Would You Give Your 5-yr-old a dSLR?

[savitri_wilder]

<p>My husband said he wants to get her a point-and-shoot (not the toy or pink Barbie one) for our daughter this Christmas. She LOVES taking pictures and sometimes, I think the little turd's pics are sharper than mine! But momma thinks we should get her a used older dSLR. I'd give her the XTi that she's holding but hubby's using that now. I have a Nikon but I think I'd go for a Canon body so that she can use the 50mm that's on that XTi or the kit lens that we hardly use, the 18-55mm.<br>

What do you think? I mean check her out in action. She knows how to focus too:<br>

<img src="http://www.scrapbit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/DSC_4537-1.jpg" alt="" width="591" height="392" /><br>

And the photo she took:<br>

<img src="http://www.scrapbit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_4546-1.jpg" alt="" width="347" height="521" /></p>

 

[kennethhamlett]

<p>Go for the used DSLR. My five-year old shoots with his point and shoot Olympus, but he has gotten to the point that the camera is limiting his "vision", so I now let him shoot with my Nikon SLR and he is able to shoot what he sees. At five he already has an eye for composition and color and I want to help him develop that by giving him the tools he needs. I'll try to find some of his shots and post them.</p>

[joshroot]

<p>Sure, if you think she is careful enough and/or you won't get mad if a typical kid "accident" happens to it (dropped it, left it outside in the rain, forgot it at mcdonalds, painted it to make it 'pretty', etc). Find a used older rebel or even a d30 or some such thing.</p>

<p>However, do keep in mind that she might like a camera that was easier for her to carry around. Point and shoot cameras to have advantages. though, of course, they also increase the "accident" possibilities listed above.</p>

[david_carroll4]

<p>Do it - what's the worst that can happen? We gave our daughter a cheap dig. P&S and the bloody thing died after a month (the camera, not the daughter). Most 5 yo's don't even know to look through the viewfinder, but that's obviously not a problem in your case. I would, however, start her on whatever camera uses the standard lens, rather than the zoom - too heavy, too dim, too many moving parts.</p>

[jpo3136b]

<p>On one hand, it's only an object; it's not going to be quite like giving the kid the keys to family car. I think, though, that this is an expensive accident waiting to happen.</p>

<p>Hey, when I was five, I played with a cardboard box! I don't really know what to say in response to your question. </p>

[jpo3136b]

<p>Crayons, big sheets of paper, and creative toys like blocks and boxes were recommended by my Mom over the years. She was convinced that toys that required the child to do just one kind of activity were not the best idea. Supporting imagination and creativity through play might be more helpful at five years old. </p>

<p>Kids won't get into fractions until about the third grade; so, all of the main math will have to wait until junior high. At five years old, aren't we still working on how to hold a pencil and one day write our name? </p>

[colin carron]

<p>As long as you and your husband are happy for her to drop it / get little finger marks on the sensor / scratch lenses etc and would not under these circumstances go ballistic then I don't see why not. If however it is going to be a big deal when that happens I would stick with the P&S. Personally I would go for the P&S anyway as children are usually very sensitive to atmosphere and would know if they had accidentally wrecked something valuable. To my way of thinking it comes down to your attitude to possible DSLR disaster rather than her photographic abilities. After all most of the photographers here who started young will have started with a box camera / instamatic / cheap P&S and learnt composition and colour with whatever they were given.</p>

[colin carron]

<p>repeat post deleted</p>

[pcnilssen]

<p>Even though I don't mind you giving her the DSLR, and even though you say you won't object to her dropping the camera, scratching the lenses, spilling water or milk over it, and so on, I think that a simple point and shoot would be better for her. For her the main thing is to take photos, and she is probably quite uninterested in aperture, shutter values, and such dslr info. And if you intend to set the dSLR to "green auto", why should she use a heavy dSLR?</p>

<p>If you want to prolong her interest in photography, I think that, from the childs view, she is better off with a simple and lightweight P&S, which is easier to carry and to shoot with. When she gets older and if the photo interest is still there, then she could get the dSLR.</p>

[daverhaas]

<p>My nine year old son regularly picks up one of the spare's that we have at sporting events and joins us on the sidelines... He is really good, although he tends to "Chimp" a bit too much for my tastes.</p>

