8 Best Cameras for Kids: Young Photography in 2021

We’ll recommend camera models for toddlers and young kids that are simple to use, packed full of fun features and won’t break when dropped… multiple times!

Camera image quality becomes more important for older kids, whereas very young children just want something fun and engaging.

The first camera for a 3-year-old will be different to the best digital camera for tweens, so we’ll make sure to include a selection appropriate to the age of your aspiring photographer.

Let’s take a look at the recommendations.

Best Cameras for Kids in 2021

Kidamento Kids Digital Camera

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It’s great to see the best camera for kids on our list produced by a small family business – Zoe and Roland are Canadian parents who couldn’t find any suitable cameras for kids that met their expectations, so they decided to make their own.

We took a look at the Meowie Model K, a super cute, soft and fun camera for kids aged 3 and upwards, and fell in love with its design and features.

Our daughter has just turned 2 but still took to carrying the Kidamento kids camera around with her all day long. Choosing between the different options was a little tricky for her, but for a child aged over 3, it’d be a cinch.

Aside from the irresistible pink and blue colouring (there’s also a sloth version called Zippy), children love interacting with the brightly coloured touchscreen to take photos and videos.

While photo quality isn’t so important for very young children, as they get older, it’s great that the Kidamento features 48MP photo resolution, and 1,980 x 1,080 video resolution – more than enough to make big prints or display movies on a tv screen.

Another huge plus point is the lightness of the Kidamento kids camera – at only 125g, it’s by far the lightest camera we tested, despite having a 3″ touchscreen – perfect for small fingers.

Other ‘older kid’ camera features that surprised us was the inclusion of built-in image stabilization, Wi-Fi, Night Mode and Face Detection. Wi-Fi is particularly fun to be able to beam pics and videos over to other devices such as an iPad via the app.

Our kids (2, 5 and 6) loved the ‘Stickers’, which allow you to add a live-view overlay of animals and other cute objects to the photo being taken. The sound effects are also a nice touch, particularly for younger children.

My favourite feature as a parent who needs to constantly keep devices charged is the ingenious neck-strap, which conceals the charging cable! It’s also nice not having to fiddle around with the tiny MicroSD card, since everything can be transferred wirelessly.

The only small niggle is about the lens cap, which comes off easily when tugged – it’s fastened to the camera, but not particularly tightly.

Also, I wish it was slightly faster to power on, but our kids didn’t seem to mind since the startup screen is so cute!

Overall, this is the best camera for kids aged between 3-6, but younger kids will still find it enjoyable too.

VTech KidiZoom Duo 5.0

What makes this the best camera for kids aged 3-4 are the build and design. It has handgrips on both sides so your child can hold it with both hands, which will prevent drops and help keep the image steady.

There’s a shutter button on the front part of the grip to press with the index finger –  since this is difficult to reach for smaller children, it can also be triggered with the OK button on the back.

Its design resembles a portable videogame, and actually, it has some games included. This ensures hours of fun for your children even when they are done taking photos  – as you know, kids can get bored easily, and a multi-function device is great to keep them going!

Even if it looks like a videogame, the KidiZoom Duo 5.0 has some features that will get your kids acquainted and familiar with the use of traditional cameras later on.

For example, it has an optical viewfinder – of course, there’s no mirror in it, so you won’t see exactly the same as what the lens sees, but it’s still a good tool to learn about framing without using the LCD screen.

Also, you can rotate the lens ring to apply different color filters. This is something that can easily be done digitally, but having to make a mechanical movement is great for kids to feel like a true photographer.

(This will make them comfortable for when they have a camera with the aperture or the zoom on the lens.)

The KidiZoom has a sturdy rubbery case that makes it shock-resistant so that it will take all the falls that come from normal kiddie use. The only thing is that the battery compartment sometimes opens from the fall, and the batteries can fly out – but once you put them back in, the camera still works fine.

The image quality is not the best (5MP), especially if you use digital zoom, since you’ll end up with pixelated images. However, the KidiZoom allows for video recording, offers many stickers and frames to add, and it also includes a selfie camera. So, small children who are more concerned about having fun than sharp images will find it perfect.

