Part of being a kid and growing up is learning what you like, what brings you joy, and what sparks your passion. When I was young, I always loved taking photographs, and if you know my story, I carried that passion with me throughout my life through different career paths and becoming a mom and major life changes. Then, one day I decided that it was time to take that passion and make it into a career that I absolutely love. I would never have been able to do that without the support of my family and loved ones. So now, as a mom, I love nothing more than supporting my kids' passions and watching them develop new skills and learn new ways to express themselves.
With social media being a part of everyday life, kids are taking photos more and more. They use their smartphones to make videos and take selfies with friends. If you’ve got a kid interested in taking their photo hobby to the next level, you may want to upgrade their camera. Today, we will give you some good options.
Things to Consider
Price Cameras come in a massive range of prices from less than 100 dollars to well into the thousands. You’ll want to think about your budget and how much you can afford to invest in your child’s camera setup.
Maturity and Responsibility A child who is 7 or 8 may not have the same ability to use and care for a more complicated piece of equipment than an older teen might, so definitely take that into account when making your choice.
Level of Passion Whether your child is interested in photography as a future career option or as a way to take fun photos and videos with their friends, it’s essential to gauge their level of passion for photography before deciding what type of equipment they might need or want.
Ease of Use Cameras can be very complicated and take a lot of time to learn all the different features, accessories, and methods for getting the best results. If your child is not interested in taking the time to learn all of these things, you may want to consider a much more user-friendly and less complicated camera.
Medium Lastly, you should talk to your child about what medium they are most interested in for their photography hobby. The most popular these days is clearly digital photography, but instant photos have come back into style in recent years too!
Digital Cameras
Canon EOS Rebel T7
Specs: DSLR Camera, 24.1 megapixels photo resolution, Can record in 1080p, 720P, or 640x360 Video Resolution, 3” LCD Screen, CMOS Sensor, Continuous shooting speed 3 fps
What it’s suitable for: This is better for kids age 11+ interested in learning about photography more in-depth. This is a great starter camera for any digital photography beginner and a great introduction to professional-type DSLR cameras. For a better photographic experience and a more comprehensive range of use, you will need to purchase additional equipment for this camera.
Price: This camera and an 18-55mm wide-angle lens start around $480 on Amazon. Suppose you have a bit more wiggle room in your budget. In that case, I recommend purchasing a Canon Rebel T7 Kit, including additional gear such as lenses, filters, extra batteries, a tripod, and other fabulous accessories to enhance your hobbyist’s range of use.
Nikon D3500
Specs: DSLR Camera, 24.4 megapixels photo resolution, 1080p Video Resolution, 3” LCD screen, CMOS Sensor, Continuous shooting speed 5 fps
What it’s suitable for: This camera is better for kids age 12 and older interested in digging into photography a little deeper. As a DSLR camera, you will also need to purchase additional equipment such as lenses to give your budding photographer a more comprehensive range of use and artistic freedom.
Price: The base price for this camera with no lenses or other equipment starts at around $650 on Amazon. However, just like the Canon T7, if your budget is a little higher you can purchase Nikon bundles on Amazon, including additional lenses, filters, camera bags, and other valuable tools to make your child’s photography experience even more fun.
Instant Photo Cameras
Fujifilm Instax Mini
Specs: 62mm x 46 mm photo size, 90-second photo print, electronic shutter, automatic exposure, automatic light adjustment, selfie mirror, film counter, and film pack confirmation window.
What it’s suitable for: The Fujifilm Instax Mini is great for taking selfies and traditional photos that print immediately. These cameras are a great way to bring fun into your child’s photography hobby. They get to see the images they’ve captured right away and keep them as physical photographs for decorating, scrapbooking, or sharing with friends and family.
Price: There are many versions of this particular camera. The current model is the Instax Mini 11, which starts at about $70 on Amazon. However, you can purchase older models for a bit less.
Polaroid Originals Now I-Type Instant Camera
Specs: 3.108 x 3.024-inch photo size, I-Type Film color, Automatic Exposure, 1x viewfinder magnification, 1-second max shutter speed, double lens autofocus, built-in double exposure, self-timer
What it’s suitable for: This Polaroid will take you right back to the ’70s with its vintage style and design. This instant photo camera prints larger pictures than the Instax Mini, so this one may be a better fit for those who prefer a larger print.
Price: This camera starts at $103 on Amazon, but you can purchase package deals that include additional film packs.
REMINDER: These cameras will have the added expense of purchasing film regularly.
Cameras for Little Ones
V-Tech Kidizoom Duo Deluxe Digital Camera
Specs: Compact camera for ages 3+, 5 Megapixels photo resolution, 340 x 240 Video resolution, 4X Digital Zoom, 2.4” Color LCD Screen
What it's suitable for: This camera is excellent for younger kids. It’s easy to use, durable, and has many great features included such as parental controls, games, built-in photo effects, and an mp3 player.
Price: This camera comes in a range of models and prices. For the above specs, the price is $50, but if you want something a little less expensive, they have other models that start around $30.
Ourlife Kid’s Camera
Specs: Compact camera for kids age 5+ 8 Megapixels photo resolution, 1080p video resolution, 2.4” color screen, WATERPROOF!
What it’s suitable for: This is the perfect camera for your kid on the go. They can even take this in the pool or to the beach for some fun underwater selfies without worrying about getting it wet. It comes with a durable waterproof case and can shoot video up to 30 meters underwater.
