My grandson Bo Bo takes a great photo and is forever nicking my camera and dissappearing outside with it and plays around with the setings on it.. whats a good starter camera for a teen? I was thinking we’d get him one for Xmas.
This is going to be a very interesting informative thread…looking forward to watching it develop…pun intended…
Here’s some he’s taken. He can’t wait to drop the school bag throw his blazer off grab the camera and run outside.
Dinetta said:
This is going to be a very interesting informative thread…looking forward to watching it develop…pun intended…
:D
Happy Potter said:
Here’s some he’s taken. He can’t wait to drop the school bag throw his blazer off grab the camera and run outside.
Love the water ones, and what an unusual dragon fly in the fifth…
Sounds like he already has his starter camera.. er, looks like ;)
So You’d be better off thinking, now what camera will I buy to replace the one he’s appropriated?
In actual fact, you should give him my camera. I use a digital camera but with lenses that pre-date digital technology. Which means I have to second guess everything and try to focus myself.
Which also means I have to try to check every photo and repair whatever errors of judgement I’ve made. This is particularly demanding when the subject matter moves and the clod pass the light source.
Caught Ms rb tossng an old photography book in the bin.. Said you cannot toss that.. She said, why? it is out of date..
I said never out of date and it is a book I purchased for my uses and you have no right to strip such things from my intention. buy him a book on photography.or.. I’ll send him the boook I just mentioned.
you want to get him more than the basic point and shoot. A digital SLR with replaceable lens would get him started and he/you can add more lenses or upgrade the body as his skills develop. This can be a very expensive but rewarding hobby.
bluegreen said:
you want to get him more than the basic point and shoot. A digital SLR with replaceable lens would get him started and he/you can add more lenses or upgrade the body as his skills develop. This can be a very expensive but rewarding hobby.
Also knowledge-time consuming.. perhaps best that you go with him when he borrows your tools.
becasue he’s starting out he can choose his brand. However, when it comes down to it Nikon and Canon are much of a muchness.. but whatever brand he starts with is most likely the one he’ll stick with since compatible equipment is an expensive exercise.
I started on Nikon and have been very happy with the equipment and the availability of parts and general knowledge fountain.
I went into a couple of reputable camera shops and got a lot of information on which camera would be suitable for me, their opinion of course (but you have to start somewhere), but once I had settled on a camera body I was able to shop around.
From there it’s just a matter of time and acquisition of equipment. Most places (like Dick Smiths, JB hi fi etc) have ‘packs’ where they’ll sell the camera body with one, or more usually, two lens. These two will do him for a long time while he is learning and mastering his techniques. In fact, if I hadn’t gone into macro photography, the two lens’ that came with my camera would still be all I use. (I have only three in total, and they have done me very well)
I think he has some nice techniques down already.. what, I suppose, people would call a ‘good eye’
My photos aren’t all that crash hot but then, my lenses are nearly 40 years old.
Arts said:
I think he has some nice techniques down already.. what, I suppose, people would call a ‘good eye’
yeah.. that’s what I mean by: looks like he’s already got his starter camera.
roughbarked said:
Which also means I have to try to check every photo and repair whatever errors of judgement I’ve made. This is particularly demanding when the subject matter moves and the clod pass the light source.
I agree, chuck him in the deep end and learn from back to front, so to speak. But, I have a dslr and he’s pc savvy so having learned this way already, I was going to get him one similar to mine.
Arts said:
becasue he’s starting out he can choose his brand. However, when it comes down to it Nikon and Canon are much of a muchness.. but whatever brand he starts with is most likely the one he’ll stick with since compatible equipment is an expensive exercise.I started on Nikon and have been very happy with the equipment and the availability of parts and general knowledge fountain.
