Best Digital Camera for 5+years ?

[ajmom]

We're thinking about getting DS (he's 5 1/2) a digital camera for Christmas, but after reviewing some old threads, it seems like the "kid" designed ones aren't that great. We're looking for something is the <$50 range that takes decent to good pics. They don't have to be great, but I don't want the resolution to be too bad. Does such a thing exist? I've heard the new Polaroid one is good, but it's a little higher than we are planning on spending... Can we get something like this in a lower price range? If there's nothing in that low of a price range, what do you recommend that's more expensive, just so we can weigh our options... TIA!

[ellies mom]

Most of the sub $50 cameras I've seen have the same amount of resolution as the FP type kids cameras and usually the LCD screens are only for reviewing the pictures. You might be able to find a used regular camera on e-bay for a reasonable price.

I really wish the polaroid one was out when we bought DD her FP camera. It is a little spendy but especially for an older child I think it is worth it. It is still sturdy enough to handle the abuse but the quality is good enough to keep an older child that might want to do something with the pictures content.

[Corie]

Where can I find a picture of the Polaroid camera?

My daughter wants a digital camera and I think we have
decided to get a regular digital camera not a kid version.

Is the Polaroid camera still considered a "Kid" camera?

[megulis]

the Polaroid one has gotten bad reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/Polaroid-3%252e0MP-Digital-Camera-CKA%252d00302S/dp/B000SAVBSW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1195327960&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Polaroid-3%252e0MP-Digital-Camera-CKA%252d00301S/dp/B000SASMDO/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1195327960&sr=8-14

[Corie]

This is a Polaroid camera but it is for adults.

It was in the Target Sunday circular last week. Today
is the LAST day for the sale price. It is on sale
for $89.98. And it has 8 mega-pixels. Compared
to the Fisher Price camera at 1.3 MP or the kids Polaroid
camera at 3.0 MP.

http://www.target.com/Polaroid-8-0MP-Digital-Camera-CIA-0834S/dp/B000SAXFOK/sr=1-1/qid=1195351473/ref=sr_1_1/601-0548463-0184102?ie=UTF8&index=target&field-browse=1038598&rh=k%3APolaroid%20camera&page=1

[ajmom]

I saw that and thought about that one too...

The kids Polaroid is actually 3 MP, if anyone is still thinking about it.

[deannanb]

DS1 (now 12) got a "real" camera when he was 5.5
(didn't have "kid" cameras then)
He was very good with it - and learned how to use it without any problems. Since then, he got DH's hand me down and last year got a sony cybershot.

The camera has been the best activity for him in many situations... it is a great way to cure boredom at a museum or event not really designed for a 5 year old.

There aren't cameras that take really good pictures for less than $50.
You can get a decent camera for $80-$100. the kodak easy shares are very user friendly -

hth

[ellies mom]

That is really too bad. I don't understand why it is so difficult to make a sturdy camera with decent resolution.

[tny915]

DD just got this camera as a birthday gift. We've had the problem mentioned in the reviews with the camera suddenly cycling through the startup screen in a constant loop. This happened from the the first day that we opened the camera--it worked fine for a few hours and then the cycling started and DD couldn't take any pictures. We figured it was a battery problem, that somehow the batteries that came with the camera were just defective. So we tried new batteries and as soon as we put them in, the battery showed full for literally 10 seconds before it showed half and started cycling through the startup again. Needless to say that all of us are very frustrated that DD can't use her gift.

I'd been planning on exchanging the camera, thinking we got a lemon, but I think I'll look into adult cameras now.

[egoldber]

Against my better judgment, I allowed MIL to get Sarah a very cheap kid oriented (but older kid) digital camera for her birthday. It takes hideous pix and has terrible battery life. I am considering giving her my old Nikon Coolpix 3100 (which still takes fine pix) and getting a new on for myself. :) I can "replace" my camera for about $100 now and get a much better one.