In an age where smartphones are easily accessible, getting the best cameras for kids may seem like an option. Well, some parenting experts think you should not buy a camera for kids. For instance, if your kid has not shown any interest in taking photos then buying them a camera is like throwing your hard-earned cash away.
Since you are already here, I guess your kid has shown interest in photography and you are looking for the best kids’ cameras. Having a kid’s camera will not only help them to develop creativity but also introduce them to photography.
At this point, you are probably wondering how you will know a kid-friendly camera. I will list some of the factors that will help you in choosing a camera for your kid.
What to consider when buying the best cameras for kids
Age of your child
The age of your child is the basic factor that you must consider before settling on the best camera for kids. It won’t make sense to buy an interchangeable lens camera for a 10-year-old kid. At such an age, you will want to get your kid a cheap point-and-shoot camera.
Kid-friendliness
The best cameras for kids are simple and easy to use. They do not require one to understand the exposure triangle for them to operate effectively. Instead, they should have just a shutter button and sometimes a flash.
Design
When choosing a camera for kids under 10 years, you want to pick the one that takes the shape of a toy. This will automatically draw the interest of a child unlike when it looks like a professional DSLR camera.
Size/weight
The best cameras for kids ought to be small and lightweight. A small camera will easily fit in the little hands of a child while lightweight will not make the camera a burden to the feeble fella.
Durability
We all know kids and recklessness. The build quality of the best kids’ camera will play a major role in the survival of the gadget. If your kid loves activities such as swimming, you should also consider a waterproof body.
Inbuilt features
The best cameras for kids don’t focus entirely on taking pictures. They have other features such as games, filters, and frames. This will make the camera more entertaining for the kids.
Cost- How deep you go in your pockets is a must-consider factor if you want to buy the best kid’s camera. You want to consider a cheap camera for kids since it can easily be damaged
Best cameras for kids under 10 years
Considering the factors above, we have combined a list of the best cameras for kids under 10 years;
Fujifilm Instax mini 11
Fujifilm Instax mini 11 is the first camera on our list of the best cameras for kids under 10 years. It’s not only an affordable and easy-to-use kids’ camera but it has a pretty design as well. Fujifilm Instax mini 11 has a minimalistic body without any dials apart from the shutter button and the lens barrel release.
The camera has a clever adjustable shutter speed and auto exposure mode that will adjust when the lighting conditions change. This makes the Instax mini 11 an easy-to-operate point-and-shoot camera for teens. The only thing you need to do is load the film onto the camera and add the batteries.
When you press the shutter button, the camera instantly prints the photos which pop up at the top of the camera. Another impressive feature of the Instax mini 11 is the adjustable lens feature. This makes the camera ideal for selfies, wide-angle shots, and landscapes.
Pros
- Instant Pictures
- Good Picture Quality
- Kid-friendly
- Auto Exposure
- Selfie Mode
- Pretty design
Cons
- Big in size for some kids
- Extra cost for film and non-renewable batteries
Recommended age: 7+
Price: $77 (extra charges for the film)
Minibear Instant Camera
Minibear Instant camera is a kids’ polaroid camera with an inbuilt thermal printer. It comes with a loaded film and two extra films for future use. On purchase, the Minibear Instant camera also comes with a 32GB micro-sd card. Photos taken can be stored on the memory card before you transfer them to other devices.
The camera which takes the design of a bear has minimal buttons for easy use. It also has a 3” touch screen on which you can access the menu. The menu has a video mode, photo mode, and games. The camera has two 40mp lenses; one for selfies and another one at the front.
Pros
- Dual Camera
- Photos/Videos
- Instant-thermal printer
- Memory card slot
- 3” Touch screen
- Rechargeable battery
Cons
- High contrast photos
- Limited games
Recommended age: 3-12 years
Price: $60
Kidamento Model P (Print) digital camera
Kidamento Model P kids camera has a design close to that of the Minibear instant camera. The kid-friendly design looks like a panda with a lens camouflaged on one of the eyes. There is also a printer at the front from which pictures taken by the kids are ejected instantly. The thermal printing rolls can print up to 300 photos. You can also use a micro-sd card to save the photos.
At the back, there is a selfie camera and a screen to review your images. The buttons are minimal and easy to understand how they operate.
Pros
- Duo Cameras
- Instant printing
- Micro-SD card
- Rechargeable battery
Cons
- Non-touch sensitive screen
- No games
Recommended age: 5+
Price: $105
Sinceroduct Kids digital camera
Sinceroduct Camera is a beautiful point-and-shoot digital camera for kids from 3 years of age. Its design is inspired by a DSLR and a puppy making it ideal both for toddlers and older kids.
