A camera for my son

[seajak]

My family is backpacking in Laos and Cambodia at Xmas and I think it is time my 13 year old son had his own camera. We were in Thailand at the same time last year and he gravitated between my Nikon V1 and my wife's phone and point'n'shoot but since then he has shown a real interest in photography. He has been using the V1 all year and has restricted himself to only manual settings including focus. He has a good understanding of aperture and likes to play around with DoF, so I need to find a compact digital with easy to use manual controls. I've been trying guide him towards a prime lens but he has been spoiled by the zoom on the V1 🙁. I was thinking of a Sony RX100 as there are some available here at a price close to second hand value. Are there any other cameras I should look at bearing in mind that cost is a consideration? I do like the idea of a small compact that he can carry in a belt pouch.

TIA,
clay

 

[kaiwasoyokaze]

a second hand X10 or x20? since you mentioned zooms.... and it does have the manual zoom ring thing going on at least. not for focusing though.

I handled a X10 before and that camera was light, took some good pictures at night with the EXR mode, and was constructed pretty sturdily for a camera that size.

 

[Addy101]

Why not another Nikon 1-series camera? The J3 seems small enough and the advantage is you can share interchangeable lenses and stuff with your V1.

A RX100 is a safe choice, in any version. Canon has the G7x that is basically a RX100 II alternative. There is really nothing I can think of that is comparable to the first generation RX100 this side of the Nikon 1 series.

But whatever you do, include your son in the decision making process. He is old enough to know at least in part what works for him.

 

[nongfuspring]

The RX100 does seem like the most obvious choice. For more money is the new Panasonic LX100, which seems an outstanding camera with full dedicated manual controls.

There's also a slew of decent P&S digitals that have more or less been forgotten about and have come down in price significantly, for example the Pentax MX-1 or the Fuji XF1 can be bought online for under $200 new.

 

[pvdhaar]

...I've been trying guide him towards a prime lens but he has been spoiled by the zoom on the V1 🙁

Nothing wrong with a zoom lens if the images are good.. And if he likes the V1, then he'll probably feel at home on the other 1-series Nikons.. (Addy101's already suggested a J3, which makes good sense).

 

[seajak]

Thanks for the replies. We had a look at the X10 last night. He likes the retro look I guess because he's grown up with my M6. However, the OVF and the mechanical zoom ring are big pluses as he's used to them on the V1 (EVF). I have been encouraging him to use the viewfinder. Only down side is the smaller sensor although the image quality looks fine for his needs and the faster lens when zoomed out would be good for the way he likes to shoot. If I had my way I'd start him on a fixed lens rangefinder like an Olympus 35RC but he is a child of this century and is used to the instant gratification of seeing his results immediately on his iPod. The only reason I'd prefer him to use a prime is to force him to think more about his composition (and move his feet 🙂 ). Not sure if I want to go further into the Nikon 1 range as I only bought the V1 as a travel camera before last years trip and rarely use it otherwise. In fact I'm thinking that the simplest solution is to just let him take the V1 and I'll have to slum it with the M6 🙂.

cheers,
clay

 

[pyeh]

Borrow mine

Borrow mine

Seajak, I have an X10 that you and your son can borrow indefinitely if you like. I never use it any more. It's a great camera. You're very welcome to it.

 

[geetist]

Why not just let your son have the V1 and get him a prime lens?

 

[rbiemer]

... In fact I'm thinking that the simplest solution is to just let him take the V1 and I'll have to slum it with the M6 🙂.

cheers,
clay

This makes he most sense, I think; your son gets to use a camera he is already familiar with and you get to use your M6. If a prime lens is something you want to "force" him to use, just "accidentally" mis-pack the camera bag...😀

Rob

 

[thegman]

If he likes the V1, I'd go with the V1, they're pretty cheap nowadays.

 

[seajak]

Thanks Peter, that is very generous of you. I'll have a talk to him this afternoon and PM you. It may be good for him to borrow it for a short while to see how it compares to the V1. Otherwise it may be better for him to take the V1 and for us to spend the money on the 18.5mm f/1.8 or a longer zoom.

cheers,
clay

 

[pyeh]

Any time, Clay.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

In 1974, when I was 13, my parents bought me my own first camera. It was an Edixa with a 50mm lens and a waist level viewfinder. It was a big lump of metal without a meter and it forced me to learn how to use the sunny 16 (probably more like sunny 11 in the UK) system. I eventually got an old Weston meter and wide / tele lenses.

I can understand your preference for digital these days but a Pentax K1000, Olympus OM1 or a Nikon FE (just by way of 3 examples) would also be a great introduction and film seems to be regarded as "kool" right now. I must be very "kool" as I shoot about 90% with film.

The DSLR option is a great alternative. My first DSLR was a Nikon D70 with an 18-79mm zoom. I would still back it against any of its contemporaries and you can probably pick one up for not much money.