rkm
Well-known
I've been thinking of trying to welcome my son into my film photography obsession. He's been enjoying taking pictures with a digital point and shoot, but takes millions of pictures. I'd like to slow him down and get him deliberating over his shots. I'd like to include him in the process of developing film, and show him the joy that comes from creating your own negatives.
I'm thinking of an Olympus trip. Do you think a 6 year old could manage one? My thinking is that scale focus and having to wind the film on, would be enough of a challenge, and would also serve to slow him down, compared to something that advances the film itself and has autofocus. I also understand the Trip won't let you take an underexposed image.
Thoughts?
I'm thinking of an Olympus trip. Do you think a 6 year old could manage one? My thinking is that scale focus and having to wind the film on, would be enough of a challenge, and would also serve to slow him down, compared to something that advances the film itself and has autofocus. I also understand the Trip won't let you take an underexposed image.
Thoughts?
Rodchenko
Olympian
If he takes loads of digital images, you may find he races through film just as fast!
A Trip's a very simple camera to use, so long as you remember the scale focus (which you can see through the vf), so it might not be a bad choice, but there are cameras which are easier to load.
I found that, trying to interest kids in photography, the lack of an immediate image is a real turn off when they come to film.
Personally, I'm quite excited about the prospect of introducing my latest child, in time, to one of the tough digital cameras which are around these days. How I get him onto film after that, I have no idea.
My middle son (now 17) has a Canon 35mm SLR, and a Minolta APS SLR, and barely takes a photo. Not sure how that worked out.
A Trip's a very simple camera to use, so long as you remember the scale focus (which you can see through the vf), so it might not be a bad choice, but there are cameras which are easier to load.
I found that, trying to interest kids in photography, the lack of an immediate image is a real turn off when they come to film.
Personally, I'm quite excited about the prospect of introducing my latest child, in time, to one of the tough digital cameras which are around these days. How I get him onto film after that, I have no idea.
My middle son (now 17) has a Canon 35mm SLR, and a Minolta APS SLR, and barely takes a photo. Not sure how that worked out.
rkm
Well-known
I found that, trying to interest kids in photography, the lack of an immediate image is a real turn off when they come to film.
Yeah, I'm not quite sure how to sell it to him. He loves to draw and will spend hours drawing elaborate scenes. If I can get him into that headspace, of visualizing, and then seeing developing as part of the creative act... Maybe he'll go for it. Of course, I'm also hoping to foster the notion of delayed gratification in the process.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I'd want at least two of them for my son!
lynnb
Veteran
How about a fixed focus camera? Not sure what's out there, but fixed focus and fixed focal length lens forces attention to subject and composition. That's good discipline. Maybe consider a simple folder?
ronnies
Well-known
My 4 year old Ian, can manage to take photos with an Exakta SLR so I'm sure a 6 year old will manage a Trip. Ian has used a Trip too. Of course he hasn't tried to load one yet and he still doesn't understand focussing.
Ronnie
Ronnie
rkm
Well-known
Yeah, fixed focus might be a good thing. Am happy for all kinds of suggestions, including suggestions for the cheapest b&w film I can buy for him to tear through.
CliveC
Well-known
Fixed focus? Film pricing a concern? It's gotta be an Olympus Pen half frame! 72 shots, fixed focus, durable design.
The only issue would be developing in retail locations, but if you're thinking of B&W anyway, surely you're doing it yourself?
Filmwise, it's hard to beat Arista Premium 400 from Freestyle (which is Tri-X), but keep in mind the Olympus Pen EE (and Olympus Trip 35) only have two shutter speeds, so shooting in full daylight may be a bit much for those cameras.
zuiko85
Veteran
A chance find of six film holders at a yard sale got me into 4X5 and it dawned on me that this would help my grand children get interested in silver halide photography.
Using photo paper as a negative the whole process can be carried out under safe light, is not too expensive, and the kids can shoot a 2 or 4 shots and see the results in a fairly short time. The down side is mobility, the camera has to be on a tripod for the slow shutter speeds necessary for ISO 6 paper.
I built the box camera out of 1/4 hobby ply and the lens is a 130mm f7.7 Kodak Anastigmat with front cell focusing from a 1930ish Autographic.
