My daughter is dying to have a digital camera. Because I want her to feel like she can take it anywhere and therefore get lots of use from it, I thought I'd go with the kids style (Fisher Price, Hanah Montana etc). She wants it to do video too.

DH wants to get her a nice camera, but she is only 9 and Daddy only gets the "good stuff". I'm afraid she would hardly ever take any pictures for fear of damaging the camera, if it's a nice one. Plus I don't want her to damage a nice camera.

So, what are your experiences with them and the quality of photo?

By Kate on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 11:05 pm:

The Fisher Price one is AWFUL. You can barely see the pics on the viewing screen, and when you download them they are even worse. Printing them out does not help any. Can you talk DH into a real camera that isn't top of the line? The FP one is a major disappointment for kids excited about taking their own pics. Plus it is extremely babyish looking IMO for a nine year old. Save the $65 and put it toward a semi decent real one.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 11:19 pm:

The video on Fisher Price refers to the kids as preschoolers.

Ditto on getting her a more inexpensive real camera. She will be frustrated if the pictures are fuzzy.

Digital Cameras at Walmart

It looks like they come in a range of prices, some even cheaper than the FP kids camera.

By Kate on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 11:21 pm:

I just played with the FP camera...it chops off heads all the time because the viewfinder isn't lined up properly. What you SEE isn't what you GET. I then looked it up at Amazon and saw that MANY people complained about this very same thing, so it isn't that I have a dud. It's that the camera in general is a dud!

By Marie on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 11:26 pm:

We bought a camera at Walmart for dd and I think we paid 29.99 for it and although its not all that fancy but it does take decent pictures the only thing I dislike about it is that it don't have a view screen in the back but the pictures look pretty good but it was just an off brand. My ds bought her grandaughter one of the digital princess camera from Walmart and paid 19.99 for it and it takes really good pictures also and it comes with software to make your own stories and picture frames. she said her dgd will spend hours taking pictures and putting them on her photo album. and she is 5

By Unschoolmom on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 07:15 am:

I think that at 9 she should be able to learn how to take care of a real camera.

I have mixed feeling about tech items for kids. Often they're do bad they simply frustrate a child.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 08:19 am:

I let my DD (9) use my older digital camera. We had a long chat before she was allowed this privilege, and thus far she has been very responsible. She knows it not a toy and takes good care of it.

I wouldn't bother with a kid camera, but would try a low end, real digi camera and see how she does.

By Tarable on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 11:01 am:

I wouldn't bother with a kid camera either. I would definately go for an inexpensive real camera for less than 100 you should be able to get a really good camera for her that you should tell her she is responsible for. Also explain that if she takes care of it that will show you she is responsible and be able to get more nice "grown up" things in the future. I gave my oldest my old digi camera and she loves it and takes wonderful care of it and has for about 3 years.

I would defiantely check online for reviews of the cheaper cameras before you purchase one.

By Emily7 on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 11:47 am:

My 4 & 5 year old love the fp camera. It doesn't take the best pictures, but they are happy with what prints out & that is wht counts. I would not buy it for an older child, but for the ages of my kids it has proven to be 10 times better than a real camera (it is sturdy). I had to laugh because ds dropped it several times to see if the commercials were true.
I was worried last year when they were discussed on MV, but it turned out just fine. The kids also love the FP3 players.

By Debbie on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 01:27 pm:

I got the Fisher Price camera for my ds, but he was 6 at the time. He loves it, but I would not get it for an older child. There are so many inexpensive cameras these days. I would just get one of those.

By Dana on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 03:53 pm:

That answers my question. We need better quality. DD is wanting to really get into photography and she has a great eye, esp when cropping the photos afterwards. I just don't want her to be like I am with my camera. I don't take it everywhere I want because it could get wet, get sand, too hot, too humid etc etc. So I loose on a lot of great photo ops. I had a perfect camera a few years back but the battery compartment door broke. So I will look myself for the camera and then have DH give the final approval on it since he understands all the technical stuff.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 04:08 pm:

Be sure to get a decent camera case. That will help protect it.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 04:40 pm:

Yeah, keep it away from the sand. We had to send a camera in to be cleaned, after it got sand on it. We aren't even sure how all that sand got in there. Sarah did set it down, but didn't bury it in the sand. It was nasty.

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 05:01 pm:

Another for getting a real one. I thought about getting my kids cameras this year (they are 5), and looking at the price of the kid ones I figured the money was better spent on a cheaper digi.
Dana, you should never lose out on an opportunity just because you are afraid of damaging the camera!! What good is a nice camera if you can't take the pics? I look at it as any good picture I get makes it worth it, even if one of these days my camera gets destroyed. The moments only happen once, the cameras are getting cheaper by the second.

By Dana on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 10:24 pm:

I do totally agree with you, Crystal. But I do miss some great photos. That is why I miss my other camera so much (the one that has the broken battery door). I could take that anywhere. It was small and portable without the need of a case. I hate camera cases. For me that is just one more step needed that keeps me from getting the shot I need.

Thanks for everyones feedback!

By Tink on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 12:06 am:

We've gotten my 10yo dd a Kodak 5mp camera in pink for just over $80 for Christmas. It has decent reviews and is a reputable name so I feel pretty good about the choice I made. I think it's the best option for any child older than the preschool set.

By Dana on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 05:41 pm:

WEll, I just got back from Target. I found only couple that did both video and stills. And ofcourse they were sold out of the ones I was looking at. so I ended up with a movie camera that can do stills. The megapix is rated w/ 5.0, so it is down only one from the Kodac and Olympus I was looking at both at $129. The one I got was only $79 Hope it works.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 06:32 pm:

That sounds like it will work! I hope it does the trick for her.