It has an internal memory that holds up to 200 photos – although it has a slot for an SD card if you prefer to expand the memory.

The biggest downside is the fact that it doesn’t have a rechargeable battery – it works on 4 AA batteries.

This isn’t exactly friendly with the environment and it can amount to a big expense after a while. I recommend you get rechargeable batteries which are a bigger investment at the beginning but they pay off in the long run.

All in all, it’s a great first camera for children that will give them hours of fun and can take its fair share of falls to accompany your kids on every adventure.

It’s also worth mentioning that according to hundreds of positive Amazon reviews, the KidiZoom series also been called the best camera for kids many times over.

Ourlife Kids Camera

This camera has a bigger age range (6-15 y/o) than the average kiddie camera because it’s an action camera. Thanks to its multiple accessories, it can adapt to all sorts of activities and grow with your kids as they change and explore different interests and hobbies.

As you unbox the Ourlife, you’ll find it comes in a plastic transparent case – this is the waterproof one and can handle up to 100 feet depth (30 meters). This is one of the most attractive features as you can take it on vacation to the beach, use it for swimming lessons, etc.

However, this case won’t allow the lens to flip and be used to make selfies – also, it’s not great to protect the camera when it falls because it’s rigid.

So, if there’s no risk of water damage you can change to the rubber case which also has two side handles for easier grip.

It should also be mentioned that in this list of the best cameras for kids, the Ourlife is the only waterproof camera we recommend.

Since the lens flips 180 degrees but uses the same sensor, you can take photos and videos in selfie mode and maintain the same image and video quality, which is 8GB for pictures and FHD 1080p/30fps video.

You can also choose to lower the size if you want to optimize your memory. There’s a 5 and 10-second timer and face detection to ensure their self-portraits are always on point.

The multiple mounting accessories included with the Ourlife allow your kids to have the camera with them for every activity. You can mount it on a helmet, a bicycle, a tripod, hang it from the neck or use the hand strap – whichever way, it’s always secured.

Aside from the action features, it also has some creative ones to make things more fun. With 12 frames and effects for photos and 7 color filters for videos, your children can give free rein to their imagination.

Two fill lights help illuminate the scene for some night shots or a strong light suppression option to compensate for intense highlights in midday. These two features ensure better photos under any light condition, making this the best camera for kids who take photos at all times of day.

There are three colors to choose from – pink, purple and navy blue. After the purchase, you have a 30-day money-back warranty, 12 months of service and lifetime customer support.

Seckton Kids Selfie Camera

This is a beautiful and easy to use camera perfect for children 3 to 9 years of age. It’s shaped like a DSLR so your kids can feel like real photographers. The camera has one solid color and the lens another one – the color combinations are so eye-catching that your kids can choose which one reflects best their personality.

The upgraded version of the Seckton comes with a dual camera for your kids to play with the selfie function. Otherwise, they can place the camera on a tripod or any surface and use the 2, 5 or 10-second time-lapse function.

The camera is armed with autofocus to improve the quality of the photos – all the best cameras for kids in this guide feature AF – it’s essential for getting sharp images, especially for very young children who don’t understand how to use manual focus.

To enhance portraits, kids can use any of the 28 frames and stickers or play with the 6 color filters available. It’s also possible to make HD videos with the Seckton – although the sound recording could be better.

The battery is built-in to the Seckton, making it safe and secure, and it offers 1-2 hours of continuous use. Since small children like to change activities continuously, it also features games and works as an mp3 player.

The camera is very small, which makes it easy to carry on their backpacks or around the neck with the included strap. The case is made with non-toxic plastic for extra safety.

Although the shell is supposed to be shockproof, some users complain about durability and issues with the LCD screen after being dropped. You might want to invest in a third-party case to increase its life span.

Sinceroduct Kids Camera

The dog design camera body makes this digital camera extremely appealing for young children, which makes it the perfect camera to get your 3-6 year old interested in taking pictures.

