Kid's Xmas gift - i...
 

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[Closed] Kid's Xmas gift - instant camera or mini photo printer?

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My soon to be 11 year old has said a number of times she would love an instant camera for when we are out in the woods. She has a smartphone with camera which her mum will be upgrading for her birthday. I'm wondering whether a Bluetooth mini photo printer would be a better idea for her. That way she can choose which pictures she has taken to print (no missed pics or blurry out of focus accidents printed/wasted). WWSTWD?

As an aside, she will most likely be getting a Chromebook or laptop for Xmas too (for secondary school work). I know photoshop is good for use on Windows, is it also good for Chromebook or is there built in software for basic photo editing and adding text before printing?


 
Posted : 02/10/2021 8:22 am
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Camera on mobile?

Photos on Google photos app?

Maybe one of those digital photo frames that switch between a few pics?


 
Posted : 02/10/2021 9:42 am
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Yeah, she has a camera on her phone and will on her new one. That's why I'm thinking of a printer instead of the instant camera. She likes the idea of printing her photos and making an album so the digital frame is out.

Just been told she wants a desktop PC for gaming (nothing that will push a machine so a basic Windows PC) for Xmas. What is the photo and video editing software included with Windows like? I'd be looking at 8gb RAM with SSD and getting an external SSD for extra storage. Laptop or Chromebook for school will depend where she is offered a place in March so for now it's definitely Windows desktop. Just need to know if a better software package will be needed for the editing.


 
Posted : 02/10/2021 10:10 am
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I'd go printer of some kind. Instant cameras are an acquired taste and can be quite faffy to get decent results out of.

In terms of editing and processing, there are plenty of very good free options before splashing out on Adobe stuff. At school we use Polarr for Lightroom type processing work (it doesn't have the file management tools though) and Pixlr for Photoshop style editing. Both are free (with paid options) and cross platform / cloud based, so will be perfect for a Chromebook as well as a Windows PC.


 
Posted : 02/10/2021 5:46 pm
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Why does it have to be a mini printer? I mean there may be a reason but the paper is super super expensive.


 
Posted : 03/10/2021 8:40 am
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The instant camera film cartridges are bloody expensive, and of course if you are snap happy you're going to run through them fast too. Who's picking up the tab for the running cost?

...getting an external SSD for extra storage.

Get a cloud drive subscription instead. There's likely to be one included in the schools software offer the all the data is available across her whole tech bundle, (inc. the mobile phone)


 
Posted : 03/10/2021 9:11 am
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My wife tried to convince me that our 9yo would like an instant camera for Christmas. £60 upfront for the camera was bad enough, but then when I saw it was £15 for a pack of 20 sheets it was a definite no from me. 75p per blurry photo when she already has her grandpa's old iphone with a better camera just wasn't worth it. I'd rather she choose a few photos each month to get printed if she wants hard copies.


 
Posted : 04/10/2021 11:49 am

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