Digital camera for a 10 year old

[Kenzie]

My niece really likes taking photos and would like a camera for Christmas. I was thinking of a compact with an internal non-extending lens. Either that it a used/refurbed compact. Can't run on AS batteries. Any thoughts?

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[maviczap]

Just a point & shot compact will do, good offers on compacts in Argos at the mo

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Search/searchTerm/FANTASTIC+OFFERS+ON+SELECTED+CAMERAS.htm?tag=ar:st atic:pricecuts:cameras

[johnnyrod]

I picked up a little Fuji digital P&S for my daughter to cut her teeth on, it's not so new but 5MP an cost about £20, I've forgotten the model number. Anyway the key was it has to be easy to use and short shutter lag. It's got a power button on the top and the shutter, you just press the power button then start shooting. You can just snap all over with minimal finesse and nearly all the photos come out clear. So have a think about the needs and go from there - is she going to need or use an optical viewfinder? How accessible do the manual functions need to be? How do you get the pics out of it? Some have Wifi and/or Bluetooth.

[ophic]

Something that's shockproof, dropproof and waterproof is what I bought my young 'un when he was still fairly little. It was a 10 megapixel Olympus thing I got used from ebay for about £70.

It's not used much any more but it still works.

[Littlepeahead]

Depends how much you want to spend. Just had a quick look at Which? for you as I'm a subscriber and I reckon this one might suit your daughter - other colours are available but little girls do seem to like pink! Canon are very reliable.

https://cathedralcameras.co.uk/new-products-14673/new-products-14710/canon-ixus-265-hs-camera-pink-16mp-12xzoom-3-0lcd-fhd-25mm-wide-lens?gclid=CjwKEAjw-vewBRDH1-b52Lig1hkSJACTPfVFGLbiHJl0Ue2FOVKejXwgFQGLQdwWar4Y MBD1nKJEqBoCiXfw_wcB

Here's the Which? review.

The Canon Ixus 265 HS offers a 16-megapixel (Mp) sensor, 12x zoom and 3-inch display, all encased in a premium metal frame. That's a great deal of compact camera for a mid-range price. But what does our test lab make of it? We've got the test results for this compact camera.

What is it?
A fun, compact camera that is ideal for your holiday travels. There's no wow factor to the Canon Ixus 265 HS, it just works very well.
What's it great for?
The shutter delay is pretty quick on the Canon Ixus 265 HS, at just 0.35 seconds over 8 metres, meaning you can shoot fast-moving objects and get a good quality image. This works hand-in-hand with the camera's image stabilisation, which negates image blur when using its 12x zoom. If you want to dabble with wildlife photography, this model may be a cheap place to start.
What's the picture quality like?
Very good. In sunny conditions, you'll get bright, punchy photos to show off to friends and family. Focusing is taut and, even in very bright conditions, the camera's DIGIC 4+ processor will help distinguish between light and dark shades to produce a pleasant image.
In low light, results are less impressive, but still respectable. This is to be expected though - you'll need a bridge or DSLR camera to avoid graininess at higher ISO sensitivities - the kind you'll experience when you're out under the stars.
What's it like to use?
The Ixus 265 HS has a pleasing design. It weighs just 149g and is small enough to slip easily into a pocket, but it has big, well-placed buttons for selecting its eight scene modes. That said, its menu can be confusing at times and there's not a great deal of space for your thumb to grip on its back. The metal design is a welcome touch, though.
Is there anything I should watch out for?
Not really. There are even better compact cameras available, such as the Nikon Coolpix S9700, but the Ixus 265 HS is great for its price.
Is there anything else I should know?
This Canon's 3-inch display is up to the standard of most compact models'. This means that it's decent for composing and reviewing photos, although you'll struggle with reflections in bright sunlight - a problem affecting most cameras that don't have a viewfinder.
With NFC and wi-fi included, the Ixus 265 HS will connect to your phone with relative ease. Using Canon's Camera Window App you can even use your iPhone or Android as a remote viewfinder. This is a useful feature, if you want to be in a group photo but don't want to keep going back to the camera to check you're all in shot.
Should I buy it?
This is a great value camera. If you're buying on a budget, you'll have to spend at least £100 more to get significantly better photo quality.

[Kenzie]

Hey LPH, thanks for looking but its my neice rather than daughter, don't plan on having kids! I might get a used compact and see how she gets on. I would prefer a non extending lens as she has younger siblings and I want to reduce the chance of it getting damaged.

[Littlepeahead]

Sorry, not trying to push parenthood on you! This one had a metal casing which is why I thought it might appeal. My nephew had a compact at 6 and I gave him my 350D at 9. Kids seem to be way better with technology than I am. My mum still can't send a text!

[johnnyrod]

Fujifilm F11, that's the one. Yes the lens extends but it folds back in, all motorised. If it's going to be broken off, then there's basically no hope. I know my little girl, she's not like that, so it's fine. It's not hers to have all the time yet though - she's not even 4.

TBH I don't really know much about the compact digi market but it's worth a trip to CEX or a camera shop for a bit of window shopping. Even a trip to Currys might help clarify the sort of thing you are looking for, when you get your hands on a few.

[Kenzie]

Quiet a few hospices on ebay selling donated gear.

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[johnnyrod]

Yup, prices are sometimes good too. Best way to gauge real values is look up the actual sold value of auctions. Asking prices vary enormously. Tonight's stupidest: £5 up to £200 for the same camera (Zeiss Contessamatic ye olde film rangefinder); not normally that bad but a factor of 3 or 4 is fairly common!

[Kenzie]

Won a Canon Ixus 70 Silver on eBay. Boxed with all leads. £17.98 plus postage.

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[johnnyrod]

Looks like a good camera, optical viewfinder is a nice touch, and really 7MP is enough to print 6x4s for as long as you like.

[Kenzie]

Camera seems to be faulty. Waiting to hear back from the seller. Bought her a Panasonic TZ5 instead.

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