Related: Best toys for 8-year-olds, toys for 9-year-olds and 10-year-olds
What is the best camera for a child?
For most younger children, we think the VTech KidiZoom Duo FX is the best kids’ camera overall. It’s sturdy, easy for small hands to hold and has simple controls, a selfie camera and plenty of creative effects.
Image quality is fairly basic, however, and the built-in games may be distracting. Older children who are more interested in photography may prefer the screen-free Camp Snap 2, while teens who want to learn about manual controls and interchangeable lenses could consider the Canon EOS 2000D.
What is the best first camera for a three-year-old?
The VTech KidiZoom Duo FX is one of the best cameras for a three-year-old. Designed for children aged three to nine, it has a robust body, large buttons and easy-to-grip handles. It also includes games, filters and creative effects.
The kiimento Fox Digital Camera is a simple, game-free alternative. However, kiimento recommends it for children aged four to six, with three-year-olds using it under adult supervision.
What is the best camera for a five-year-old?
For a five-year-old, we’d choose between the VTech KidiZoom Duo FX and the kiimento Fox Digital Camera.
The VTech has main and selfie cameras, parental controls and lots of activities and effects. The kiimento has no games, making it a better choice if you want your child to concentrate on taking photos. It also has simple controls and a soft silicone case to help protect it from bumps and drops.
What is the best camera for a 10-year-old?
The Camp Snap 2 is a good screen-free camera for a 10-year-old. It looks less like a toy than many children’s cameras and has simple point-and-shoot controls, six built-in filters and a rechargeable battery.
There’s no screen, so children must wait until the photos have been transferred to a phone or computer to see them. If your child would rather have physical prints straight away, the instax mini 13 is a fun alternative, although the ongoing cost of film is worth considering.
What is the best camera for a 12-year-old beginner?
The best option depends on how interested your child is in photography. The Camp Snap 2 is a simple choice for casual point-and-shoot photography, while the instax mini 13 suits children who want to take and share physical prints.
A 12-year-old who is serious about learning photography may get more from an entry-level DSLR such as the Canon EOS 2000D. It offers manual controls and interchangeable lenses, but it is considerably more expensive, needs an SD card and requires more careful handling.
At what age can a child have a camera?
There is no single right age for a child to have a camera. Simple, robust models are available for children from the age of three, while instant cameras and conventional digital cameras tend to suit older children who can handle them carefully.
When choosing a camera, check the manufacturer’s age and safety guidance and consider whether your child can manage its controls. Neck straps, small parts, rechargeable batteries and the ongoing cost of film may also affect which model is most suitable.
Are instant cameras good for children?
Instant cameras can be great for parties, holidays, scrapbooks and sharing pictures with friends. They also give children a physical photograph without requiring a phone, printer or laptop.
However, every press of the shutter uses a sheet of film, including blurred or accidental photos. Check the cost per picture before buying and consider a digital camera if your child is likely to take lots of experimental shots.
What are the benefits of giving a child a camera?
Having their own camera can encourage children to look more closely at their surroundings, make creative choices and tell stories about what they have photographed. It also lets them experiment independently without borrowing a parent’s phone or accessing apps and online content.
A camera can be a fun addition to holidays, family days out and nature walks. Children can also use their photos for albums, scrapbooks, displays and other creative projects.
How to choose the best kids’ camera
The world of cameras comes with a bewildering range of different features. Thankfully, specially designed cameras for kids strip away some of these complications and, if you choose the right one, it will focus on the most important thing – having fun.
Age: Brightly coloured, toy-like cameras with large buttons and protective cases are generally best suited to younger children. They tend to be easier to operate and better able to withstand being dropped, although the picture quality may be fairly basic. Older children may prefer a camera that looks less like a toy and produces better-quality images. A simple screen-free camera can be a good next step, while a DSLR may suit a teenager who is genuinely interested in learning more about photography.
Toy camera or beginner camera?: Kids’ cameras often include games, filters, frames and other entertaining effects. These features can make photography more appealing to younger children, but games may also become a distraction if you want the camera to encourage creativity away from screens. A conventional compact camera or beginner DSLR will usually produce better photographs and offer more room to learn. However, these cameras are likely to be more expensive, less robust and more complicated to operate.
