I have a six-year-old gadget lover. He is curious about the world around him and how technology fits into all that. I want to encourage him when he asks to photograph or take videos of us (or his LEGO minifigures). After all, Steven Spielberg's parents let him be in charge of the Super 8 home movies from a young age. So when I recently brought home a series of cameras to test, you can guess who was over my shoulder asking for a turn.
So if you're looking for a family-friendly camera that can be enjoyed by parents and kids alike, read on.
Olympus Tough Series, 12-14 Mpx, from $180
Nate: "What?! I can throw it? Can I really throw it mom?"
Yes, your child can throw this camera across the room and the body, lens and LCD screen will stand up to it, hence the name. Olympus makes my all-time favourite high-end digital SLR, the PEN, so when I brought home this point-and-shoot, I was pleased to see the picture quality and zoom were excellent and the interface easy to grasp. Best of all, it can go underwater, so bathtime and beach fumbles are no longer a heart-stopping event. The one slight drawback (aside from price, though you get what you pay for) is that the body is a bit bulky for wee hands.
Kodak EASYSHARE Series, 10-14 Mpx, from $60
Nate: "I just push this button and go? Cool!"
Many of the photos you've seen on my blog have been taken with the older cousin of the Kodak EASYSHARE Max, and I love its ease of use and vibrant picture quality. But it's way too fancy and bulky (to accommodate it's great lens) to share with my kids. Fortunately, the lower model EASYSHARES all offer that same out-of-the-box-ease (I always like to see how far I can go before reading a manual) and the Smart Capture feature makes it nearly impossible to take a bad photo (though it helps if you know the tips for taking great family shots). With terrific price points, a great lightweight body, plus the ability to share quickly via email and Facebook, this is an ideal camera for tweens or moms looking for simplicity.
Samsung 2View Series, 10-16 Mpx, from $100
Nate: "I can see myself mom!"
The lightest of all the cameras we tried (which is ideal for kids), the Samsung 2View has an LCD screen on the front for taking perfect self-portraits (or keeping the kids in position for a photo by distracting them). Pretty cool! The buttons are a bit small and tricky, and I found there to be a lag time when snapping action photos, but the end result is crisp.
Casio TRYX, 12.1 MPX, $270. Available at Future Shop .
Nate: "Whoooooah!"
This was hands-down Nate's favourite camera, probably because it has a giant LCD screen (perfect for little eyes who haven't grown up looking through peepholes), and the optical lens is on a swing-out stand type device which swivels, so he could shoot the floor, the ceiling and himself while keeping his eyes on the LCD. The swivel-stand thingy can also "stand" in for a tripod and helps to keep the camera steady when shooting video.
I have to admit I was overwhelmed at first; it felt like a camera that should be used for taking skateboarder movies. But once we realized that the interface was via touch-screen and I got the hang of the menu, I have to admit, I was really impressed. The shape is perfect for young hands, though if your kid is the careless type, better to go for the Tough or a kid-model camera, as the lens seems very exposed. This would be an excellent camera for avid photo/video type families, or the grown kid going off to university or that backpacking trip through Europe.
What about you? Do you let your kids play with your digital camera? Or do you think I'm crazy to let a six-year-old near such pricey equipment.
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