If you’ve ever left your toddler alone with your smartphone and come back to a whole camera roll of blurry selfies, you’ll know how much kids love taking photos, even from a very young age.
So, why not harness their budding inner photographer by buying them their very own camera to experiment with? There’s a whole range of kids’ cameras available on the market now, from low-fi, wallet-friendly options to clever instant devices and robust cameras made for outdoor adventures.
How do you choose the best kids’ camera?
With such a range of choice available, narrowing your options down to find the right camera for your child can be tricky. First, start by making sure the camera you’re looking at is age-appropriate. For some the recommended starting age can be as young as three, while others are more suitable for older children or teenagers. Next, it’s important to make sure the camera is easy to use – kids don’t want to be messing around with multiple buttons and switches, so investing in a well-made point and shoot option will be key.
What else should I look out for when buying kids’ cameras?
It’s worth deciding what sort of camera you’re looking for before you start your search.
- Instant: If your kid is more likely to respond to something instant, you might want to consider one of the instant photography cameras on the market. If you’re looking for a screen-free option, go for a reusable camera that takes film.
- Extras: If they’d enjoy the addition of built-in games and video options, invest in a camera that has those add-ons.
- Durability: Don’t forget to take durability into consideration too, especially when shopping for younger children. Some of the cameras on our list are shockproof and waterproof, which can be a godsend when it comes to those inevitable accidents or careless moments.
Above all, make sure the camera feels fun and exciting, and is likely to appeal to your child’s imagination – that’s the best way to ensure they’ll actually get good use out of it.
Here we’ve rounded up the best kids’ cameras to buy now.
Best kids’ cameras at a glance:
- Best overall: Instax Mini 12 - £79.99, John Lewis
- Best for extra games and effects: VTech KidiZoom Duo FX - £59.99, John Lewis
- Best for younger children: MyFirst Camera 3 - £87.60, Amazon
- Best for screen-free fun: Harman Reusable 35mm - £24.95, Amazon
- Best for retro vibes: Polaroid Go - £89.99, Polaroid
- Best for in-built printer: Photo Creator Kids Digital Camera - £70, Argos
- Best for teens: Canon Zoemini S2 - £90.04, Amazon
- Best for capturing outdoor adventures: Kodak Pixpro WPZ2 - £139.99, Amazon
- Best for looking like an adult camera: Moreximi Digital Camera - £59.99, Amazon
- Best value: Groov-e Kids Camera - £22.99, Studio
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Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
Best: Overall
While the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 may not have been designed specifically for children, it definitely appeals to the younger members of the family. In fact, many of my friends have chosen this as the first camera for their slightly older children, aged from around eight upwards. That’s down to its cute design, small size and ease of use – all you have to do is load up the film, point and shoot, and five seconds later a fun mini print pops out.
There are plenty of built-in features that make snapping photos a breeze, from automatic exposure and flash control to close-up mode and a perfectly positioned selfie mirror. It also comes in a range of playful colours, from bubblegum pink and lilac to baby blue. For a pocket-sized option, there’s also the Instax Pal, one of the dinkiest digital cameras on the market.
Buy now £79.99, John Lewis
VTech KidiZoom Duo FX
Best for: Extra games and effects
This option from VTech is one of the most popular kids’ cameras on the market, and with good reason. Available in Barbie pink or electric blue, it’s aimed at kids aged four plus (though our three-year-old tester loved hers), making it a great starter camera for younger children. Larger and chunkier than some of the other cameras on this list, it feels more robust than some of the dinkier options, meaning it’s more likely to withstand being chucked around and dropped – always crucial when being handled by little ones.
It also comes with loads of whizzy tech features, including dozens of games and activities, as well as 75 photo and video effects, meaning it’s less likely your kid will grow out of it too quickly. Our tiny tester loved playing around with all the different effects, and it really helped her push her creativity and imagination.
Buy now £60.01, John Lewis
myFirst Camera 3
Best for: Younger children
This adorable camera from myFirst is a great starter option for younger kids, especially if you’re looking for one that operates more like an adult camera, minus any built-in games. Though the recommended starting age is four, our three-year-old tester loved playing around with it, and the cute rubberised case and shockproof pouch make it more durable than many of the other options on the market.
Despite its playful appearance, which makes it look more like a toy than a piece of tech, it’s actually a very decent digital camera, which takes high-quality photos. Your little one can take close-up images using the macro lens, while there’s also a selfie lens and preloaded frames for them to play around with. It also supports a microSD card up to 32GB, so there’s plenty of space for all their photos and videos.
Buy now £87.60, Amazon
Harman Reusable 35mm
Best for: Screen-free fun
If you’re looking for a totally screen-free camera for your child, this model from Harman is a great option. While it looks like one of the disposable cameras you used to take on holiday as a kid, this version is actually reloadable, meaning you don’t have to chuck it away after just one use. It’s also very lightweight, so it can easily be toted along on all your kid’s adventures.
