Best kids’ cameras to buy for budding photographers

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.