topic_id=37775&mesg_id=37775

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=280&topic_id=37775&mesg_id=37775

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x7622748

Good luck--and I hope he knows what an awesome Mom he has when Christmas morning rolls around. :hi:

[CC]

2. If you can swing it I would

look at DSLRs. That would grow with his ability and sounds like he is already growing beyond point and shoots. You can't go wrong with a major maker. ITF left you some great links with more great links for checking out different models.

A used DSLR is easy to find these days and since it is digital it is easier to make both it and a lens works ok. Some camera shops sell used cameras and pawnshops are starting to have a lot of cameras and equipment. Around here in the middle of no where a lot of DSLRs show up in pawnshops when the next newest model hits the market. Also with the economy more are showing up as people try to get by. If you go that route check any of the makers websites to see what should come with the camera so you know what might be missing. Something are rarely used and some are easily replaced. (battery charges, cables etc.) Since they use flash cards that are easily emptied any shop should allow you to take some pictures, run through the menu and see how it works. Walk away if they won't.

[Ms. Toad]

5. You don't need to go to a DSLR to get something

significantly better than what one usually think of as a point and shoot - and no more than half the price of a DSLR (and I have not yet found anything I would get with a DSLR that is worth twice what I paid for either of my Olympus Camedia cameras.

I would look at something categorized as a prosumer. In the film world, there really was a dichotomy between point and shoot and SLR - in the digital world there is much more of a continuum - a tad ironic, if you spend much time thinking about it. Prosumer is in the middle of the continuum - good as a point and shoot, but with a lot more ability to control things like shutter speed, aperture, white balance, focus, ASA, etc.

If you can find one, I love my Olympus Camedia 4000Z and my Olympus 7070. I bought my daughter a cheap Olympus (old point and shoot style) and she quickly took to stealing my 4000, since she outgrew point and shoot nearly before I bought her one. My mother, on the other hand, is will never outgrow the point and shoot - but she fell in love with the picture quality. We now have triplets. I recently decided I needed something with better resolution, so I bought the 7070 - but I haven't given up the 4000 because is is better at certain tasks. Both are no longer being sold - so you'd have to look on the secondary market.

Good luck - and if your (OP's) son is like mine, getting something better than a camera phone (equivalent to the traditional point and shoot) is a good move.

[blueraven95]

3. I know it's hard to do with a gift,

but if there is any way for you to take him to a store to try out different cameras, then that's probably the way to do it. Each camera works differently and a lot of the decision is about personal preference.

You could also sign him up for a photography class - many community colleges offer kids photography classes for pretty reasonable prices.

[TexasLady]

4. thanks for the great ideas and replies

It's all good! But I don't know what a DSLR is? And the idea of taking him is a good one as well. Also, 250 was about what I wanted to spend.

[Ms. Toad]

6. Digital single lens reflex

With film, the cameras were just called SLR (or Single Lens Reflex). It means that what you see through the viewfinder is exactly what the camera sees when it takes the picture, through the magic of mirrors. In a non-SLR, there are two separate views - what you see through the viewfinder, and what the camera sees through the lens. That means that your photograph will always be slightly different from what you see through the viewfinder. For most people, the difference is not noticeable - for people with a good eye it is like hearing someone sing slightly off pitch is for people with perfect pitch.

The biggest practical difference that I am aware of is the ease with which manual focusing can be accomplished. Most (maybe all) SLRs use a ring system to focus. It allows very precise focusing on a portion of the view selected by the photographer. Most point and shoot (and prosumer) cameras are primarily set up for autofocus - they pick the point of focus. To get them to do anything else is, frankly, a pain. If your son is really excited about macro (close up of very small things) or depth of field (specific focus one portion of the image with other things slightly out of focus), a DSLR would be helpful - but I manage to limp along fairly well without it.

[intheflow]

7. I said SLR in my post, above, but I meant DSLR.

You definitely want to go digital. I still have rolls of film from 10 years ago I haven't processed because it costs so much to get them developed. At that time, I was still learning how to shoot, so I was paying for whole rolls of film that only had a couple shots that were any good. It might be tempting to get a fancy-schmancy film camera because it will be so cheap these days, but any money you save on that camera will be eaten up in developing costs within six months--even if he only shoots 10 rolls of film.

[Eurobabe]

8. You might want to check on eBay

I've gotten some good deals on there, for camera stuff. Just make sure you read the fine print. And good luck to your son, photography is a wonderful hobby, and or possible profession. :D