The neat thing is that they can see the image come up in the developer. We hang the paper negative to dry after the final rinse and then contact print it to get a positive. All the principals and processes of negative/positive photography are there and from this the move to B&W film is not such a large step.
Of course, having the home darkroom available to set up already is an advantage. If you had to start from scratch then this idea would cost quite a bit more than a 35mm camera and film. I don't think I would get my grand kids into film based photography without teaching them the do it yourself methods. At least they could shoot B&W, home develop an then scan with minimal equipment.
Using photo paper as a negative the whole process can be carried out under safe light, is not too expensive, and the kids can shoot a 2 or 4 shots and see the results in a fairly short time. The down side is mobility, the camera has to be on a tripod for the slow shutter speeds necessary for ISO 6 paper.
I built the box camera out of 1/4 hobby ply and the lens is a 130mm f7.7 Kodak Anastigmat with front cell focusing from a 1930ish Autographic.
The neat thing is that they can see the image come up in the developer. We hang the paper negative to dry after the final rinse and then contact print it to get a positive. All the principals and processes of negative/positive photography are there and from this the move to B&W film is not such a large step.
Of course, having the home darkroom available to set up already is an advantage. If you had to start from scratch then this idea would cost quite a bit more than a 35mm camera and film. I don't think I would get my grand kids into film based photography without teaching them the do it yourself methods. At least they could shoot B&W, home develop an then scan with minimal equipment.
ZeissFan
Veteran
I would get a point and shoot from a local thrift shop.
We'd all like to think that our kids will appreciate the qualities of a classic camera, but the truth is that he's 6. He's a child. He'll be fascinated by the gadget quality of a camera. He isn't going to understand composition, taking your time to survey a scene and looking at the world differently. He'll be more fascinated by pushing the button.
And it will be fun to make a small photo book of his first roll.
I vote for something inexpensive.
We'd all like to think that our kids will appreciate the qualities of a classic camera, but the truth is that he's 6. He's a child. He'll be fascinated by the gadget quality of a camera. He isn't going to understand composition, taking your time to survey a scene and looking at the world differently. He'll be more fascinated by pushing the button.
And it will be fun to make a small photo book of his first roll.
I vote for something inexpensive.
zuiko85
Veteran
zuiko85
Veteran
Don't know happened to my last post. I thought there would be a box around the quote from ZeissFan. The first paragraph is a quote from his post above. Sorry for any confusion.
mbf4755
Matt Filippini
The Trip is a great idea!
I got my son a Yashica Electro when he was 6. He loved it, and had no problems with focusing or learning to adjust the aperture for exposure. I got him a fully manual flash for it- that was a mistake; it was too much work- I should have gotten him an automatic flash.
When he was 11, I got him a digital point and shoot, a decent Panassonic.
He is 16 now, and doesn't use the Electro much anymore. He uses my Leica M5 whenever he can, and prefers my Oly E-520 when he can't. Last resort is his Panny.
I love how he works very slowly and carefully with the M5 and E-520. Having learned on the Electro, and wanting to learn more as he advanced, he always uses manual exposure on the Oly, and often fine tunes the autofocus manually.
Matt
I got my son a Yashica Electro when he was 6. He loved it, and had no problems with focusing or learning to adjust the aperture for exposure. I got him a fully manual flash for it- that was a mistake; it was too much work- I should have gotten him an automatic flash.
When he was 11, I got him a digital point and shoot, a decent Panassonic.
He is 16 now, and doesn't use the Electro much anymore. He uses my Leica M5 whenever he can, and prefers my Oly E-520 when he can't. Last resort is his Panny.
I love how he works very slowly and carefully with the M5 and E-520. Having learned on the Electro, and wanting to learn more as he advanced, he always uses manual exposure on the Oly, and often fine tunes the autofocus manually.
Matt
jwicaksana
Jakarta, Indonesia
Olympus 505 is focus free, built well enough to be handled by young children, and cheap too.
tonyc
Established
Great idea !
My 5.5 yr old son has been using a Konica 35.
With some surprisingly nice shots.
I taught him far objects turn the lens one way, near objects
turn the other way.
Fuji Superia 200 is a good price for young
shooters !
-TC
My 5.5 yr old son has been using a Konica 35.
With some surprisingly nice shots.
I taught him far objects turn the lens one way, near objects
turn the other way.
Fuji Superia 200 is a good price for young
shooters !
-TC