OT: Camera recommendation for mentally disabled person

[captainslack]

I was recently contacted by a person seeking a camera recommendation for their mentally disabled sister. She's taking a photography class and needs some sort of manual camera for it, but the person doesn't know for get for her. I've never met either of them, so don't exactly know what to recommend. She doesn't seem to think it has to be an SLR, but I'd imagine the course is probably geared in that direction.

I pointed her towards two of the local camera stores and recommended she inquire there, as they could probably recommend something that could fit her sister's needs. Money, however, is an issue and I'm afraid they may not be able to afford what the camera store is asking (it was on a Freecycle mailing list that we started talking). I recommended a Pentax K1000, but I wanted to get some other opinions to give to her.

What does everyone think?

 

[dmr]

I recommended a Pentax K1000, but I wanted to get some other opinions to give to her.

A couple questions here. Is the course more on the composition and artistic aspect of photography or on the technique of picture taking such as focus, exposure, etc.?

What is the capability of the student? Is this a dull-normal adult who just needs a little help and patience, or is it somebody with say a stroke or other injury/illness? Vision? Manual dexterity?

I have a K1000. It's my main camera I use for any serious work, and I love it, but it's not the easiest to use, even for a normal adult who knows photography. It requires several steps to prepare, meter, focus, compose and shoot from a cold start and each step requires some thought. It's also relatively heavy.

For somebody who might be challenged but wants to get into photography, I would be tempted to recommend something like any of several good auto-exposure auto-focus zoom 35mm point and shoot cameras, as opposed to anything that's more manual. This would let the student concentrate on composing and taking the picture as opposed to operating the equipment.

I would also hesitate to recommend a digital. Some of those can be incredibly complex to operate, and worse when something goes wrong.

Hope this helps. 🙂

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Nikon FG's go for very little money and are good starter cameras, but there are also others. eBay might be a lower cost alternative to the local store. Good luck, I hope this turns out to be very rewarding for her.

 

[rover]

I just read your post again and think the best recommendation is to refer this friend to her sister's teacher. Depending on the level of the person's disability the course may be less geared towards "photography," and more towards picture taking and capturing images. If that is the case, a P&S may be all she needs. The teacher can best describe the goal and type of class that is being taken, and the best tool for that job.

 

[ray_g]

I think it is important to qualify how mentally challenged she is. Is this a course specifically for sudents with MR, or is she joining a regular course? I have worked with several mentally challenged people who are able to function normally in society - they work, cook for themselves and manage their own finances. I would not be surprised if she belonged to this category, if her cognitive level is high enough for her to contemplate taking a photography class. If so, then a student camera suitable for any beginner would be as well for her.

 

[nwcanonman]

Having workied with developementally delayed clients for 15 years, Rover is right. Let the teacher know her skill level and make a recommendation.
For most people classed as "DD", a point-n-shoot is just the ticket.
Best of luck.

 

[justins7]

My wife teaches digital photography and art to "retarded" people. (I put it in quotes since it offends some people, although they are clinically retarded and unable to grasp ANYTHING technical about cameras.) She bought a bunch of 3-megapixel Kodak cameras that worked out PERFECTLY. These had no zoom (I am not sure that's even an option anymore.), and were very simple and allowed tem to consider only the images and not anything too technical.

 

[nwcanonman]

Justims7,
In most circles today "retarded" is an insult.
Also many who are classified as "lower functioning" than the standard low IQ range (say 80-100) can still do amazingly technical and repetitive tasks, that supposedly "normal" people can't/ don't want to do.
Developementally Delayed people are as varied in what they can accomplish as higher IQ people and many cases even better ~ ; - )

 

[captainslack]

Unfortunately, I can't answer any of the questions about the capability of this person. I've never met either her or her sister. The sister sent out a Wanted ad through Freecycle, I responded, and I'm trying to be a Good Samaritan and help her out.

The lady who e-mailed me mentioned her sister was living on a fixed income, so she must be fairly functional. I think I'll take the advice given above and refer her to the class instructor.

Thanks a bunch!! 🙂

 

[justins7]

nwcanonman, certainly "retarded" is no judgement nor is it derogatory on my part. Most of these students are quite creative and wonderful, and they vary in their level. But the fact remains that they have trouble with complex thinking and therefore (this particular group anyway) cannot use manual cameras.

 

[Roman]

Well, I'm a bit late to the thread, since I just got home from night-shift at the place where I work - which is a home for mentally disabled people; we have a few who use cameras there, but most of my clients are rather severly handicapped, anything non-automatic is too difficult to handle for them, they like to use Polaroid cameras for the instant gratification of getting a picture right away.
On the other hand, I know quite a few mentally handicapped people who have the skills to work with computers, etc. (there's a group here which publishes their own paper, with minimal help from outsiders), and they might be fully capable of handling a semi-automatic (AF, aperture priority or something like that) camera, maybe even a manual one; what I'm getting at is that without knowing what that person is able to do, it is really not possible to recommend a camera.

Roman

 

[ampguy]

if you could find out more

if you could find out more

by somehow talking with the teacher or something to find out what would work best for her, perhaps we could donate some unused stuff. I would hope the mods would let you put a sticky auction thing up if we didn't have the exact things she needed.

I was recently contacted by a person seeking a camera recommendation for their mentally disabled sister. She's taking a photography class and needs some sort of manual camera for it, but the person doesn't know for get for her. I've never met either of them, so don't exactly know what to recommend. She doesn't seem to think it has to be an SLR, but I'd imagine the course is probably geared in that direction.

I pointed her towards two of the local camera stores and recommended she inquire there, as they could probably recommend something that could fit her sister's needs. Money, however, is an issue and I'm afraid they may not be able to afford what the camera store is asking (it was on a Freecycle mailing list that we started talking). I recommended a Pentax K1000, but I wanted to get some other opinions to give to her.

What does everyone think?

 

[comp_wiz101]

Depending on the skill level, a Nikon EM might be an idea... they are relatively cheap, semi-auto camera that beeps if the shutter speed it too low...

 

[sf]

I was recently contacted by a person seeking a camera recommendation for their mentally disabled sister. She's taking a photography class and needs some sort of manual camera for it, but the person doesn't know for get for her. I've never met either of them, so don't exactly know what to recommend. She doesn't seem to think it has to be an SLR, but I'd imagine the course is probably geared in that direction.

I pointed her towards two of the local camera stores and recommended she inquire there, as they could probably recommend something that could fit her sister's needs. Money, however, is an issue and I'm afraid they may not be able to afford what the camera store is asking (it was on a Freecycle mailing list that we started talking). I recommended a Pentax K1000, but I wanted to get some other opinions to give to her.

What does everyone think?

it would depend, of course, on how mentally disabled the sister is. I would choose something durable, probably, not too heavy, not difficult to load, not difficult to operate. What IS a good choice? I have no idea. I would tend to say forget manual all together and let her focus on "the eye" instead of the process. But that isn't for anyone but her teacher to decide.

 

[Ducky]

"perhaps we could donate some unused stuff"

I was thinking the same thing. I have a Canon A35F thats fully auto except focus. Keep me in mind if such a need developes.
George