Daughters first camera - need help deciding what to buy?

[Matt_Hirst]

Not sure I'm allowed to ask this on here or not - as I know Olympus don't do a really budget camera, but hopefully if the bug bites my daughter (9 going on 29) may want to progress to my em1 mk2 so I can upgrade (the wife would stop me lol).

Anyway its Christmas very soon and the youngest comes out bird watching with me so as I take my camera out and about she has asked if she could have her first camera, so I started looking around and basically I aint got a clue what a good cheap camera is nowadays as when you read reviews, theres a hell of a lot of negative ones saying x camera is a rebadged xyz and not worth buying.

I don't expect anything like my em1 mk2 but I would like it to be usable and keep her interested, not used once and never taken out again as the images are rubbish.

So has anybody been in a similar position and what did you buy or what would someone recommend for sub £100.

[AMc]

If you were happy to share lenses and OK with a used body then an E-M10 wouldn't bust the budget too much.

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipment/used-photo-and-video/used-mirrorless-cameras/used-olympus-mirrorless-cameras/olympus-om-d-e-m10/sku-1069055/

The PEN EP-?? line would also be an option.
Most share the slightly older but capable 16MP sensor.

FWIW I bought my daughter a couple of cameras - the most recent was a Fuji XP140 (I think) when she was about 12, she's now 17 and her phone is her camera.
She was a Guide, now a Young Leader - so having a camera that was durable, weatherproof etc. meant she could take it on camps and activities.
Her Guide group aren't allowed their phones so she was the only one taking pictures.
Quality was good - not m43 quality but very capable and it still works - unlike several compact cameras I've had.

[OM USer]

If you want to go olympus then the E-M10 MkII is a nice entry level camera (and some would say better than the Mk III). The 12-50mm and 40-150mm tie in nicely at a budget price and coover a lot of focal range. What does she like to photograph? There is also a lot of mileage for the young photographer with a super zoom all in one job - I'm not up to date but Fuji always have one in their catalogue - but there is less manual control for when conditions get tough.

[Ian]

Would something like a used Olympus E-420 DSLR with 14-42 kit lens do the trick - you should be able to get on on your budget from eBay?

Ian

[Ian]

Actually a Pen would be better than my suggestion as she could use your lenses.

[Matt_Hirst]

Ok guys thanks for the replies, never thought of finding an Olympus within our budget.

I'll take a look around see what there is on the bay.

Thanks again.

Matt

[Melaka]

I'd go for an EM10 but agree with Ian that an E420/600/620 would do well with older lenses.

[baldyb]

fwiw I would have a look on the dealers websites rather than eBay as you will almost always get some sort of warranty. I have used MPB and LCE for example on numerous occasions and always found them both excellent to deal with.

[Phill D]

How about a little Panasonic TZ70. There are some on ebay less than £100. Might be a good way to get her started with a do it all camera before graduating to a more serious camera.

[DavidB]

How about a little Panasonic TZ70. There are some on ebay less than £100. Might be a good way to get her started with a do it all camera before graduating to a more serious camera.

Agree.

I had one of those (in addition to my Oly gear) as a 'pocket' camera and took some decent images with it, one getting in the local bird club's annual publication, an example of the best camera is the one you have with you. N.B. They have an electronic viewfinder in addition to LCD panel, making it a step up from a phone towards even better cameras. The 30x zoom (check the ff/mft equiv at full zoom) will be useful for wildlife pics. Think there's also a 'macro' setting.

It was another of these Pany TZ travel zooms that I bought my daughter, together with damage cover and warnings about keeping dust away from the lens and it's still OK. I've been unable to persuade her to accept and OM5 mk 1 or 2 with some lenses, as that's "too complicated" - must have been reading DPR.

But mine died at 13 months, just out of guarantee, and that appears to be a common complaint. They (and other TZ travel zooms) are also notorious for sucking in dust, etc., which then appear on all the images. I was getting this in a corner when mine died, despite being ultra careful.

So I wouldn't touch anything on ebay without a guarantee and a description stating it was free of dust, etc., and would avoid items like https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PANASONIC...4AAOSwS3pfvWsy “Excellent Condition-minor scratches to screen Turned on but untested further”

I could only reccomend buying a new one from the likes of John Lewis together with their 'accidental' damage guarantee, so if something went wrong outside of the normal guarantee, there would be a means of getting it replaced. (I don't know the current situation, but I think Pany didn't cover getting rubbish sucked into your camera as something covered by guarantee).



P.S. £169.99 From Amazon in black (£40 more for silver) at the moment, sold by and despatched from Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00S9BD1...SIN=B00S9BD108 They are OOS but trying to get more stock and you can place your order at that price. £11.29 For 2 years accidental damage cover.

[AMc]

If you're OK with used then there are Olympus PL bodies well under £100 with warranty

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipment/used-photo-and-video/used-mirrorless-cameras/used-olympus-mirrorless-cameras/

£50 will get you a PM-1 or PL1 - £90 an E-PL5

£65 would get you a 14-42mm kit lens

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipment/used-photo-and-video/used-lenses/used-olympus-lenses/olympus-m-zuiko-ed-14-42mm-f-3-5-5-6-ii-r/sku-1080692/

usedlens.co.uk is a great resource for searching out kit from good suppliers.

You might get a bargin on eBay but you might get a turkey - with a dealer you usually get warranty.

[MJ224]

Good suggestion. I had an EPL5, a great little camera, good for easy photography with reasonable control...and its fits in a pocket..:-)

[JonSchick]

I think I’d probably not go for an ILC. An all in one with decent zoom range may be more useful for her, and she’s more likely to carry it regularly if it’s not too large perhaps? The camera I gave my (older) daughter a few years ago, which she’s still uses now and refuses to part with, is a Fuji X30. That’ll be out of the price range you’re looking at but I would look for the best LUMIX TZ model you can find, or something similar.

[baldyb]

If you decide on the TZ range (always been reliable for me and I do like the in-camera panorama!) then look out on eBay for refurbished ones from Panasonic themselves. I've bought several over the years - they're good prices, free delivery, come with a warranty and you can return within 14 days if she doesn't like it.

[Dave in Wales]

First things first...........Have you consulted her?

If 'she' likes it, then she's bound to use it more

[moggi1964]

If you want to see if she truly has an interest I have a Canon Powershot A620 that comes with a 2GB SD card and just needs 4 AA batteries to work. You can have it for the cost of postage from Manchester.

It's 7.1MP and works as you would expect. Here's a review from 2005 https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona620

Maybe it's something you could give her now and then if she continues to show an interest then get her an Olympus EP for Christmas?

Anyway, no worries if it isn't what you are looking for.

I've also got a Point and Shoot film camera she can have if you want to take her down that hole

[Matt_Hirst]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions and also for the very kind offer from mogi.

I need to read through things again do a bit more research, my current thoughts are it needs to be portable but also capable of a reasonable pic as I am keen to keep her interested.

We went down a similar route with eldest daughter but bought her a kiddie camera which was just useless and she quickly lost interest.

Once again thanks

Matt