myFirst Camera 50 review UK

Price on writing: £109 | Buy now from myFirst

Our rating:

What we like

Dual lens
Decorative stickers included
MP3/MP4 music player
Integrated selfie light
Secure vlog diary feature
Comes in a protective kid-proof case
Lightweight

What we don't like

Screen lags
Picture quality not great if used in low light
Designed to look like a phone, rather than a camera, from the back
Requires an app to use the social circle

Key specs

Our verdict

The makers of Mumsnet favourite Oaxis myFirst Camera 2 are back with the all-singing all-dancing myFirst Camera 50, a camera, MP3/MP4 player, virtual diary, and part-smartphone, all rolled into one.

Its lightweight and the slim design makes it perfect for slipping into bags and suitcases. The built-in bumper is great for absorbing all sorts of bumps and scrapes. Despite its delicate appearance, the camera survived being dropped on the hard kitchen floor, thrown against a wooden bookcase and tumbling down the stairs, all in the name of research.

The camera is aimed at kids between the ages of five and 12, but I personally feel it is probably more appropriate for children at the higher end of that bracket. The back of the camera has been designed to look like a mobile phone and the safe social circle to keep kids connected with friends and family, even with strict controls in place, doesn’t feel like something I want to expose my five-year-old to at this age. There will be plenty of time for mobile phones and social media in the years ahead.

My seven-year-old enjoyed taking videos and selfies and customising them with variety of frames and cartoonish stickers. She liked the novelty of the selfie light, but even using this feature, it is noticeable that the camera does not perform well in dark conditions. The screen also has a tendency to lag. However, this didn’t bother my kids, who found the myFirst Camera 50 a fun and exciting way to express themselves.

How we tested the myFirst Camera 50

Mum having a fun conversation with her child

My two children, aged five and seven, tested the myFirst Camera 50 over the course of several weeks. They tried out the various modes and functions both at home and out and about. The camera was rated on how easy it was to set up and use, the picture and video quality, and the variety and quality of features available.

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What’s in the box?

myFirst Camera 50
Charging cable
Neck lanyard
Anti-lost lanyard
Decorative stickers

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How easy is it to set up the myFirst Camera 50?

If you want your child to have access to the myFirst Circle social circle feature, you will need to download the app from the App Store or Google Play before setting up an account for your child.

Once this has been installed, hold the power button down to turn the camera on, connect the camera to the home WiFi network, add the device and associate the device with the child’s account. To complete the setup, scan and link the device.

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What’s the myFirst Camera 50 like in day-to-day use?

The main selling point of the myFirst Camera 50 is that it gives kids a creative outlet, encouraging them to experiment with built-in AI-assisted curation and editing tools helping children to easily enhance their photos and videos, adding personal touches such as stickers, drawings, and voice notes. The AI analyses content, recognising facial expressions, scenery, and colours to (I quote) “create perfectly curated stories with minimal effort”. Or, if you are my seven-year-old, cover every photo you take with stickers and have the selfie light whacked up to the top setting to help you showcase your pouting to the max. She loves making little videos about her day, so the Secure Vlog Diary feature went down well. However she was disappointed by the absence of games on the myFirst Camera 50 compared to previous cameras we have tested, such as the HelloBaby Instant Print Camera.

Are there any special features on the myFirst Camera 50?

myFirst Circle allows kids to post photos in a child-friendly social circle, categorised by relationship type (Family, Besties, Friends, Acquaintances). Parents can manage who can see their child’s creations and edit their posts if necessary.

The myFirst Camera 50's ‘myDiary’ vlogging feature helps kids to express themselves by taking photos, videos, and writing about their adventures. This can also be a useful exercise in understanding and learning to manage their emotions.

What age group is the myFirst Camera 50 best suited for?

The camera is marketed at kids aged 5 to 12 years, but I personally feel that five years old is a bit young for my child to have a device that looks like a mobile phone and encourages posting on social media, even if it is to a closed circle of friends and family. I think this camera is better suited to the slightly older kids in this age bracket.

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What’s the image and video quality like?

My kids took some lovely photos out and about in the park, on the beach and on their way to school. However there is a noticeable difference in the quality of the pictures taken indoors in low-light conditions. There is no flash to help brighten up these snaps and even the integrated light on the selfie mode doesn’t quite do the job.

Is there internal storage or does it require a memory card?

The camera has 16GB of internal storage. There is a memory card slot, but unlike some kids’ cameras, the myFirst Camera 50 does not come with a memory card included.

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Does the myFirst Camera 50 have any parental controls?

Through the myFirst Circle app, parents can control who can see their child's creations, ensuring content stays within a trusted circle. This also allows parents to manage visibility and edit posts if necessary.

Another safety feature I quite liked is the audible shutter, which lets you know when a photo is being taken. So there is no chance of any sneaky photography of your most embarrassing moments.

Is the myFirst Camera 50 good value for money?

Price at £109 at the time of writing (December 11th 2024) myFirst Camera 50 is not cheap for a kids' camera. If you are looking for a first camera for a young child, there are cheaper (but good quality) cameras out there, including the HelloBaby Instant Print Camera and VTECH KidiZoom Duo FX.

However if your child is already au fait with cameras and is instead just desperate to get those creative juices flowing, then the myFirst Camera 50 is a good choice.

Want more kids’ tech inspiration? Take a look at our guides to the best smartphone for kids, best games consoles and best laptops for kids.

About the author

Laura Cooke is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, with a special focus on child’s play, outdoor play and toddler play content.

Laura started writing Swears By articles for Mumsnet in 2021, writing buyers guides and product reviews to help Mumsnetters make informed choices when it comes to parting with their pennies.

Laura is also a freelance journalist and has written articles for publications including the Daily Mirror, the i, Metro, The Big Issue, Stylist and Happiful magazine.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.