Any digital camera recommendations?

[Hoopin' Mama]

My son will be 6 and really wants his own camera. I'd like to get one that is more than a toy, but that is geared for a younger age in terms of sturdiness and simplicity.

Does anyone have any they love or hate?

Thanks!

[Tjej]

Well, if I knew the brand of the one we have I'd strongly UNrecommend it, but it doesn't say on it. It's got big blue-ish handles on the two sides that are rubber-ish coated and stars on a white background for the middle. Nothing but problems with the silly thing. I has worked on and off for a year now, but currently just beeps at us. I'm not sure if it will come back to life again or not. I *think* it's a "kidurable" one, but I'm not sure.

Tjej

[Drummer's Wife]

We have a vtech that the kids like; however, at 6, I'd probably just buy a cheaper regular point and shoot. Our kid one is sturdy and takes decent enough pictures, but I'd buy something they can grow into unless you will be passing it down.

[Marimami]

We bought DD a real one when she was 4. We were wanting an underwater digital camera anyway, and Olympus made some that were also shock resistant, etc. This was a couple of years ago, but it looks like that line has evolved into this:

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_se...#/productViews

We paid around $200 and it was her main gift that year. She has used it so much over the years, and we all have in the water, etc. It was totally worth it to us!

Holli

[Alison's Mom]

We bought this http://www.testfreaks.com/digitalcameras/samsung-pl55/ for dd last christmas when she was 5. I had read that all the kids cameras had terrible picture quality, and this samsung was shock-proof to 1.2 metres (~4ft), so I figured that dd herself is vary careful, but if she dropped it by accident, or her 3yo brother dropped it (by accident or on purpose) it would survive. All other shock proof models were also water and dust proof and were double the price

It's worked out great - the battery lasts a long time, and we're happy with the quality of pics and video, and dd can use the basic functions, including 'timer' so she can take photos of herself! While it's slightly bulkier than our 3yo pentex optio, it's much more consistent battery-wise, and we almost exclusively use the samsung, except for dh and his iphone. I got it on sale at bestbuy for around $150. (we're in Canada)

[alison77]

i second (or third) not getting the kids' blue vtech or fisher price (not sure what it actually is) camera - it takes terrible photos. we have that same olympus one that is shockproof and i thought it was going to be the answer to all our problems. while it's great that you can take photos underwater, and it can be dropped no problem, i get really frustrated because the general photo quality is not great. we've had ours for a few years, so it's likely the technology has improved. i would go for a basic point and shoot too. my guys do a fine job with the regular camera, and i've taught them how important it is to hold on or have it around their necks. have fun!

[jmo]

another "unrecommendation" for the vtech. It takes such horrible pictures. My 5 yo has the plus one that was like $60 and it was a huge waste of money.

[LynnS6]

A 4th for not buying a kids' camera (Fisher Price has made one, in addition to the VTech one).

What about a decent used digital camera. I bet you could get a nice Canon Powershot of some sort that takes 4-8 megapixel pictures for under $100.

You just want one without too many bells and whistles.

[DaughterOfKali]

There's are older versions of Nikon CoolPix that cost under $200. I saw one style for $100!

[emilysmama]

I recommend a low-end Olympus. Excellent camera at any price, easy to use, inexpensive. The only disadvantage is that the adults in the family will be tempted to "borrow" it.

My 6.5 y.o. dd is a lot more careful than I am, so I don't even think that I would buy a shockproof camera. Depending on your child, a regular digital camera will probably be fine.