What's a good camera under $400 for my daughter?
 

My daughter enjoys taking pictures and would like a nice camera to take nature pics and some sporting event pics and naturally pics of my car :). We've been looking at the Sony Alpha Nex F3, Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 and Panasonic Lumix DMC GF6. These are all compact mirrorless 16mp cameras that can change lenses. I'm not a camera guy so I'm looking for advice. I'd like to stay under $400 as anything I spend on her I'll end up spending on the other 3 at some point and a $400 camera should be fine for a hobby. I'm really not sure the changeable lens feature is all that important.

Any input is appreciated.

Yes, digital SLR with interchangeable lenses is important, but I think that should come along when she proves her interest and commitment. Meantime, a 3 year old Canon -- Digital Rebel, maybe, plus a single zoom lens (maybe 55-200) will give her a good start. She can upgrade lenses, then body, etc. as she grows into it.

Maybe something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EOS-Digital-Rebel-XTi-DSLR-with-3-lenses-and-3-batteries-23-accesories-/251514986344

I have a Sony NEX-3N with the Sony 18-55 lens I'd let go for $280 plus shipping. Amazing camera. New condition. I upgraded.

As a hobby camera with a ton of flexibility I like the Compact zoom cameras from Canon, Sony Nikon. They don't have the ultimate resolution and large detectors found on modern DSLRs but they have quality lenses and about 95% of the function. A great learning tool or vacation cam that can be a point and shoot or fully manual for creative images. Worth a look.

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/best-compact-camera-2013-34-reviewed-963985/2#null
Best Cameras, Dave's Picks - Imaging Resource: Long Zoom

I am old school so a traditional viewfinder and hotshoe are important in my camera choice. YMMV

I love my Canon powershot S110. I leave my SLR at home now. So much easier to carry the little canon, and it takes awesome pictures!

Used Nikon D50. Cheap and it's a real camera, great learning tool with all the automatic functionality of a point-and-shoot, except it doesn't do videos.

I picked up a canon sl1 for one daugther and an eos-m for the other. Both small compact and with 18 meg and high iso. perfect for everything. It will run you more than 400 with a decent lens. But as some mentioned, you can get the lens used

Any of the ones you listed there would be a great camera.

Ok. I have a strong opinion here. My wife is an amateur photog and I am her technical advisor / sherpa / purchasing agent.

You can purchase a nice Canon 5D (the original 12.1 MPixel) for $450 or so. I would try to verify that it is in decent / good shape. It is a REMARKABLE camera with a full sized sensor. (My ONLY compaint is it is huge and has less ISO range than I would like)

Second. I would pair this with a Canon 50MM 1.8 lens. I bought my lens on CL for $45.

I / my wife have this combo and it is spectacular. As in world class.

Problems with above? 1) Over budget; 2) Still has a mirror which I think is an obsolete technology; 3) An old camera; 4) May buy a junker camera; 5) No zoom capability.

If you can overcome the above items, this setup is simply wonderful. Check out Flickr for images with this simple, cheap lens.

An alternative is to buy the 50MM 1.8 Canon with a less expensive cropped sensor body. You could easily stay in budget then and get a more modern camera.

I am certain the brain trust will have many more comments to follow. Some of them are great photogs.

Good luck, Have fun.

Larry

Why not shoot black and white? It's a lot of fun processing. ;)

If not go with a D4. Excellent for night photography, and it's full frame.

I've actually stopped using my Canon Powershot in favor of the iPhone or my trusty D300 DSLR. :D

While they do take great pix, for the photography I do, the Powershot won't cut it.

You get a Nikon d3000 on Ebay for $250-$300. Best choice.

Cannon Power Shot G12. Great camera. Does it all.

Thanks for all the replies. She decided to go with a Samsung NX1100. It reviews well on nearly every site so it should be a decent camera for $289.