Best Camera For Kids

Last Updated on June 25, 2021

Selecting the best camera for a kid depends on if they are just beginner photographers or alreasy have some experience under their belt. For this article I have reviewed the most popular cameras for kids on the market and have the top recommended models for those just starting out and for those ready for a more advance option.

best camera for kids

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Vtech Kidizoom Duo 5MP

Compact camera
Ideal for young ages – Older toddlers and pre school age
Has 5MP
Video capture
2.4″ color LCD screen
Offers 4x zoom
Requires 4AA batteries
Comes in pink and blue

If you have a pre-school or toddler you want to get started with photography then this is one of the best cameras you can get them. This is the upgraded model of the wildly popular Kidizoom Duo and it offers improved image resolution for higher image quality. The well thought out design makes this camera perfect for small hands. The grip is great and should help prevent accidental drops. The buttons are well positioned and easy for the young ones to operate. It is equipped with two viewfinders which will allow your child to aim by using both eyes. It offers a built in flash along with other great features like a self timer and a rear VGA camera. It also comes with software that lets your kid add fun filters to their images. The built in software also offers five games that help your child have more fun while learning to use their camera. It is capable of capturing short video and the image quality is decent. You get 256mb of built in memory as well. This is a solid camera for the youngest of photographers.

OurLife Kids Camera

Compact camera
Ideal for ages 4 – 12
Offers 8 MP resolution
Full HD 1080p video capture
Has a 2.4″ LCD color screen
Li-Ion battery
Comes in blue and pink

The OurLife Kids Action camera is ideal for the child who can be a little rough on their gear. This awesome camera is ready to take on an adventure with it’s waterproof case. It can handle up to 100 feet of water meaning it is great for the beach or the pool. The silicone case offers excellent grip making it easier for little hands. It features a lens that can rotate to 180 degrees and it offers 8 megapixel resolution. The rotating lens makes taking selfies possible. It comes with a number of other great features like a continuous shooting mode, face detection technology and self timers. My favorite feature is the strong light suppression mode which allows your child to capture good images even when it is very sunny outside. The video capabilities are pretty good for a kids camera. You can capture full HD video with continuous record for up to two hours. Add in a color LCD screen and you have an excellent all around value.

OurLife Kids Waterproof Action Camera And Video Recorder

Compact camera
Ideal for ages 4 – 12
Offers a 5 MP resolution
High definition video capture
Offers a 1.77″ color LCD screen
Li-Ion battery
Comes in Pink, Navy, and Blue

You can think of this as a kids version of a GoPro adventure camera. It offers a waterproof case with a square mountable design. This model is very easy to use and your child should have a handle on it in no time. It can record high def video and capture still shots. It can hold an SD card and it features a built in mic for recording their adventures. Due to the compact size, the LCD screen is a little on the smaller size but it still works well. It comes with six still shot frames and seven built in video effects. The battery is not the longest and lasts about an hour and a half per charge. It comes with a strap and it can also be mounted to your child’s bike helmet or even a go kart. This is a fun little camera for those looking for a GoPro style without the premium price tag.

Joytrip Kids Camera

Compact camera
Ideal for age 4 – 12
Offers 8 MP resolution
Provides full high definition video capture
Large 2.3″ color LCD screen
Li-Ion battery
Comes in Pink and Yellow or Blue and Yellow

The Joytrip camera is one of my favorites for getting young kids familiar with point and shoot photography. It offers a very forgiving body design that is constructed of shock proof silicone making it durable and easy to grip. The large button design will make it easy for even the younger users to operate. It features front and back cameras and they are both 8 megapixels. The front camera is capable of HD video capture and the back is perfect for taking selfies. The large LCD screen is ideal for a kid who is learning how to frame their image. The battery is rechargeable and offers up to six hours of shooting per charge. It includes a micro SD card to save images but there is no flash available. I really like the face and smile detection feature and the consecutive shooting mode and self times offer your child plenty of features to learn with. This is a great option for the kid looking to learn how to point and shoot.

Kidwell Kids Camera

Compact camera
Ideal for ages 3 – 12
Offers 8 MP resolution
702p video capture
Large 2.8″ LCD touch screen
Offers 4x digital zoom
Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
Comes in White and Pink or White and Blue

My friends young daughter has been asking for her own camera and I got this one as a gift for her. It was a great choice. This camera offers plenty of great features ideal for a kid just getting started taking pictures. It is very easy to operate making it great for even the youngest users. The large LCD screen is touch enabled where features such as burst shooting mode, time lapse, and self times can all be utilized. You also get a flashlight and a 4x digital zoom. The rear camera is perfect for selfies and switching to the front camera is just a button away. Kids will really love the built in frames, built in scenes, and color filters. It allows them to express their creative side in a fun way. If you want to upload your images to social media accounts, its as easy as using the included cord and connecting to an Android phone. The battery is rechargeable and offers up to three hours of use per charge. This is an awesome first time camera for kids.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 9

Compact camera
Ideal for pre-teens to adults
Powered by 2AA batteries
Comes in Smokey white, Flamingo pink, Lime green, Cobalt blue, and Ice blue

The Fujfilm instant camera has become wildly popular in recent years. It has harnessed the magic of the Polaroid camera of yesterday and packaged it in a fun and easy to use package. In case you are not familiar with instant cameras, they do not use a digital sensor and instead, instantly print your photograph on film paper. So your child snaps a picture and the camera shoots out the picture almost instantly.