The upgraded version that’s now on the market features 20MP in both the front and rear camera, as well as 1080p video recording.

Even if great image quality is not a major concern for young photographers, higher resolutions are always welcome as they will deliver sharper images even when using the 4x digital zoom.

Sinceroduct recommends this camera for children up to 12 years of age – I’m guessing it’s thanks to the high quality build. However, by that age, they might have outgrown the cute looks and be more interested in something that allows them to control the camera settings. Each young child is different in this regard.

The built-in battery can last 2-4 hours and the automatic shutdown is a very handy function on a kids camera, since little people don’t always remember to turn things off!

This can avoid the frustration of finding it without power every time they want to use it because they forgot to turn it off. The automatic shutdown can be programmed for 1, 3 or 5 minutes.

Like most of the best cameras for kids, the Sinceroduct comes with built-in games to keep your children entertained if they get bored of taking pictures without you having to bring extra devices to your trip.

To make each photo extra special, your kid can choose from 28 photo frames and 6 color filters. If they want to photograph themselves, there’s a timing shooting mode that allows them to delay the shutter for 2, 5 or 10 seconds to get in position.

The automatic face focusing ensures that they’re always sharp in their pictures. This camera delivers more than you would expect from a toy camera shaped like a dog!

VTech KidiZoom Creator Cam

If your kids love making videos, this is the best digital camera to encourage their film-making passion. With its multiple features and functions, you’re guaranteed hours of creative fun.

VTech is one of the major brands in educational toys, and you can see this experience put into action when they came up with this video camera.

The main attraction of the camera is the possibility to make videos in front of the included green screen photo backdrop and use any of the 22 animated backgrounds. This way, your child can pretend to be running away from a dinosaur for an adventure story or dancing on a bright disco floor for a music video.

If your kids prefer to do some magic tricks, they can use the green screen to make things disappear – or make themselves invisible. It doesn’t matter what’s their personality or which thing they like – I’m sure they can find something that appeals to their interest.

The lens on the VTech KidiZoom Creator flips up to be used as a selfie, and the included tripod can double as a holder/selfie stick too. The video editor tools are very easy to use, so they can trim clips or add music to their videos.

Kids can also take photos with the camera and use the time-lapse creator to join them up as a stop-motion video – or they can use stickers and frames to make fun photos to share with friends and family.

The camera also includes some video games – like most of the popular digital cameras for kids. A very appreciated feature as a parent, though, is that you can turn off the games too!

This way, you can encourage them to use the camera as such, and this way exercise their creativity – and when you think it’s appropriate, you can turn the games back on.

Another feature I appreciate is that it doesn’t connect to the internet – this way there are no risks to the children’s privacy. The photos and videos can be downloaded to the computer via USB, and you can help them with this at your discretion.

The camera only has a 256MB internal memory shared with program data, so you’ll need to buy a memory card. Keep in mind that the videos are HD quality and the photos are 5MP, this way you can decide how much storage space you want to get.

This is one of the best cameras for kids aged 5-10, but just consider that it’s not particularly shockproof. Explain to your children that it should be handled with some care, or try to find a third-party case to protect it.

Instax Mini 11

If you’re looking to step away from the digital world, an instant camera is a perfect way to do it. The design of the Mini 11 is very pretty, and it’s super easy to use, so it can easily be your kid’s first camera.

However, it’s not recommended for a very young child, there’s a choking hazard due to small parts so don’t give it to children under 3 y/0.

Still, the Instax Mini 11 is not so small – so it might be difficult to hold and handle. Generally speaking, instant cameras are aimed more at pre-teens and teens.

The fact that they can have a physical memory from a party or friends to hang in their rooms or use as a bookmark is more appealing at that age.

It also gives them a different approach to photography because, with a film camera, you can’t shoot an unlimited number of images – you need to choose the special moments that are worth it.

Instax mini film is sold separately in 10 sheet cartridges you can buy a 2 pack for about $13 or a 5 pack for $40. You’ll also need 2 AA batteries, so consider these extra expenses if you decide to buy this for your child.

