Recommend a camera with $800 budget

otacon

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This camera is for a 14 years old girl who got a little interest in photography but I feel she is lazy to pick up the skills. Initially she asked for a DSLR which after a few hours of convincing, she finally settled for something lesser. So I was thinking of getting her a camera with slightly advanced features n perhaps something that allows her to change lens in future if she needs to

I just went to MS Color, they recommended me X-A1 as only $699 with XC 16-50MM lens plus XC50-230MM lens n other free gifts

I read that Sony RX100 is recommended for small size n zooming but price is too high

Also read abt Panasonic GM1 but not sure how much n how good

Can someone recommend? TIA
 

tkdboi

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This camera is for a 14 years old girl who got a little interest in photography but I feel she is lazy to pick up the skills. Initially she asked for a DSLR which after a few hours of convincing, she finally settled for something lesser. So I was thinking of getting her a camera with slightly advanced features n perhaps something that allows her to change lens in future if she needs to

I just went to MS Color, they recommended me X-A1 as only $699 with XC 16-50MM lens plus XC50-230MM lens n other free gifts

I read that Sony RX100 is recommended for small size n zooming but price is too high

Also read abt Panasonic GM1 but not sure how much n how good

Can someone recommend? TIA

well if you dun mind an older model of the sony rx100, you can get it for much cheaper.

i got a first gen one recently as a spare cam for just 380 :)
 

trenzterra

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well if you dun mind an older model of the sony rx100, you can get it for much cheaper.

i got a first gen one recently as a spare cam for just 380 :)

Can I check where you got it from? Thanks!
 

otacon

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well if you dun mind an older model of the sony rx100, you can get it for much cheaper.

i got a first gen one recently as a spare cam for just 380 :)

used 1 or new 1? used 1 is out of question, unfortunately
 

lycheas

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I have kids of my own... so although you may have convinced her for this duration, I would suggest that you get her a DLSR as per what she wants... Otherwise, you will get loads of blame later on if she is not satisfied with your choice of camera for her.

AS for the budget, that's not a problem at all... you should readily be able to find the lower-tier brand new DSLR at below 800 dollars if you shop around. Just as an example, Canon EOS 1200D with the 18 - 55 kit lens is only 759 dollars at Canon listed price (which you can definitely get lower).
 

otacon

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I have kids of my own... so although you may have convinced her for this duration, I would suggest that you get her a DLSR as per what she wants... Otherwise, you will get loads of blame later on if she is not satisfied with your choice of camera for her.

AS for the budget, that's not a problem at all... you should readily be able to find the lower-tier brand new DSLR at below 800 dollars if you shop around. Just as an example, Canon EOS 1200D with the 18 - 55 kit lens is only 759 dollars at Canon listed price (which you can definitely get lower).

I know where u coming from but there is a very fine line between pampering n spoiling ur child. if she can proof to me that she can take a good photo or at least shows me that she is eager to learn like going to library to book some books, search online, etc, then I m willing to spoil her a little. For now, I do not see the passion in her other than just trying to have what her friends had
 

angel99999

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RX100 image quality beats most DSLR kit lens setup.

If I were you, I would get a "fun" camera, meaning one that has a lot of dials for her to play manual mode with.

But again, you may be spoiling her... a lot of girls nowadays thinks DSLR is the holy grail in photograph, in IQ. Not necessary, because the lens plays a big part and is very expensive for a good lens. If you do get her a camera, tell her that she can only use manual.. and it would force the user to learn the basics.

If IQ is not of concern, just get a cheap DSLR. Getting a compact for her would be as good as using her phone, the experience that it.
 

8-lane

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I've seen some DSLRs that are for beginners.. can't rmb the exact models/brands tho.
 

otacon

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RX100 image quality beats most DSLR kit lens setup.

If I were you, I would get a "fun" camera, meaning one that has a lot of dials for her to play manual mode with.

But again, you may be spoiling her... a lot of girls nowadays thinks DSLR is the holy grail in photograph, in IQ. Not necessary, because the lens plays a big part and is very expensive for a good lens. If you do get her a camera, tell her that she can only use manual.. and it would force the user to learn the basics.

If IQ is not of concern, just get a cheap DSLR. Getting a compact for her would be as good as using her phone, the experience that it.
N u would recommend which camera with lots of manual mode?

What is IQ?

Sent from GAGT Android App
 

mOomOo

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daddy should join in the fun too. photography a great way to bond with ya girl. =) i would be overjoyed if my little girl picks up photography when she grows up.

I think at her age, as parents we shouldn't kill the interest. let them experiment once they got their own cameras.

Encourage them to shoot as much as possible, look at the photographs of other photographers whose work they admire. Pick up photo books at the library, read online photography articles and if possible take some workshops. Her peers will also probably will guide her along.


RX100 is probably out of your budget. (maybe the 2nd hand older versions... but it's still a 1" sensor camera). don't get me wrong, rx100 is a great camera. but it's a great PNS camera. (suits daddy)

grab an entry dslr for her. or bring her to try out olympus e-m5 at the shops.. but buy from qoo10... it has enough manual settings for her.
got more budget go for cameras with aps-c sensors.

alternatively u can always find bargain DSLR in the WTS section of clubsnap forum. grab a body, get a cheap 50mm 1.8 and she's all set to go.


