what is best camera for a child?

[canela]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a cheap camera for a child (10). My son is really into taking photos and videos of animals, but uses my phone all the time! Was wondering if maybe better to get a cheap phone instead, but don't really want child to have the phone - just the camera.

Anyone found anything that works well?

[Convex]

we have given ours an old digital camera, he goes through phases of using it. have you got any old digital cameras lying around?

[canela]

no old cameras at all! that's why we need a cheapie one or a phone!

[mimosa]

Get a camera, not a phone camera. I'd say spend as much as you can afford and the most important thing to consider is not the pixel count but the lens quality. How much, roughly, is your budget? If your son likes taking photos then maybe even better is to see if you can occasionally borrow an SLR for him to use, maybe for a day or two, to get inspired. Does your school have a camera the kids can borrow? When I was a child my father lent me his camera and the thrill of using a 'proper' heavy, adult camera for a day was a big deal. I looked after it and was very proud of the results.

[bonaome]

If you can afford one the Panasonic LUMIX DMZ range of tough waterproof cameras might be a good choice. Basically they are good compact digital cameras but water, dust and shock proof. They are not too expensive. It means you have a camera for underwater photos too which might be a boon on hols

[BeccaL]

Go to computer exchange - you can get a good camera (so the actual picture are good quality) very cheaply - we got a fairly high spec Olympus digital camera with optical zoom for daughter a couple of years ago for ?25 - absolute bargain!