Best Camera for Kids | 2024

Thanks to the best cameras for kids, you can encourage and nurture a child’s interest in image-making. While smartphone cameras are of course ubiquitous nowadays, a dedicated camera is the ideal way to help a kid understand a little more about how pictures work, and how to take a good one.

What better way is there to help impressionable tiny people with a keen interest in photography to learn about the topic than to let them experiment with rudimentary cameras? Getting hands-on with these cameras will help kids understand how a camera works at its basic level — and, as a bonus, they are super fun to use. 

We have included film cameras, instant print cameras and digital cameras for kids of all ages and interests. If nothing else, it’ll prevent them from playing with your cameras…

Film and instant cameras

While film comes with ongoing costs, it’s simply unmatched in terms of the kinds of tactile fun kids can have with it. Whether you choose instant film or more traditional negative film, you can use these cameras to teach kids the basics of the relationship between the camera and the image. And in terms of making memories to keep for life, nothing beats a gorgeous physical print of a film image.

Pros:

• Very simple to operate
• Prints are near instant
• Selfie mirror

Cons:

• Prints are quite small
  
  

The Instax Mini is an obvious choice for kids. It is small, cute, and doesn’t require that much supervision. It is straightforward to use, although the adult should probably load the film before handing it over. The results are immediate — the shutter button is pressed, and moments later, a tactile print comes out that can be pinned to boards or stuck to scrapbooks. The exposures are completely automated, so there’s no danger of wasting film through using the wrong settings, and the camera even has a selfie mirror.

Film for Fujifilm Instax Mini cameras can be bought in colour or monochrome flavours — kids will likely prefer colour but you can always mix and match.

Pros:

• Gorgeous instant film images
• Portable and convenient
• Larger prints than Instax

Cons:

• Film more expensive than Instax
• May be complex for really little kids
  
  

Polaroid has been steadily refining its instant film camera offering since the brand’s reinvention at the hands of the Impossible Project. The Polaroid Now Gen II Instant Camera is the best yet, and while its various shooting modes and settings controls mean it might be a little complex for very small teens, it’s an ideal choice for tweens and teens who want to get to grips with a camera and still have fun. 

It’s compatible with the latest I-type film — available in colour or black and white — and these make classically sized Polaroid prints with all the lo-fi charm you remember them having. They do cost more per shot than Instax, which again makes the Polaroid a better choice for older kids who might be a bit more judicious with the shutter button. Also, if you have any old Polaroid 600 film kicking around in the loft or the basement, it’ll take that too!

Pros:

• Easy to use and cheap to run
• Produces a physical print and a digital copy
• Can be used to create stickers

Cons:

• Zink prints don’t quite have the je ne sais quoi of instant film
  
  

This camera is something of a hybrid. When the shutter is pressed, it produces a digital file that’s saved to a microSD card; however, it also spits out a physical print of the image. It’s not a film print like Instax or Polaroid — the image is printed onto Canon’s Zink (zero-ink) photo paper. While it doesn’t quite have the depth or latitude of film, it is cheaper to buy, and easier to convert into stickers for a kid’s scrapbook (and indeed, Canon sells Zink paper for exactly that purpose).

Most kids will find this camera fairly easy to use, though you may need to set it up for them initially by loading the paper and the microSD card. With no ink cartridges, there’s limited potential for a nasty mess.

Digital Cameras

In this section, we’ve picked out our favourite digital cameras that are suitable for kids. These aren’t “kids’ cameras” per se — they’re designed for adults. But their ease of use and brilliant image quality makes them ideal choices for kids who are just starting to get curious about the process of making pictures and videos.

Pros:

• Fantastic for wildlife watching
• Powerful zoom lens
• Super-light and portable

Cons:

• Long zoom can be tricky to use
• More expensive than other option
  
  

If you have a kid who can’t get enough of animals and birds, then the Canon PowerShot Zoom could become their new constant companion. It’s a tiny, almost palm-sized digital camera that’s built with a powerful zoom lens inside, allowing for even the most distant subjects to be brought close and captured in photos and videos. While the zoom can be tricky to operate handheld at first, a built-in 4-axis optical stabilisation system makes it a bit easier and more practical to use.

Favoured by wildlife expert Chris Packham, the Canon PowerShot Zoom is ideal for birdwatching. For rambles in the woods, nature hikes and holidays, it’s an excellent camera for your kid to get to grips with.

FAQs

What is the best age to introduce a camera to a child?

Kids can start using a camera around 3 to 5 years old. At this age, they will be more likely to understand basic photography concepts and handle simple point-and-shoot cameras. Look for ones with big buttons and durable designs perfect for their smaller hands.

What features should I look for in a camera for kids?

When picking a camera for kids, durability and ease of use are key. Choose one that's tough, with shockproof and waterproof features to handle drops and spills. Simple controls with large buttons make it easy for kids to use. Fun extras like games, photo effects or video recording can keep them interested and entertained.

Are digital cameras or instant cameras better for kids?

Both have their perks. Digital cameras let kids take lots of photos without worrying about film and often have video and editing features. Instant cameras give the fun of immediate prints, which can be really exciting for kids. It really depends on whether you prefer the versatility of digital or the instant fun of print photos. Either option will help get your kids excited about photography.