Instant or digital camera? Digital cameras allow children to take plenty of photographs without paying for every shot. Pictures can usually be transferred to a computer, phone or tablet for viewing, editing and printing. Instant cameras produce a physical photograph shortly after the shutter is pressed, making them fun for parties, scrapbooks and sharing pictures with friends. However, every photo uses a sheet of film, including blurred and accidental shots, so running costs can quickly mount up.
Ease of use: For younger children, look for large buttons, straightforward menus and a body that is easy for small hands to grip. A screen allows children to review their pictures immediately, while a selfie camera can make taking photos with friends easier. A screen-free camera offers a different experience. Children simply point and shoot, then transfer their pictures to another device later. This can encourage them to stay focused on what they are doing, although some may find waiting to see their photographs frustrating.
Durability: Children’s cameras should be able to cope with everyday bumps and occasional drops. Rubberised grips, silicone cases and recessed lenses can all offer additional protection. Bear in mind that descriptions such as ‘drop-proof’ or ‘shockproof doesn’t mean a camera is indestructible. Check whether the protective case is included and whether replacement straps, cases or other accessories are available.
Photo quality and megapixels: Don’t be dazzled by a large megapixel number. Some inexpensive kids’ cameras use interpolation, meaning software enlarges the image file without the sensor capturing any extra detail. A camera advertised as having 20 or 24 megapixels will not necessarily produce sharper photographs than an eight-megapixel model. For young children, ease of use and durability are usually more important than picture quality. If your child is serious about photography, consider the quality of the sensor, lens, autofocus and low-light performance as well as the megapixel count.
Size and weight: A small, lightweight camera is easier for a child to carry on days out and holidays. Younger children may find chunky handles easier to grip, while older children may prefer a slimmer camera that fits into a pocket or bag. If the camera comes with a neck strap or lanyard, follow the manufacturer’s safety guidance and supervise younger children where appropriate.
Video recording: Many kids’ cameras can also record video, but the resolution and recording limits vary. For most children, 720p or 1080p will be sufficient.Check whether the camera needs a memory card to record at its highest resolution. It is also worth considering whether it has a selfie lens, tripod, microphone or child-friendly editing features if video is a priority.
Waterproofing: A waterproof kids’ camera can be useful for swimming, beach trips and family holidays. However, check whether the camera itself is waterproof or whether it must be fitted inside a separate waterproof housing. Read the manufacturer’s maximum depth and time limits carefully. An adult should check that any waterproof case is properly closed before the camera is taken into the water.
Battery life and charging: Check whether the camera uses replaceable batteries or has a built-in rechargeable battery. Models powered by AA batteries can be convenient while travelling, but replacement batteries add to the running cost. Rechargeable cameras may use Micro-USB or USB-C. Check the charging instructions carefully: the VTech KidiZoom Studio, for example, should be charged using its supplied cable connected to a computer rather than a third-party wall adaptor.
Storage and transferring photos: Some kids’ cameras have a small amount of internal storage, while others require a microSD or SD card. Check whether a memory card is included and what capacity the camera supports. It’s also worth checking how photographs are transferred. Depending on the model, you may need a USB cable, memory-card reader, computer or compatible phone. Conventional cameras such as the Canon EOS 2000D may offer wireless transfers, but still require a memory card for storing pictures.
Additional costs: The purchase price may not be the only expense. Depending on the camera, you may also need to buy: AA batteries, an SD or microSD card, instant film, a protective case or bag, a memory-card reader, a tripod or replacement charging or transfer cables. Instant film is likely to be the largest ongoing cost, while a suitable memory card is an essential initial purchase for cameras that do not include one.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of baby and child products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help parents make confident purchases that benefit their families.
Clemmie Millbank is a freelance writer and content editor specialising in parenting and women’s lifestyle. A mum of two, she and her family have tested hundreds of children’s products and gadgets, from mud kitchens and paddling pools to changing bags and mattresses.
Her work has appeared in The Independent, The Evening Standard, Stylist and MadeForMums. When she’s not writing, Clemmie is a keen photographer and loves travelling with her family - preferably somewhere she can eat all the food too. Back at home, she can usually be found playing pirates, dinosaurs or any kind of small-world imaginative play with her two children (and sometimes all three at once!).