Blog Post

The best camera to buy for older kids and teenagers

Andrea Thornton • Nov 27, 2019

“My child wants to get into photography – there are hundreds of cameras out there – what does all the jargon mean and what's the best thing to buy? Any advice?!”

Teenage boy taking a close up of a beautiful yellow flower using a dSLR camera

It's a question I'm often asked, especially in the run up to Christmas. So in this blog I'm going to give you a simple and brief guide to what's out there.

There are any number of sites that will tell you the specifications and techy bits so I'm going to concentrate on what you might want to consider before investigating further.

I suggest visiting your nearest branch of Jessops https://www.jessops.com/ because there's nothing to beat talking face to face with experts and handling some different cameras. I've always found them to be really useful, helpful and welcoming.

A vintage Nikon camera, dangling from it's leather neck cord

Firstly – what will this camera be used for?

If it's going to be mainly snapping friends and recording social moments then you're probably best with a compact camera.

If your child is interested in more creative photography including wildlife, portraits, sport or night photography then I'd recommend an entry level dSLR

So let me explain these two types of camera briefly – a compact and a dSLR

Four of the latest compact digital cameras; Canon IXUS, Nikon Coolpix, Sony Cyber-shot and Panasonic Lumix

A compact camera is smaller, lighter, arguably easier to use, has a view screen on the back and you can get a perfectly good model for under £150.

A decent model will be able to take clear, sharp photos by having a Megapixel specification of at least 13MP. The Canon IXUS range and the Nikon Coolpix range are excellent examples, as are the Sony Cybershot and the Panasonic Lumix. Your child can keep one in a pocket or rucksack, whip it out and take a photo in an instant.

All of these models record video and have a built-in zoom lens for close-ups. Many of them have in-camera effects and filters that children find fun and you can also get models that have a connection to a smart device (the Nikon SnapBridge app for example) for instant sharing and storage.

Close up of a teenage girl taking a photo with her Canon dSLR

A dSLR (or digital Single Lens Reflex – you never know, that might come in handy in a pub quiz one day) is the thing to go for if your child is even a little more serious about their photography. They're the ones that professional photographers use but don't let that scare you – my children have been using my dSLRs since their hands were big enough to hold them.

The main advantage of dSLRs over compacts is their flexibility. You can take an instant picture with the camera in fully automatic mode or you can be in complete control with manual settings.

This means that you can change the amount of light the camera lets in by setting the ISO and the shutter speed enabling you to take great pictures in low light, and you can change the aperture which is the thing that can give you that lovely blurred background effect.

Best of all, you can change the lenses – a long lens for taking things that might be in the distance like a deer or a footballer on a pitch, or a wide lens for landscapes.

Front on and Above shots of the Canon EOS 2000D and the Nikon DX3500

Your initial camera is likely to come as a kit with a lens already supplied, usually a 18-55mm which is really all your child will need until they decide whether photography is the hobby (or career!) for them.

Sticking with the big names of Nikon and Canon just for example, I would suggest a Nikon D3500 or a Canon EOS 2000D.

Both have a great Megapixel count and an HD movie setting. dSLRs are not surprisingly more expensive than compacts; you're looking at around £400 but don't forget the second hand market where you can get hardly used cameras for a fraction of their new price.

London Camera Exchange is not a bad place to start looking for second hand camera equipment https://www.lcegroup.co.uk/

Photograph shot from behind a male photographer, who is photographing a sunset

A camera is a great investment whether it's just for fun or whether it leads to a lifelong love of photography.

I hope that this very brief piece has been of some help, I'm always happy to give more specific advice if you want to contact me.

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