With dual 20MP lenses, the camera takes high-quality photos of subjects in front or behind the camera. To spice things up, the Sinceroduct kids’ Camera has 28 photo frames and 6 color filters to expand the kids’ creativity.
Some feature that makes it among the best cameras for kids include auto-focus, 4x digital zoom, self-timer, games, and automatic shutdown in case a child leaves the camera turned on.
Pros
- Durable
- 20MP Dual Lenses
- 1080p videos
- Games
- 32GB SD Card
- Rechargeable battery
Cons
- Hard buttons
- No instant printing option
Recommended age: 3-10 Years
Price: $22
Polaroid Now instant film camera
The Polaroid Now is a pure film camera from a brand that has been making the best cameras for kids for over 10 years. Its unique large square photos have decorated many rooms and instant memories printed all over the world.
Polaroid Now maintains a retro design from the 1970s with a rainbow stripe. At the back are a power button, a flash button, and a viewfinder. The red button placed at the front is used to take photos. When you press and hold, the button brings the subject into focus, and press it twice for double exposure.
Pros:
- Large, square instant photos
- Autofocus
- Rechargeable battery
- Color/ Black and white film available
Cons:
- Expensive film
- No selfie camera
Recommended age: 7+
Price: $97
Canon Ivy Cliq 2
Canon Ivy Cliq 2 is a pocket size, point-and-shoot camera for kids. The kids’ camera has minimal buttons making it easy for a child to take pictures with. At the front, there is a 2” mirror for framing the selfies. The mirror is surrounded by LED lights for maximum lighting in the photographs.
The photos taken are printed instantly using ZINK technology. You can add inbuilt frames and color filters or connect the camera wirelessly for more options. The prints are 2”x3” stickers that are water and tear-resistant.
Pros:
- Instant print
- Wireless connectivity
- Filters and photo frames
- Rechargeable battery
Cons:
- No inbuilt games
- No LED screen for previewing
Recommended age: 5+
Price: $74
Seckton kids camera
Seckton kids camera is among the best cameras you can buy for your child. It’s designed like a regular DSLR with the body having a different color from the lens. This not only helps the kids to feel like professional photographers but also easily identifies where the removable lens is located.
The camera is small in size, easily fitting into the hands of a kid above 4 years. It has two lenses(at the front and the back) to easily take pictures from either side of the camera. The camera also records 1080p videos and is equipped with autofocus to give the kids an easy time. Photos taken by the kids can be spiced up with 6 color filters and 28 frames and stickers in the camera.
When not taking pictures, the camera will keep the kids entertained with inbuilt games and audio playback.
Pros:
- Dual Camera
- Games
- Mp3 player
- 1080p videos
- Rechargeable battery
Cons:
- Poor audio quality
- Fragile
Recommended age: 4-9 years
Price: $32
Harman reusable camera
While disposable film cameras may seem like a cheap option, reusable cameras for kids are more economical. Unlike single-use cameras, the kid will continue to use the camera by changing the film. This unique factor makes Harman among the best cameras for kids over 10 years.
Harman is a reusable film camera that can be used for kids who understand photography better. It is a compact point-and-shoot camera made from cheap plastic, therefore light to carry around.
The minimalist camera has a flash and a switch at the front. The viewfinder is located at the back; the film winding wheel and the film loading compartment. To take the pictures, you press the shutter button at the top.
Pros:
- Reusable film camera
- User friendly
- Challenges creativity
Cons:
- Hard to develop a film
Recommended age: 7+
Price: $30
Canon Rebel T7
The time for camera toys is over and the best way to introduce your kids to professional photography is to get them a Canon Rebel T7 (EOS 2000D).
Canon EOS 2000D has been among the best cameras for kids for over 10 years since its introduction in 2018. This is because it is user-friendly yet produces good-quality photos.
The camera easily fits in medium-sized hands since it is small and lightweight.
Being an interchangeable lens camera, the Canon EOS 2000D is a good choice for your kids who want to grow into photography.
Pros:
- High-quality photos/videos
- The valuable long-term camera
- Wide range of lenses
Cons:
- Not User friendly to all kids
Recommended age: 11+
Price: $480
Conclusion On The Best Cameras For Kids
Hopefully, this buyer’s guide will help you in making a choice when looking for the best cameras for kids. The cameras in this list have met all the requirements you ought to consider as the best kids’ cameras. The variables will be the age of your child and how much they are interested.