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I'm considering this as first digital camera for kids, with custom 3D printed case. But I'm thinking of other alternatives - would a RaspberryPi Zero with pi ca

by janci 5y ago

I'm considering this as first digital camera for kids, with custom 3D printed case. But I'm thinking of other alternatives - would a RaspberryPi Zero with pi cam work?

adolph 5y ago
There is a large set of child cameras at about $50. Doing a tear-down/remix might has as much utility as building up from a pi zero and adding camera, battery, charge circuit, screen, buttons, output SD and case.
blagie 5y ago
It seems like a bad choice. * For very little kids, the best camera is the Nikon S30 series (last I looked, they were up to the S33). It's cheap, waterproof, and tough. Kids can take it places, and you don't need to worry (and they don't need to worry either). * For older kids, crazy as it sounds, the best camera is something that does full manual well. Kids can learn aperture, shutter speed, focus, zoom, and ISO. An older DSLR can be had for around $100-$200. * One step up for there -- once kids care about photo quality -- is a compact mirrorless. I'm a big fan of the Olympus OM-D series (and older, used models are fine), but it doesn't matter too much. Sony is the big fish in the pond here, and you can't go wrong. Mirrorless is nice since it mounts easily to microscopes, telescopes, and other scopes. If that's too big, the Sony RX100 series is surprisingly excellent. Pick your price too, since you can buy a I or a VII, with successively higher prices. * Connected to a computer, a USB CS-mount camera is nice for learning computer vision programming. ELP makes decent ones. You can pick high frame rate, or high resolution, or USB3, or buy one of each. M-mount is fine too, and a bit cheaper. PiCAM is fine too, as you were considering, but it will be a lot more work to do a project. Better for older kids. This camera automates/gives what shouldn't be automated (filters), doesn't give controls over what's meaningful (ISO, white balance, shutter speed, aperture), won't give great photo quality, and doesn't look overly sturdy.
- digitallyfree 5y ago
  If the kids are serious about photography and are willing to put the effort into it, then yes an old DSLR is an excellent choice. The older models are also rather unforgiving and require you to master manual control, a proper grip, etc. Plus they will be able to shoot in RAW and learn how to develop and process their images. I learned on an old Olympus DSLR that had poor metering and slow AF and thus trained me to judge exposure and focus by eye. The poor dynamic range also forced me to sometimes shoot (manual) HDR and properly develop the RAW images to get the detail out of the highlights and shadows. A lower resolution sensor meant that I had to get the framing correct as opposed to cropping later in post. However a kid might also find the DSLR difficult to use without the gratification of instant results (the cheap point-and-shoots have suprisingly good auto modes). They also might find the size and weight annoying to bring along - and choose to leave the camera at home. Honestly even as someone who likes photography there are many times when I choose not to bring the DSLR for that reason. I think it really depends on whether they want a camera to take snapshots, or want to get into the finer technical and artistic aspects of photography.
  - blagie 5y ago
    I'll mention: What's being discussed is a hobbyist device. It's a particular bad hobbyist device, since it doesn't actually give any room to tinker and explore. It's a all pre-baked. A dSLR isn't a great bring-along device; that's a cell phone. They're surprisingly competitive at this point. An RX100-style camera will also outperform even a modern dSLR with kit lens as well, in auto. The dSLR will only inch ahead once you buy lenses (or other accessories like lighting). A dSLR is for when you want to pursue photography as a hobby. If you're going out for a walk in the park? Cell phone. If you're going out in a walk to find and shoot photos of animals? dSLR. Taking photos of the kids? Cell phone. Setting up lights for butterfly lighting and posing kids? dSLR. It's like skis -- you don't take them along unless you're going skiing, and if you compare them shoes, they'll seem awfully impractical as a transportation device. I'll mention: For focus, you can buy classic split prism focus screens and retrofit them into most dSLRs. At least a few years ago, they were like 20 bucks. That's a really nice weekend parent-child activity.
    - 5y ago
bobbiechen 5y ago
Hey, I posted this since my sister got one recently and I thought it was neat. I'm not a photography person, but I also don't think it would be a good first camera for kids. I would think of it as a more reusable version of those disposable film cameras - something to play around and snap quick photos with. In particular, there is no screen to instantly review your photos with, so it's delayed feedback (no way to see your last photo sucked and to try again) and delayed gratification as well. That might be a desired feature for adults, but I'm not sure if kids would appreciate it.
KennyBlanken 5y ago
Buy them a ten year old "outdoor" camera and get a new battery for it. Olympus, Nikon, and a couple of other companies have made numerous models of dust/water/drop proof cameras and even a ten year old digital camera is going to have pretty decent picture quality.
utopcell 5y ago
You might want to search for "esp32 cam" on Amazon. For ~$10 you can get BT/WiFi, 2x 240MHz 32-bit CPUs and a 2MP camera.