Kids love having physical copies of their pictures and the Instax Mini is the best camera for them to easily get physical pictures. The pictures are a small size, about the size of a large business card, but they are really quite cute. And just like a Polaroid picture, there is space on the bottom to write the date or a note. The Instax film offers an ISO of 800 and you can get both color and black and white film. The camera is simple to operate making it great even for the youngest photographers. The set shutter speed is 1/60 seconds and there is an adjustable aperture so you can set it to indoor, cloudy, sunny, and bright. The LED flash is always on so getting your aperture setting correct is particularly important.

The Mini 9 comes with a mirror to help line up selfies, something the Mini 8 did not offer. Mine came with a close up adapter which adjusts the focus for better close up shot image quality. Speaking of image quality, it’s really good! One of the most important things to remember is that the film is not cheap. So the total investment in this camera is higher than the options above. But if your child would love an instant camera then this is a fun and top performing option.

Kodak Printomatic

Point and shoot camera
Ideal for pre-teens to adults
Offers 10 MP resolution
Powered by 2AA batteries
Comes in Green, Gray, Black, Yellow, and Pink

The other excellent instant camera for kids is the Kodak Printomatic. This Kodak is those who want an instant with more features and improved image quality. With 10 MP you will get clear and realistic images. This camera prints your photographs quickly too, but you can also save them to SD. That means your child can use this camera as an instant or a point and shoot camera. Saving to SD makes this camera very versatile. When shooting to film, you can go with black and white or color film. The photographs come with an adhesive on the back which is really cool! It is great for creating photo collages. Like the Mini, the film is pricey so take that into consideration when purchasing. Overall this is a great performing and fun camera for older kids.

Nikon Coolpix W150

Compact camera
Ideal for 11 – teens
Waterproof
Has a 1/2.3″ sensor
Offers 13 MP resolution
High definition video capture
Large 2.7″ color LCD screen
Features 3x optical zoom
Built in lens: 30-90mm f/3.3-5.9
Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
Comes in Yellow, White, Black, or Pink

The W150 is the upgraded model of the Coolpix W100 and it is an excellent budget priced camera for kids. It offers waterproof protection for the adventurous user and a well thought out body design. The compact size is great for young and older kids. I comes with fun color options and patterns. It also performs well, with a 3x optical zoom this camera has very good range. The built in f/3.3-5.9 lens offers a range of 30-90 mm. While it does not have built in image stabilization it is a very versatile camera. It offers a continuous shooting mode and great image quality and you can save your photos in Jpeg format. Another great feature you will get is built in Bluetooth capabilities allowing for quick and simple image uploads to other devices or straight to social media. With all these great features, this is an excellent point and shoot camera for kids.

Fujifilm FinePix 140

Compact camera
Ideal for teenagers and older children
Waterproof, freezeproof, and shockproof
Has a 1/2.3″ sensor
Offers 16.4 MP resolution
Full High definition 4k video capture
Offers a 2.7″ LCD color screen
Features a 5x optical zoom
Built in 28-140 mm f/3.9-4.9 lens
Has a rechargeable Li-Ion battery
Comes in Blue, Black, and Yellow

The Fuji XP series of cameras are tough and great performers. The XP140 offers a great set of features that are perfect for the young photographer. With a shockproof and waterproof design this camera is durable enough for any adventure your child will go on. This is truly one of the most durable entry level cameras you will find. With a 28-140 mm f/3.9-4.9 lens this camera offers superb shooting range. The image sensor is back illuminated and provides image stabilizing technology that will help your child take blur free pictures. It also features continuous shooting mode and smile detection. Add in Bluetooth tech for quick and easy image uploads and the Fuji app that lets you control the camera with a smartphone and you have one versatile camera.

Nikon Coolpix W300

Professional compact camera
Ideal for teens and older children
Has a 1/2.3″ sensor
Offers 16 MP resolution
Capture 4k ultra high definition video
Large 3″ color LCD screen
Features 5x optical zoom
Has a built in 24-120 mm f/2.8-4.9 lens
Features a rechargeable Li-Ion battery
Comes in Yellow, Black, Camo, and Orange

The Nikon Coolpix W300 is a high quality adventure camera ideal for the sports and outdoor loving child in your life. It provides extensive protection from water, drops, freezing temperatures, and even dust. The back illuminated image sensor offers excellent image quality and consistency. The built in lens range is capable of handling most shooting situations while still offering high definition video capture. The features I particularly like about this model is the continuous shooting mode coupled with multiple shooting modes for different lighting conditions. Add in a great autofocus that is both quick and accurate and you have a camera that is real joy to shoot. It also comes with some fun features that your child will enjoy, like the makeup effects and fish eye effect. This camera is both Bluetooth and Wifi enabled meaning uploading images to the web or another device is a breeze.