I went into a couple of reputable camera shops and got a lot of information on which camera would be suitable for me, their opinion of course (but you have to start somewhere), but once I had settled on a camera body I was able to shop around.From there it’s just a matter of time and acquisition of equipment. Most places (like Dick Smiths, JB hi fi etc) have ‘packs’ where they’ll sell the camera body with one, or more usually, two lens. These two will do him for a long time while he is learning and mastering his techniques. In fact, if I hadn’t gone into macro photography, the two lens’ that came with my camera would still be all I use. (I have only three in total, and they have done me very well)
There’s so many to choose from, spoilt for choice but I reckon he will know what he wants later on after a starter one. We’ve tried all the sports..pfft, so doing what he likes best is the sensible road. Hello too, by the way Arts.
Arts said:
I think he has some nice techniques down already.. what, I suppose, people would call a ‘good eye’
Yes.. Bo Bo took some of our daughters home camera wedding snaps and they went into albums for friends. He’s quite good.
A good book might come by way of a course..just have to find a paid course for amateurs so he can get a grasp of the basics.
Buy him one of the Olympus Tough cameras… or a panasonic or canon variant. They are waterproof, can be dropped from a metre, can handle the snow, can be punched, can be treated by an adolescent.
They are a point and shoot, and they won’t fill up Mum’s computer with massive photo sizes and it encourages good technique prior to going the DSLR way.
And Mum and Nanna won’t freak out if he drops it.
painmaster said:
Buy him one of the Olympus Tough cameras… or a panasonic or canon variant. They are waterproof, can be dropped from a metre, can handle the snow, can be punched, can be treated by an adolescent.They are a point and shoot, and they won’t fill up Mum’s computer with massive photo sizes and it encourages good technique prior to going the DSLR way.
And Mum and Nanna won’t freak out if he drops it.
Good point.
I’m being sent some info on a group that meets one night a week in Pt. Cook. Close and handy. He also wants me to do the course with him as I need lessons too. Of course the teens knows everything ;)
whats a good starter camera for a teen?
…
Canon 60D body with EF-S 15-85mm IS USM lens, can be had for about $1400 :)
trichome said:
whats a good starter camera for a teen?
…Canon 60D body with EF-S 15-85mm IS USM lens, can be had for about $1400 :)
$1400 for a starter! Sweet, would love to see what you’d recommend for someone with experience!?!?
My other choice Potter, is to buy him a Holga. Plastic camera that takes 120 film. Will learn so much about photography by just breaking it down into its simple forms… A holga is less than 100bucks and film is around 8bucks per roll and each roll will cost around 12bucks to process.
A rawness and a truth.
painmaster said:
trichome said:
whats a good starter camera for a teen?
…Canon 60D body with EF-S 15-85mm IS USM lens, can be had for about $1400 :)
$1400 for a starter! Sweet, would love to see what you’d recommend for someone with experience!?!?
My other choice Potter, is to buy him a Holga. Plastic camera that takes 120 film. Will learn so much about photography by just breaking it down into its simple forms… A holga is less than 100bucks and film is around 8bucks per roll and each roll will cost around 12bucks to process.
A rawness and a truth.
And he can learn to develop his own film…now that IS fun…
$1400 for a starter! Sweet, would love to see what you’d recommend for someone with experience!?!?
…
some might say the 650D, but yes 60D is a good starting point, if he is going to get into it.
sorry don’t recommend for those with experience,
This fellow is two minutes up the road from me, whatchas think?
The camera is looking like a panasonic lumix around the 600 mark. Mums coughing up the dough and Nannas doing the bargaining.
http://www.cannondigicinema.com/Cannon_DIgital_Cinema/Welcome.html
Happy Potter said:
This fellow is two minutes up the road from me, whatchas think?
The camera is looking like a panasonic lumix around the 600 mark. Mums coughing up the dough and Nannas doing the bargaining.
http://www.cannondigicinema.com/Cannon_DIgital_Cinema/Welcome.html
Dinetta said:
painmaster said:
trichome said:
whats a good starter camera for a teen?
…Canon 60D body with EF-S 15-85mm IS USM lens, can be had for about $1400 :)
$1400 for a starter! Sweet, would love to see what you’d recommend for someone with experience!?!?
