Digital camera for 5 year old ...

[wishingchair]

DD1 loves taking photos with our camera so thought it would be good christmas gift. Thing is it must have a screen on the back as she takes great photos that way (well great in a 5 year old way) but hopeless with a viewfinder only.

The few kids ones I've found look like they would have dreadful photo quality ... doesn't even mention megapixels.

Any ideas?

Fisher price kid tough camera.
fool proof.
don't know exactly how many mpxl but, they look okay to me!
Daughter loves hers (6 years)

DD(3) has the fisher price one - you are right the photo quality is awful, I think its 640x480 pixels

DS(6) used to have a cheapy from Tescos until he lost it, so needs a new one for christmas.

The BIG disadvantage of his old one, which was a 5MP, was the long delay between pressing the button and the shutter going. So that he had always moved the camers before the phota was actually taken.

While DD is framing her photos very well.

So I am undecided what to replace DS's camera with. May just have to be a more expensive camera - but what about when it gets lost again?

BTW - it got lost because dh gave it to ds on a day out (didn't tell me) and then had to go sit with MIL's dog, so I couldn't remind ds to make sure he had it with him.

So joining you in waiting for someone to actually answer your question

DH is aiming for a normal camera, while I am more tempted by the fisher price, even if the photo quality is poor

Personally, I would get a cheap fixed lens digital camera. Not one aimed at kids. Won't be as robust, but much better value for money.

The Fisher Price cameras are around £65, made by those same lovely people who have just had millions of toy recalls due to shoddy manufacture and poor quality control and are only 1.2MP

For £40 you can easily get a 3MP that will do what you're after. the Kodak cameras seem quite simple to use but pop into a shop with your dd and see which ones she finds easiest and have the best viewscreen etc.

DD(3) takes pictures with my camera or with the DSs camera with no problems. DSs got a (fairly) cheap 4mp Kodak for christmas last year from MIL (DS1 was 8 at the time and DS2 was 6) Agree with you about the screen, none of them like taking photos using only the viewfinder and DD can't get the hang of which eye to keep open, and which to shut! I'd just get a reasonably priced 'adult' one tbh.

We looked at the Fisher Price one for DD last Christmas, when she was 4y8m. However we felt it was expensive for what it was. The picture quality was not that great and the viewing screen very small.

Instead we bought DD a proper camera. It was £70 in the sale, as opposed to £60 for the Fisher price one. It's Canon Powershot A420. She has a massive memory card in it and we have an endless supply of AA batteries for it too, and she just snaps away. It's 4 mega pixels. It is very easy to use - point and click for now, and she is now starting to use the video function too. It has loads more features which she will grow into.

Hulababy - how quick is it to actually take the photo (the gap between pressing the button and the shutter going). As ds's old cheapy was a nearly 2 seconds

Pretty quick. Just tried it as it is in front of me - was downloading photos earlier from it for DD. Press button and it takes the photo. DD never has any problem trying to get photo take. Seems at least as quick as my own more expensive camera.

There's a useful shutter lag comparison table here: Digital Camera Shutter Lag comparison

You will get some shutter lag with cheap compact digital cameras, but they are getting better all the time and vary from model to model. This is why it's worth trying out in the shop Jessops (while not the cheapest) are great for letting you handle cameras and try them out, and give good advice without giving you a huge hard sell.

Thanks for that RubberDuck

been thinking same, DD was given a Kodak digital camera by our neighbours having a clear out but the screen is so tiny and its really hard for her to see the photos she has taken. Sounds like a really great gift idea for all kids though.

moulimoo - ds1 has the same trouble with our old kodak - I think the LCD screens on older models really weren't that great or bright - outside he can't see the LCD at all. Another thing to check when trying out a camera in the shop, I think.

Great advice - thanks. Looks like a cheap but quick 'adult' camera ... she'll love it and I just think it's great seeing the crazy things they decide to photograph and how good they look (sometimes!)