<p>Dave</p>

 

[waltflanagan]

<p>I learned how to use my Dad's Nikon F2 SLR when I was 5. I wasn't allowed to use it alone but I could use it if he was standing next to me. Around 9 I could use it on my own.<br>

<br /> I learned how to read in kindergarten but my Dad taught me to add/subtract/multiply/divide before I was 5. Don't shortchange your kid. If your kid is smart and responsible then encourage them.</p>

[akochanowski]

<p>Don't know about a 5 year old, but I had my son as a 9 or 10 year old shoot with a (cheap) Oly DSLR which was small enough for his hands while at the zoo many times. He got a kick out of using a "grown up" camera, and really enjoyed printing and putting together a book of animals he saw and photographed from the trips. If you're prepared to write off the camera because it WILL end up falling off the table or behind the wheels of the car, then why not?</p>

[savitri_wilder]

<p>Thanks for all the input! I think, based on what you all shared with me, even though the DSL will go (if not broken yet) a long way if she continues to show interest, the p&s might just be best. She can focus on composition and color as Collin Carron suggested.</p>

<p>John O'Keefe: When I was little (my husband too), we did the cardboard box and crayons. I agree with your mom too. Hate those new toys they have nowadays plus half of them are annoying as heck! At our home we have Lincoln logs from back in the days. Same with blocks too. Coincidently we like vintage things too and we try to pick up as many old toys as possible. But I think kids now are a bit different than when we were kids. Yeah my kid still loves to hide in boxes and do arts and crafts with me but goodness does she love gadgets! The last part though might be my fault. I work with gadgets and I bring them home for the weekend sometimes to test. I don't remember what I learned when I was five for sure I was learning English. I was already reading then, I remember that, and that's why I skipped first grade but nowadays you learn to write your name in pre-school and I am hoping a kid will learn a lot of good math before middle school.</p>

[luis_g]

<p> Only if you can laugh off 2-3 lost/destroyed or lost DSLRs a year. This is what I would go with, and I would insure it heavily against everything:</p>

<p>http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1448</p>

<p> It can survive what children dish out on a regular basis, except for leaving it behind. Besides, if you give her a DSLR now, what will you do for her 15th birthday? A Nikon D4x?</p>

<p> </p>

[savitri_wilder]

<p>Walt, I learned math in kindergarten and not because my parents taught me. There was this little boy that my mom always compared me too. He was in 1st grade and at that time he knew how to add, subtract, and multiple. So I taught myself all that just because I didn't like to be less than him. I ended up being the only kid in the beginning of 3rd grade who knew the 1-12 multiplication table. Then we moved and she didn't have any close friends with a kid around my age to compare to until I was in middle school. In Indonesia there's an exit exam when you're in 9th grade. I scored the 2nd highest in my city. Basically with my grade I could waltz into any top private school in Indonesia. I didn't mean to score that high. I just studied my butt off so that I could be better than that kid she was comparing me to. I haven't done anything great like that since... my mom has different friends, I'm not near her, and even if starts comparing me again I've grown up since :P</p>

<p>Oh, my M does love to print. I have a little Canon Selphy and she thinks that thing is cool :) We both love to scrapbook too and that's how I got really into photography.</p>

[savitri_wilder]

<p>Luis: That's probably best for my husband. He is worst than a 5-yr-old. He won't forget it but he'll bring it home destroyed :P</p>

<p>Ok, for that price, wouldn't a used Canon 10D be cheaper? Granted it's not all the undestructable.</p>

<p>15th bday... isn't that when you give your kid the $500 first car?</p>

[anthea50]

<p>What a shame disposable camera's aren't around anymore! Years ago i gave a couple to my son (he was around 15 at the time) because we were on a trip to Sydney, and I wanted him to be able to take whatever photo's he wanted. He's a creative kid too, and he loved the idea of being able to shoot what he liked. If he was five, and showed the kind of interest that your daughter does, I would buy a second hand P&S and see what happened....how much time/interest was involved. Personally, I don't believe in giving kids things (especially valuable things) unless they show they have earned it. It might only be a passing fancy, and not giving her too much may make her work harder if she wants more. Sounds mean perhaps, just my age and upbringing, but gving your kids too much too soon can see them lose motivation to put in effort.<br>