My other choice Potter, is to buy him a Holga. Plastic camera that takes 120 film. Will learn so much about photography by just breaking it down into its simple forms… A holga is less than 100bucks and film is around 8bucks per roll and each roll will cost around 12bucks to process.
A rawness and a truth.
And he can learn to develop his own film…now that IS fun…
Now my ex, the boys grandfather, used to develop his own film. I know I used to be a subject study in black and white and colour to help him create better photos. Me walking the dog, me hanging out the washing on a windy day, ect. There were albums.
Once the teen has a grasp and decent camera we might send him to stay with grand dad for a week over xmas hols. There he can look at gramps own fotography albums.
trichome said:
Happy Potter said:
This fellow is two minutes up the road from me, whatchas think?
The camera is looking like a panasonic lumix around the 600 mark. Mums coughing up the dough and Nannas doing the bargaining.
http://www.cannondigicinema.com/Cannon_DIgital_Cinema/Welcome.html
the pana. lumix is probably ok, with probably quite reasonable glass for that price, however, for the money i’d begin the invest in the system that may suit me, check this out on this page
the 600D with 18-55 (28.8-88) and later build on with prime lenses, full frame bodies, or what is required, just something to think about :)
Good idea trichome, I’d pay the $724 and get the additional 55-250mm. That would make a nice starter kit.
I guess you have the choice of getting something he can go on with if he gets serious, or something that you are prepared to replace altogether. Another thing to consider is resale value if he moves on. A respected brand would have a better resale value. Check out ebay too. My daughter bought and sold cameras and lenses and got some good prices there when she was working out what she wanted.
seriously, you can sit here and look for ages, but you really need to go and test. Otherwise you’ll never know what you are getting.
I have developed my own film about 25 yrs ago. And enlarged etc.. I like Digital.. much neater, cheaper, easier.
Arts said:
seriously, you can sit here and look for ages, but you really need to go and test. Otherwise you’ll never know what you are getting.I have developed my own film about 25 yrs ago. And enlarged etc.. I like Digital.. much neater, cheaper, easier.
I have fond memories of using a darkroom.. He’s 36 now
and Cathy won’t like me telling her age today but she was about 16 here.
for a moment there I thought the outhouse was your darkroom…
I love that second shot.. beautiful.
Arts said:
for a moment there I thought the outhouse was your darkroom…I love that second shot.. beautiful.
Funny that, I thought that someone may see it that way as I was pasting the links in.
and thanks but the majority of any photo I took of Cathy in those days, was the beauty of the subject. Impossible to get a bad shot of her.
Here’s the both of them together.
Roughbarked has pointed me to this thread, and really, there is not much I can offer in addition to the suggestions already offered.
To collate what has been posted:
Option A: rugged point and shoot.
These are useful to throw around and take places you’d never dream of taking your DSLR which would be a handy quality for the age-group of the photographer. Unfortunately they generally have few settings to play with but are smart enough to take decent photos anyway. Going this way will technically require a single outlay of dollars, and no more need be spent on the hobby. (well, until next year when the new better model comes out just in time for xmas)
Option B: DSLR
This would be my recommendation here. Buy him the same brand you have, so that you’ll be able to share accessories. Less portable and rugged than the P&S, but it will be a much more useful camera and it will be able to “Grow” with him. Buy the cheapest body you can find, as it will service him for a couple of years until he outgrows it. Later, once he has had practice you can look at the style of photos he takes and work out what lens to get next for him. (IE: Macro, wide angle or telephoto) I’d also suggest a flash, and there are non-canon/Nikon alternatives that will save you some dollars. Note that some of the cheap bodies do not have the hotshoe for a flash, but not a big deal if you do not plan on buying one for a while.
When/if in a couple of years time the camera no longer fit his needs, you can then look into upgrading it, and keep the lenses and accessories already purchased.