by janci 5y ago

I'm considering this as first digital camera for kids, with custom 3D printed case. But I'm thinking of other alternatives - would a RaspberryPi Zero with pi cam work?

adolph 5y ago

There is a large set of child cameras at about $50. Doing a tear-down/remix might has as much utility as building up from a pi zero and adding camera, battery, charge circuit, screen, buttons, output SD and case.

blagie 5y ago

It seems like a bad choice. * For very little kids, the best camera is the Nikon S30 series (last I looked, they were up to the S33). It's cheap, waterproof, and tough. Kids can take it places, and you don't need to worry (and they don't need to worry either). * For older kids, crazy as it sounds, the best camera is something that does full manual well. Kids can learn aperture, shutter speed, focus, zoom, and ISO. An older DSLR can be had for around $100-$200. * One step up for there -- once kids care about photo quality -- is a compact mirrorless. I'm a big fan of the Olympus OM-D series (and older, used models are fine), but it doesn't matter too much. Sony is the big fish in the pond here, and you can't go wrong. Mirrorless is nice since it mounts easily to microscopes, telescopes, and other scopes. If that's too big, the Sony RX100 series is surprisingly excellent. Pick your price too, since you can buy a I or a VII, with successively higher prices. * Connected to a computer, a USB CS-mount camera is nice for learning computer vision programming. ELP makes decent ones. You can pick high frame rate, or high resolution, or USB3, or buy one of each. M-mount is fine too, and a bit cheaper. PiCAM is fine too, as you were considering, but it will be a lot more work to do a project. Better for older kids. This camera automates/gives what shouldn't be automated (filters), doesn't give controls over what's meaningful (ISO, white balance, shutter speed, aperture), won't give great photo quality, and doesn't look overly sturdy.

digitallyfree 5y ago
If the kids are serious about photography and are willing to put the effort into it, then yes an old DSLR is an excellent choice. The older models are also rather unforgiving and require you to master manual control, a proper grip, etc. Plus they will be able to shoot in RAW and learn how to develop and process their images. I learned on an old Olympus DSLR that had poor metering and slow AF and thus trained me to judge exposure and focus by eye. The poor dynamic range also forced me to sometimes shoot (manual) HDR and properly develop the RAW images to get the detail out of the highlights and shadows. A lower resolution sensor meant that I had to get the framing correct as opposed to cropping later in post. However a kid might also find the DSLR difficult to use without the gratification of instant results (the cheap point-and-shoots have suprisingly good auto modes). They also might find the size and weight annoying to bring along - and choose to leave the camera at home. Honestly even as someone who likes photography there are many times when I choose not to bring the DSLR for that reason. I think it really depends on whether they want a camera to take snapshots, or want to get into the finer technical and artistic aspects of photography.
- blagie 5y ago
  I'll mention: What's being discussed is a hobbyist device. It's a particular bad hobbyist device, since it doesn't actually give any room to tinker and explore. It's a all pre-baked. A dSLR isn't a great bring-along device; that's a cell phone. They're surprisingly competitive at this point. An RX100-style camera will also outperform even a modern dSLR with kit lens as well, in auto. The dSLR will only inch ahead once you buy lenses (or other accessories like lighting). A dSLR is for when you want to pursue photography as a hobby. If you're going out for a walk in the park? Cell phone. If you're going out in a walk to find and shoot photos of animals? dSLR. Taking photos of the kids? Cell phone. Setting up lights for butterfly lighting and posing kids? dSLR. It's like skis -- you don't take them along unless you're going skiing, and if you compare them shoes, they'll seem awfully impractical as a transportation device. I'll mention: For focus, you can buy classic split prism focus screens and retrofit them into most dSLRs. At least a few years ago, they were like 20 bucks. That's a really nice weekend parent-child activity.
  - 5y ago

bobbiechen 5y ago

Hey, I posted this since my sister got one recently and I thought it was neat. I'm not a photography person, but I also don't think it would be a good first camera for kids. I would think of it as a more reusable version of those disposable film cameras - something to play around and snap quick photos with. In particular, there is no screen to instantly review your photos with, so it's delayed feedback (no way to see your last photo sucked and to try again) and delayed gratification as well. That might be a desired feature for adults, but I'm not sure if kids would appreciate it.

KennyBlanken 5y ago

Buy them a ten year old "outdoor" camera and get a new battery for it. Olympus, Nikon, and a couple of other companies have made numerous models of dust/water/drop proof cameras and even a ten year old digital camera is going to have pretty decent picture quality.

utopcell 5y ago

You might want to search for "esp32 cam" on Amazon. For ~$10 you can get BT/WiFi, 2x 240MHz 32-bit CPUs and a 2MP camera.