Olympus Tough TG-6

Compact camera
Ideal for older children and teenagers
Waterproof
Has a 1/2.3″ sensor
Offers 12 MP
Ultra high definition 4k video capture
Large 3″ color LCD screen
Offers 5x optical zoom
Built in 25-100 mm f/2.0-4.9 lens
Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
Comes in Red and Black

I am a big fan of the Olympus Tough series of cameras and the TG-6 is a great option for the younger photographers who need a rugged and durable camera. It offers complete water protection along with shockproofing and a crushproof body. And whether heading to the beach or the ski slopes this camera can handle whatever you throw it’s way. It offers a solid 25-100mm focal length along with an aperture range of f/2 – f/4.9 and a max ISO of 12800. This camera will help prevent image blur thanks to the built in image stabilization technology. It also provides a lot of flexibility with multiple auto modes and even underwater white balance. The long feature list includes live composite mode, a microscope mode and focus stacking. You get burst shooting mode and even nine artistic image effects for ultimate creative expression. Add in the Wifi, GPS, manometer, temp sensor, and a compass and you have a great camera for the adventuring youth.

GoPro Hero7 Black

Video camera for action and sports
Waterproof
Ideal for older kids and teenagers
Offers a 12 MP resolution
Ultra high definition 4k video capture
Features a touchscreen color LCD screen
Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
Comes in Black

So the GoPro line of cameras is massively popular with the action sports community and it makes an excellent choice for the older youth who are looking for an action video camera. They are incredibly lightweight and designed to take on adventures. They can be mounted to bikes, helmets and so much more. The Hero 7 Black is rugged and durable, offering waterproofing and exceptional video capture quality. Record in Ultra HD with image stabilization for extra smooth videos. It provides voice control so you can keep your hands free while recording which is a must when doing action sports. It offers Bluetooth and WiFi for quick and easy video uploads to the web or other devices. The Hero 7 also lets you livestream or record in slow mo. If you are looking for a dedicated video camera for the active child the Hero 7 is an excellent choice.

Apple iPhone 7/8

Camera phone
Ideal for older children and teens
Offers a 1/2.3″ sensor
Provides 12 MP resolution
4k video capture
Large 4.7″ LCD screen
Built in 28mm f/1.8 lens
Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
Comes in Silver, Black, Rose Gold, and Gold

The iPhone probably does not need much introduction as it is the most popular cell phone ever produced. And it’s popularity is largely due to it’s exceptional camera performance. There are more recent models of the iPhone available but when looking for a camera for the younger users out there the 7 offers an excellent option at a lower cost than the most recent iPhones on the market. They come in a small size for little hands and the camera is excellent. When looking at an iPhone as a camera, it is best to look at it as a point and shoot model with the advantage of access to dozens of great camera apps to add creativity to your child’s photography. They are perfect for social media pictures and sharing photos with family and friends. For all the above reasons there is not question that the iPhone makes for a great camera for the younger users out there.

Canon EOS 200D

DSLR Camera
Ideal for teenagers
Offers an APS-C sensor
Features 24.2 MP resolution
Offers full high definition video capture
Large 3″ touch screen LCD screen
Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
Comes in Black

An entry level DSLR camera is a great option for the young photographer who wants to take their photography seriously. It offers exceptional performance with the features needed to improve their skill set. Coming in a relatively small size, this camera packs a punch when it comes to features. It offers a modern DIGIC 7 CMOS APS-C sensor that captures excellent quality images. The autofocus system is accurate and relatively fast. Add in a native ISO that goes up to 25600 with 5fps continuous shooting mode. There is also a built in mic for video capture. This camera also offers multiple modes of connectivity including Bluetooth, WiFi, NCF, and HDMI. I went with the bundle option which includes an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. But you can also go with one of the other great lens bundle options or even just the camera body alone. I like the bundles for the new photographer as it gives them all the basics needed to get started. It also provides the young photographer with a built in flash, optical viewfinder, and a tilt LCD screen. This is a great option for the photographer who is looking for a camera that they can grow with.

Olympus OM-D EM 10 Mk iII

Mirrorless camera
Ideal for teenagers
Features a micro four thirds sensor
Provides 16 MP resolution
4k Ultra high definition video capture
Large 3″ tilt touch LCD screen
Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
Comes in Black and Silver

Going with an entry level mirrorless camera is a great way to get a budding photographer on the right track. Olympus makes a great line of cameras and the EM-10 is a great one for learning and developing your photography chops. It provides a robust micro four thirds sensor and a lightweight body size. This camera is perfect for traveling and landscape photography. It provides excellent image quality and an advanced image stabilizer for blur free images. It can capture ultra HD 4k video for the budding videographer. The LCD screen is touch enabled and tiltable which is an awesome feature for an entry level camera. It offers a bunch of different shooting modes along with 15 art filters and a built in flash. You get Wifi capability for image and video uploads. The viewfinder is one of the better performers for entry level cameras too. If you know a new photographer who wants a great camera to learn on that is also lightweight and responsive, this is a great model for you.