You don’t have to be a grown-up to pursue photography or make a movie. Giving your child a camera can open their eyes to the world and provide you insight into what it looks like from their perspective. PCMag has many, many years of camera expertise, so we’ve highlighted several suitable choices here for kids from elementary school up through high school. The one-touch Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 and tough GoPro Hero10 Black are our current Editors’ Choice picks, though we also highlight some DIY and analog options that can teach kids what things were like before the world went digital. We’re missing a cheap camera recommendation for very young kids (let us know if you find a half-decent one in the comments), but the options below are otherwise the best ones we know of for the next generation of creators.
Recommended by Our Editors
Prints Sticker Photos
The Canon IVY Cliq2 is a good starter digital camera for kids in elementary school. It doesn’t cost too much, offers one-button operation, and can make on-demand prints using ink-free Zink thermal paper. A sticker backing means your child can use the prints to decorate a Trapper Keeper or laptop—just be careful not to gift it to kids who are young enough to put stickers on random household items. It’s available in a black, gray, pink, or turquoise finish.
Camera and Printer Bundle
The Fujifilm Instax Pal is a pricey prospect for parents at $199.95, but it includes two devices: a tiny one-button digital camera and an instant film printer. The Pal camera looks cute thanks to its mouse ears and tail, while the printer adds a tactile nature to snapshots that other digitals can’t match. We just wish you could buy the camera by itself especially since you can get the bundled Instax Mini Link 2 printer separately. Regardless, the pair makes for a fun experience.
Provides One-Touch Instant Prints
The Fuji Instax Mini 12 is a perfect first instant camera. It’s affordable (though you have to feed it film, at roughly $0.70 per image) and has big rounded edges that make it comfortable to hold. Everything is automatic, and it even has a mirror to help kids frame selfies.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Review
Captures Digital Images and Prints On-Demand
The Fujifilm Instax Mini EVO is a pocketable compact that snaps shots digitally (meaning you can take as many photos as you want) and features a built-in printer that uses Instax Mini film. It’s a great way to get your tween started with photography, and, unlike pure analog options like the Instax Mini 12, you can keep making photos even after you run out of film.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Review
Mounts to Your Bike or Skateboard
An action camera like the GoPro Hero10 Black is a good choice if your kid is interested in making videos of their bike or skateboarding adventures. The camera is tough enough to withstand drops, records sharp 5.3K video, and can go as deep as 33 feet underwater. It offers strong stabilization, too, so it works well for vlogging. The Hero10 isn’t the latest model (that would be the Hero12), so you can get it for around $250, a big drop from its original price.
GoPro Hero10 Black Review
Durable Enough for Tweens and Teens
Middle schoolers, teens, and freshmen on their way to college should check out the rugged OM Tough TG-7. It’s rated to withstand drops from up to 7 feet and can survive at depths of up to 50 feet underwater, all of which make it perfect to snap candids on the lake at summer camp. A high-magnification macro shooting mode encourages creativity, as does support for slow-motion video. The camera is a bit pricey though, so it’s a better choice for responsible kids who you can trust not to lose it.
OM System TG-7 Review
Introduces Interchangeable Lenses
An interchangeable lens camera is a good choice if you’re buying for older students with an interest in photography. It opens up more creative possibilities, including manual control and the option to use macro, telephoto, and other specialized lenses.The Panasonic Lumix G7 is a strong starter option. It has both an articulating LCD and eye-level viewfinder, works with Micro Four Thirds lenses, and fits easily into smaller hands. It’s a good value option for students enrolled in photography classes and is compact enough for aspiring photojournalists to carry anywhere. Young filmmakers can also look to the G7 for video; it records stabilized 4K footage.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 Review
Teaches Analog Photography
Film photography is trendy on social media platforms, so youngsters might want to try it out for themselves. The Kodak Ektar H35N is an excellent starter pick for anyone who’s never used film before. It supports focus-free, one-button operation, is small enough for tweens and teens to use comfortably, and its half-frame format means you get twice as many pictures on a roll compared with a normal 35mm camera.
Kodak Ektar H35N Review
A DIY Film Project for STEM Students
Looking for a project to do with your school-age child? The Lomo Konstruktor is both a learning tool and a camera. It’s an all-plastic 35mm SLR that comes to you in pieces. After removing all of its parts from plastic trees, it’s up to you to build it. It’s not a pricey investment, and even if you never run a roll of film through it, the process teaches budding engineers what makes a camera work.
Lomography Konstruktor Review
Fujifilm X-H2 (Credit: Jim Fisher)
Easy Tips for New PhotographersYou can take several approaches to teaching your young one to use a camera. Allowing them to experiment is a good start, but also consider a more structured environment, such as a photo class. Make sure to check out our story on photo tips for beginners, too.