Option c:
And just to throw some other alternatives in for you, you may want to consider some micro 4/3 cameras. They are kinda like a P&S with the ability to change lenses. You’re looking at extra dollars for the technology, and they tend to suit travellers because they offer a lot of the flexibility of a DSLR without the weight. However, I think that option B above would be the best for you.
a great summary Carmen_Sandiego :)
Thank you Carmen_Sandiego, option B is along the lines we were thinking of anyway.. makes sense to get him one like mine that he’s been using for a couple years.
A few more the lad took before going off with to the skateboard park.
bluegreen said:
a great summary Carmen_Sandiego :)
Yep. I reckoned he could add to the thread and that’s what happened.
My first camera(the one I bought) was when I was 17. Here are a couple of shots off the first roll of film..self portrait 
this, is my main street.. 
Actually.. I must have been 19.
roughbarked said:
Actually.. I must have been 19.
shakes fist
Damned hippy! Get a haircut and a real job!
My photos, if anyone is interested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dark_orange/
Carmen_Sandiego said:
roughbarked said:
Actually.. I must have been 19.
shakes fist
Damned hippy! Get a haircut and a real job!
My photos, if anyone is interested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dark_orange/
at the time I was an apprentice watchmaker in a (respectable and very Catholic) local jewellery store. ;) My hair (and my out there glare) was a constant issue they must have put up with due to only one thing.. my outstanding .. brane.. ? otherwise.. what?
roughbarked said:
Arts said:
seriously, you can sit here and look for ages, but you really need to go and test. Otherwise you’ll never know what you are getting.I have developed my own film about 25 yrs ago. And enlarged etc.. I like Digital.. much neater, cheaper, easier.
I have fond memories of using a darkroom.. He’s 36 now
and Cathy won’t like me telling her age today but she was about 16 here.
In that photo, she’ll always be 16.
♫If I Had a Ribbon Bow | Fairport Convention | Fairport Convention♪♩
roughbarked said:
♫If I Had a Ribbon Bow | Fairport Convention | Fairport Convention♪♩
Despite your long hair and steely gaze, you’re a big softy at heart Roughy.
roughbarked said:
at the time I was an apprentice watchmaker in a (respectable and very Catholic) local jewellery store. ;) My hair (and my out there glare) was a constant issue they must have put up with due to only one thing.. my outstanding .. brane.. ? otherwise.. what?
my uncle was a watchmaker by trade and a concert bassoonist by hobby, or so he says. He spent a lot more years earning money for his hobby in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra than he did watchmaking, although he also did pretty well with that too.
bluegreen said:
roughbarked said:
at the time I was an apprentice watchmaker in a (respectable and very Catholic) local jewellery store. ;) My hair (and my out there glare) was a constant issue they must have put up with due to only one thing.. my outstanding .. brane.. ? otherwise.. what?my uncle was a watchmaker by trade and a concert bassoonist by hobby, or so he says. He spent a lot more years earning money for his hobby in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra than he did watchmaking, although he also did pretty well with that too.
Oh wow! What a cool group of people we have here. I do like this wee little forum!
painmaster said:
roughbarked said:
♫If I Had a Ribbon Bow | Fairport Convention | Fairport Convention♪♩
Despite your long hair and steely gaze, you’re a big softy at heart Roughy.
You can’t believe everything you read.
roughbarked said:
painmaster said:
roughbarked said:
♫If I Had a Ribbon Bow | Fairport Convention | Fairport Convention♪♩
Despite your long hair and steely gaze, you’re a big softy at heart Roughy.
You can’t believe everything you read.
You need a wiki page.
painmaster said:
roughbarked said:
painmaster said:Despite your long hair and steely gaze, you’re a big softy at heart Roughy.
You can’t believe everything you read.
You need a wiki page.
Oh I don’t know.. I’m in all the important places on the internet now.
roughbarked said:
painmaster said:
roughbarked said:You can’t believe everything you read.
You need a wiki page.
Oh I don’t know.. I’m in all the important places on the internet now.
well said.