Just my 2 cents worth. Cheers, Anthea :)</p>

[leicaglow]

<p>I started shooting with instamatics at 7. I think it is a great lesson to learn to care for a camera and lens. What a great thing to capture the viewpoint of a 5 year old.</p>

[brucecahn]

<p>No. I would give him drawing tools.</p>

[dbcooper]

<p>This is soooo simple - just give your prodigy photographer daughter the XTi and the two lenses, and get your hubby a new 5D MkII and some nice L glass to replace it. I'll bet it would be easy to talk him into it.</p>

<p>You (and I, BTW) will still be shooting Nikon, so that way everyone will be happy. See? Wasn't that easy?</p>

[jason_hall5]

<p>I would have to repeat most of what Josh Root said.</p>

<p>I would not be able to give one to my 5 year old because his 3 year old sister would use it for a hammer or something similar. I have, however, got both of them one of those "kid" digital camera that is said to be water proof and shock proof...made to take kid abuse. We will see how they holds up after Christmas. As of right now it seems that both kids are more musicly interested like their mother....so I may have no one to pass long my art.</p>

<p>Jason</p>

[savitri_wilder]

<p>Anthea, you're JUST like my grandpa :) I love him to pieces and miss him very much! Actually M works for everything she's got... except bday and Christmas presents and she only gets two... one from mom and dad. From grandma-pa she'll get a magazine subscription and the other set clothes (my mom's makes clothes for a living). The nice things we've gotten her since two Christmas ago she's taken great care of.</p>

<p>D.B. you cracked me up! if you only know how challenged my husband is with advanced electronics. He tries really really hard when working with the XTi. I think I sometimes hear his brains moving! :) If I gave him a 5D MkII + L lens he'd sell them and get his lady, the '62 Impala, a make-over :P</p>

<p>This evening on our way to gymnastics I asked M (this is her actual name) this:<br>

Me: M, do you like the camera you used the other day to take a picture of your card or the little one that is out of batteries (I actually have an old Kodak digital P&S, bought in 2001 I think, that she uses now and then... it's got a little 64meg card... but she thinks it a toy)?<br>

M: I like the big one, mommy.<br>

Me: Why? Isn't the little one nice and small for you?<br>

M: I like the big one because I can put it around my neck and the picture's nicer.<br>

Me: Oooh. But isn't it too heavy and you can't put it in your purse if we go somewhere?<br>

M: No, it's not too heavy and if we go somewhere I can just put it in your purse and you can carry it.<br>

Me: ....</p>

<p>Jason, those kids camera cost $70! I mean for a little bit more you can get a regular p&s with nicer pictures. They are cute and pink... and seems like you can run over it with a bulldozer and it'll survive.</p>

[jacques_emanuel]

<p>'M: I like the big one because I can put it around my neck and the picture's nicer.'<br>

That seems to end any kind of discussion about which camera it's gonna be!:)</p>

 

[dave_reichert1]

<p>The best camera is the one that you've got with you.</p>

<p>It's virtually incomprehensible that a five year old would want to carry a dslr. It's going to live in the larger gear bag that you or your husband is going to buy to carry a second kit. When my daughter was that age, we bought her a very light 2MP Nikon P&S, along with a very small fanny bag for her to carry it in. It worked out great. She took it everywhere. In fact, now that she's almost twelve, with her own dslr, she takes fewer pictures because she doesn't want to lug the camera around (it's a tiny Nikon D60 with a kit lens).</p>

<p>My advice: start small.</p>

[luis_g]

 

<p><strong>[savitri W] "</strong> Luis: That's probably best for my husband. He is worst than a 5-yr-old. He won't forget it but he'll bring it home destroyed :P"</p>

<p>ROTFLMAO!</p>

<p><strong>[sW]</strong> Ok, for that price, wouldn't a used Canon 10D be cheaper? Granted it's not all the undestructable.</p>

<p> That's what I was thinking, that at her age, I would have either destroyed a DSLR, or, tested my meager patience trying to protect it from myself. The Olympus lets the kid be a kid, do kid things, take the camera everywhere she goes, etc.<br>

<strong>[sW] "</strong> 15th bday... isn't that when you give your kid the $500 first car?"</p>

<p> You won't <em>want </em> to put your teenager in a $500 car, trust me.</p>