M9 and Ten Year Old

[Tom Diaz]

My consideration of what Adam may need is tempered by my training as a teacher. Children can develop long-term interests with fairly complicated subject matter (like exposure) yet one doesn't want to delay too long the rewards of photography, e.g., digital feedback. I believe that even adults need more immediate feedback if they are new to photography and that film cannot provide this, unless perhaps you can also experience the magic of an image appearing in the tray!


I will NOT buy anyone an M9. I am leaning toward a used DSLR. However, I would like a SIMPLE DSLR, much like the simplicity of the M9. Does such a digital DSLR exist?

Given that you're a Leica owner and are probably going to share some picture taking with him, I second the suggestions for a Panasonic G1 (or G2 or G3). They're simple enough. They have full manual override. They do a very good job with Leica lenses if you want to go there. (The magnified manual-focus assist probably would be interesting, rather than too complicated, for your sharp nephew.) They have a list--a growing list--of excellent lenses of their own. They have a nice swivel mounted LCD as well as an electronic viewfinder, so you can put it on the ground and take pictures of ants on the march. (If you get him a G2H or G3 he could take HD video of ants on the march.)

Et cetera. A good-condition used G1 is a very inexpensive purchase. You could buy about 10 brand new G3 bodies for the price of an M9 body.

I'm also a teacher (occasional photography teacher of middle school kids) and agree that bright young people will stay interested in photography quite a long time if you give them some guidance--give some interesting assignments and let them run with them. Offer, for instance, to let him send you a picture every week or two, and you'll send back a big print.

Tom

 

[DougK]

Thinking back to when I first got interested in cameras, about the age of the nephew in question, I'd have appreciated the opportunity to start with an SLR; I outgrew the Kodak Disc very quickly (but still developed the itch for photography). I'd go with a used DSLR and a decent wide to short tele zoom; that combo should be enough to learn and grow with for some time.

I would ask him what he likes, and find out how responsible he is. It's certainly not true that all 10 year olds are irresponsible, but it's certainly equally false that none are irresponsible. Being trusted with a big expensive camera may also teach him something about responsibility being rewarded.

+1

My parents bought me a good pair of 7x35 binoculars when I was nine (so my dad and I could go bird watching) and the only thing they ever said to me about them was "If you break them you don't get a replacement, so take good care of them." They still look like new 32 years later.

 

[jbielikowski]

Well, I remember when 10 years ago I was shooting with FSU SLR, first darkroom classes, and I was too you for it, to impatient. Nikon D40 with 35/1.8 will do the job. With KIT lens he wont learn anything and quality can dicourage him.

 

[rsosa]

Im sure that if a Seal's son comes and ask for an M9 kit he will buy it 😀 (kidding)
What Im trying to say is that if money is no problem and you can explain the value (not only talking about $ here, but the real value of it) and how to care for it he will enjoy and probably have a camera for many years
Who knows... I've been playing with computers since I have memory, and I photography didn't catch my eye at that young age because I was not instructed maybe? Oh yes... and daddy's camera was prohibited to touch