Unlike some of the other cameras on this list, it doesn’t come with many bells and whistles, but that’s exactly why it will appeal to certain parents. There’s a shutter button, a switch to toggle the flash and a wheel for winding the film, but otherwise, all you have to do is point and shoot. It’s compatible with any 35mm film and offers a great way to teach kids about the delights of taking photographs on real film.
Buy now £24.95, Amazon
Polaroid Go
Best for: Retro vibes
When it comes to nostalgic photographic fun, nobody does it quite like Polaroid. For the younger generation, the Polaroid Go is the brand’s best instant camera. Its small size means it’s perfect for little hands, while the fun design – complete with a rainbow racing stripe – will appeal to the youngest of users (though we’d say it’s best suited to kids aged five and upwards).
The controls are super simple, making it very easy to use (you really do just point and click), and its automatic flash means even the most inexperienced of photographers can come out with a decent shot. The resulting instant snaps all come with that slightly hazy, dreamlike quality you expect from a Polaroid, and the film isn’t the cheapest to buy, but for a fun kids’ instant camera, it’s a great option.
Buy now £89.99, Polaroid
Photo Creator Instant Camera
Best for: In-built printer
This fun digital camera, aimed at kids aged eight plus, comes with its own built-in thermal printer, meaning your children can print photos in a flash. What’s more, the rolls of paper last a lot longer than the fairly small print packs that come with most instant cameras, meaning this is a more cost-effective option in the long run.
The camera comes with a 4GB micro-SD card and plenty of fun ways to customise your snaps, from in-built photo filters and effects to colourful marker pens and stickers to add to the pictures once they’ve been printed out. For younger children, there’s also a brand-new model aimed at kids aged four plus, which comes with a lot of the same features in a slightly more simplified design.
Buy now £70.00, Argos
Canon Zoemini S2
Best for: Teens
This sleek camera from Canon is a great option for older kids and teenagers who are looking to print out their own photos on the go. Available in a range of attractive colours, including rose gold and teal, the camera comes with its own in-built mirror and ring light, making it perfect for taking selfies. All you have to do is load it up with a pack of sticky-backed photo paper and you can print out and stick your shots wherever you like.
One of the best features of this two-in-one camera printer is that it can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth, meaning you can then print out photos from your phone’s camera roll. Through the Canon Mini Print app, you can also add fun filters, emojis and text to your pictures, meaning there’s plenty of scope for customisation.
Buy now £90.04, Amazon
Kodak Pixpro WPZ2
Best for: Capturing outdoor adventures
If you’ve got kids who love getting out in the great outdoors and want to take photos to prove it, this is the camera for you. This digital camera from Kodak is ready for whatever you want to throw at it. Shockproof, dustproof and waterproof (designed to go up to 15m underwater), it’s the ideal companion for the most adventurous of kids.
It has plenty of great features for taking action shots, from 4X optical zoom for capturing the finer details to 1080p full HD video mode, perfect for budding nature documentary makers. It also comes with WiFi connectivity, meaning you can connect it wirelessly to your smartphone and upload shots wherever you are, making it the perfect companion on an action-packed family holiday.
Buy now £154.73, Amazon
Moreximi Digital Camera
Best for: Looking like an adult camera
Every parent knows that kids like nothing more than copying grown-ups. So, they’re guaranteed to love this digital camera, which is designed to look just like an adult DSLR. But despite its more high-tech appearance, it’s still very easy to use, meaning it’s a great option for kids as young as three.
Designed with toddlers in mind, it has a rotating lens and built-in autofocus, so you don’t have to worry about endless blurry snaps. Surprisingly lightweight, it also features a 4800w pixel dual camera for high-quality pictures and a 1080p video recorder, for capturing precious moments on film. All in all, this is a great camera for little kids who want to be just like mum and dad.
Buy now £59.99, Amazon
Groov-e Digital Camera
Best: Value
When it comes to kids’ cameras, there’s very little point in investing in anything too pricey, especially if your children are very young. That’s where this option from Groov-e comes in. The most affordable camera on this list, it’s a great choice if you’re not too sure how your child will respond to a camera and are looking to test the waters in an inexpensive way.
Despite its low price point, this camera still comes with a 40-megapixel lens, a two-inch HD screen and 1080p HD video, as well as five pre-saved games and a rechargeable battery. Small, lightweight and available in pink and blue, it’s the perfect way for your kid to dip their toe into the world of photography without hitting your wallet too hard.
Buy now £22.99, Studio
Verdict
If you’re looking for a fun, easy-to-use instant camera, you can’t go wrong with the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12. Kids will love snapping away with this cute camera and watching as their photos print out in mere seconds. When it comes to non-instant options, the VTech KidiZoom Duo FX comes with lots of great extra features, including plenty of games to keep them entertained.