OR.. you could just ask her any particular model she wants. She's 14...so
she probably got some model that interests her already. from there, then work something out from there..


Cheers!


This camera is for a 14 years old girl who got a little interest in photography but I feel she is lazy to pick up the skills. Initially she asked for a DSLR which after a few hours of convincing, she finally settled for something lesser. So I was thinking of getting her a camera with slightly advanced features n perhaps something that allows her to change lens in future if she needs to

I just went to MS Color, they recommended me X-A1 as only $699 with XC 16-50MM lens plus XC50-230MM lens n other free gifts

I read that Sony RX100 is recommended for small size n zooming but price is too high

Also read abt Panasonic GM1 but not sure how much n how good

Can someone recommend? TIA
 
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setiardi

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I suggest bring her to Funan Centre and let her try which camera she likes. But one thing you need to be clear, short list those she prefers, doesn't matter what brand and type, just don't buy first.

Go home, check review of those shortlisted cams and ask here some more for opinions.

I too have a teenage girl and let her use my DSLR and Mirrorless ILC cams. Though she able to play around with the functions, end up buying a Fujiflim Instax cam... just frame thru viewfinder , shoot and out comes the film.

I have a plethora of lenses, flashes and accessories but she is not interested.

But my suggestion get her a small cam, fixed lens or interchangeable lens. For use of a more manual mode something like a Sony A5100 should suffice.

Anyway, are you sure she needs an interchangeable lens camera, since you said she lazy to pick up skill. Changing lenses can be a hassle in that case, for your info, not to mention switching to manual mode where she NEEDS to learn the art of photography, playing with aperture, shutter speed, ISO etc..etc.
 
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SkimMilk

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Lazy to pick up skills --> duno how, but I do feel that she may be lazy to learn about those dials (fun camera functions) as well.

Bring her to Courts or something, let her touch and feel all the cameras (compacts, mirrorless, DSLRs). You can see how she reacts to each kind of camera, then decide what to get her.

For all you know, she may not like the size of mirrorless as well.
 

otacon

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daddy should join in the fun too. photography a great way to bond with ya girl. =) i would be overjoyed if my little girl picks up photography when she grows up.

I think at her age, as parents we shouldn't kill the interest. let them experiment once they got their own cameras.

Encourage them to shoot as much as possible, look at the photographs of other photographers whose work they admire. Pick up photo books at the library, read online photography articles and if possible take some workshops. Her peers will also probably will guide her along.


RX100 is probably out of your budget. (maybe the 2nd hand older versions... but it's still a 1" sensor camera). don't get me wrong, rx100 is a great camera. but it's a great PNS camera. (suits daddy)

grab an entry dslr for her. or bring her to try out olympus e-m5 at the shops.. but buy from qoo10... it has enough manual settings for her.
got more budget go for cameras with aps-c sensors.

alternatively u can always find bargain DSLR in the WTS section of clubsnap forum. grab a body, get a cheap 50mm 1.8 and she's all set to go.


OR.. you could just ask her any particular model she wants. She's 14...so
she probably got some model that interests her already. from there, then work something out from there..


Cheers!

I love to learn too but like that could means need 2 cameras

I not trying to kill her interest, in fact I prefer she spend time taking photo rather than playing with handphone or eventually having a BF. But I just dun see the passion in her

Like many kids, she does not like to use 2nd hand camera cos I already tried to convince her before
 

otacon

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I suggest bring her to Funan Centre and let her try which camera she likes. But one thing you need to be clear, short list those she prefers, doesn't matter what brand and type, just don't buy first.

Go home, check review of those shortlisted cams and ask here some more for opinions.

I too have a teenage girl and let her use my DSLR and Mirrorless ILC cams. Though she able to play around with the functions, end up buying a Fujiflim Instax cam... just frame thru viewfinder , shoot and out comes the film.

I have a plethora of lenses, flashes and accessories but she is not interested.

But my suggestion get her a small cam, fixed lens or interchangeable lens. For use of a more manual mode something like a Sony A5100 should suffice.

Anyway, are you sure she needs an interchangeable lens camera, since you said she lazy to pick up skill. Changing lenses can be a hassle in that case, for your info, not to mention switching to manual mode where she NEEDS to learn the art of photography, playing with aperture, shutter speed, ISO etc..etc.

I prefer do research first before going down cos if i go down, I can only listen to salesman but not every salesman is honest, some just want to push for higher commission models

I want to shortlist a couple before heading down to feel it

She already got 1 personal Olympus camera n we got abt 3 other cameras at home. Nope of these r cameras comes with manual settings, all r PNS. So u see, with so many cameras at home, I dun really see she takes a lot of photo except using her iPhone.

I also do not know if she will learn to change lens or not but I just thinking that if she really do picks up photography, she might wanna change lens

I know almost nuts abt photography or cameras, I do not know how to start or go about helping her get a suitable camera
 
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