I wouldn’t say this is the best camera for kids who find it hard to understand money at an early age since every press of the shutter button brings them (or more likely you, as the parent) closer to another expense!

You can choose the camera in 5 different colors and you can further customize it with one of the two accessories buttons that come included in the box: jewel or glow. These buttons are attached with a double-sided tape that can come off easily, though.

In the box there’s also a wrist strap included and the batteries – there’s no film. The camera is very easy to load. Then you only have to turn it on and press the shutter button – everything is automatic, including the flash.

You can use this instant camera for selfies – as you pull out the lens, a built-in selfie lens appeara. There’s a small mirror next to the lens to find the perfect selfie pose and facial expression before taking the photo.

This is a great camera for the whole family, and it’s a fantastic way to teach kids to think about what they want to capture before pressing the shutter – which is something they won’t get from a digital camera.

GoPro Hero 7

The GoPro Hero7 Black is a waterproof action camera that’s also one of the most durable cameras you can find, which is why it is great for children.

It’s more expensive than any of the other cameras recommended in this article, but keep in mind that this is a ‘real’ camera and not a toy one.

The Hero 7 is an older model so, it’s an affordable way to have a GoPro camera for your kids to learn.

Despite not being the latest GoPro action camera, the Hero 7 offers great features such as hands-free voice control, time-warp and time-lapse video. The biggest selling point is the HyperSmooth image stabilization.

It also has three different lenses – Superview, Wide and Linear. This way, you can capture as much of the scenery as you want.

It’s also one of the few GoPros that allow you to replace the protective lens, which sits in front of the delicate interior lens. This makes it the best camera for kids who want to push their dare-devil sporting endeavours to the extremes!

As far as specs go, the Hero 7 captures 4k video in stunning clarity – you can even grab high definition stills photos from the footage.

You can live stream (at 720p), but that’s something that you should keep an eye on and talk to your children about privacy and the potential risks of sharing online. For still photography, it has a 12MB resolution.

Thanks to all the GoPro accessories, the stabilization and the white noise reduction, this is the best action camera for 10-year-old kids and upwards.

Depending on the type of activity, you can get a head strap, a chest mount, a handlebar and even a surfboard mount. There are tons of accessories from GoPro and third-party manufacturers to make this camera as versatile as your kid’s interests.

The Hero 7 does have a short battery life, especially if your children use it for streaming or they leave the WiFi on. Fortunately, it has a removable battery, so you can buy an extra one to keep going. This is an extremely portable camera that most kids will love to carry with them everywhere they go.

Sometimes, the best cameras for kids will involve investing over $100, but for the huge step up in image quality, shooting modes, features and robustness, it’s definitely worth it.

Kids Camera FAQs

What is a good first camera for a child?

The best entry-level camera for a child is one that’s easy to hold and allows them to just point and shoot – image quality shouldn’t be a big concern. The VTech Kidizoom cameras (like the Kidizoom DUO or Camera Pix) and the Fisher-Price Kid-Tough are great options.

What is the best camera for a 5-year-old?

It’ll depend a lot on the child’s interests. If they love sports, check out the VTech Kidizoom Action Cam 180; the Hello Kitty Instax is popular with girls, while the VTech Kidizoom DUO is an all-around favourite. The best cameras for kids aged 5 years need to be visually appealing, while also offer fun features to keep them entertained.

What age is Kidizoom camera for?

The Kidizoom DUO and Camera Pix are aimed at 3-8 years, though the DUO is better for older kids. For ages 6-9, there’s the Kidizoom Selfie Cam – the best camera for kids who like to take photos and videos of themselves!

Final Words

I hope you enjoyed my review of the best cameras for kids. Getting children interested in photography as a hobby can be a great way to foster their creative development, opening the door to a whole world of fun and experimentation.

If your child has a favourite camera that’s not on this list, please leave it in the comments so other parents can benefit.

Editor’s Choice

Kidamento Kids Digital Camera

Cute, easy to use and packed full of fun features. Available as a sloth, cat or a koala!

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