The Best Kid-Friendly Cameras of 2019

Find the best inexpensive models aimed at children

Our Top Picks

Most Popular: VTech Kidizoom DUO Camera ~ “With two lenses and a bevy of features perfect for kids three to nine years old.”

Best for Teens: Sony DSC-W800 ~ “A full-fledged point-and-shoot that’s good for teens (and adults).”

Best Splurge: Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 ~ “A 20MP camera that offers a slew of features alongside Canon’s traditionally excellent image quality.”

Best Waterproof: Ourlife Kids Waterproof Camera ~ “With an IP68 waterproof rating that will stand up to basically any inclement weather.”

Best Instant Film: Instax Mini 9 ~ “With a rugged, springy plastic design that makes the perfect housing for a kids’ camera.”

Best Beginner Waterproof: Abdtech Waterproof Kids Camera ~ “An MP3 and MP4 player are also built-in, giving kids the ability to play music via their camera.”

Best Polaroid: Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera ~ “Prints are ready in under a minute and have an adhesive backing.”

Best for Social Media: NICAM 4K Wi-Fi Camera ~ “Perfect for sharing travel pics, awesome time-lapse videos, or selfies on social media.”

Most Popular: VTech Kidizoom DUO Camera

What We Like

–> Durable

–> Easy for small hands

What We Don’t Like

–> Low photo resolution

VTech’s Kidizoom DUO Camera is the best kid-friendly camera in 2019. Perfect for kids 3 to 9 years old, there is a bevy of features, including two lenses in both the front and rear with a dedicated switching button. Two lenses might sound a little extensive, but this creates a camera that’s great for selfies and regular photography. The 2.4-inch TFT display pairs with the 1600 x 1200-pixel front camera and 640 x 840 rear lens. There’s just 256MB of built-in memory, but VTech adds a built-in microSD card rear with capacity from 1-32GB cards.

VTech offers an automatic shut-off after three minutes to preserve battery life. Battery life aside, kids will love the voice recording feature that offers five different voice-changing effects, as well as stop-frame animation. Weighing just 1.2 pounds, the VTech is supported with a wrist strap for extra protection against drops, though the bumper exterior provides peace-of-mind that even a few tumbles won’t affect use. If you’re looking to buy a camera for a kid this is a smart place to start.

Best for Teens: Sony DSC-W800

What We Like

–> Affordable

–> 20.1 MP sensor

What We Don’t Like

–> Quality is poor in low-lighting

Released in 2014, Sony’s DSC-W800/B 20.1-megapixel digital camera remains Amazon’s best selling point-and-shoot. While most kid cameras offer a limited number of features, Sony’s offering here is a full-fledged point-and-shoot that’s good for the teens (and adults). With features like 720p HD video capture and 5x optical zoom, there’s plenty of bells and whistles without breaking the bank. Additionally, there’s an optional “Easy Mode” camera function that reduces the number of layers in the menu to help minimize the feature set, so you can focus on nothing but taking pictures, which is great for kids. Teens who are just learning all the ins-and-outs of a true digital camera will appreciate extras like SteadyShot image stabilization, which offers both low noise and minimal blur. The camera also has panorama mode for a full 360-degree photo capture.

Best Splurge: Canon PowerShot ELPH 190

What We Like

–> Wirelessly transfer photos

–> 20 MP camera

What We Don’t Like

–> Poor video quality

Canon’s PowerShot ELPH 190 digital camera is a 20.0-megapixel camera that offers a slew of features alongside Canon’s traditionally excellent image quality. Teens will love the built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity to help move captured shots over to their smartphones for easy sharing on social networks. The DIGIC 4+ processor and 10x optical zoom all add another level of image quality that far outpaces even the best kid-designed camera. The 2.7-inch LCD helps navigate the slew of menu items for reviewing each shot post-capture. For teens who want to get experimental, there’s built-in tripod support on the bottom of the Canon.

Add in 720p HD video capture and a bevy of scene modes to help capture unique photography and teens will forget the smartphone camera basics and opt for something a little more practical. While there’s plenty of point-and-shoot cameras to choose from, the Canon offers great appeal to beginner photographers who want better performance than their smartphone camera without breaking the bank. There are just 190 shots available on each charge.

Best Waterproof: Ourlife Kids Waterproof Camera

What We Like

–> Affordable

–> Durable

–> Waterproof up to 33 feet

What We Don’t Like

–> Low photo quality

Arguably, the most child-friendly feature of a kid’s action camera is that it can withstand the elements. Whether it’s exposed to underwater shooting (up to 33 feet in depth), rainy day activities, or the inevitable drink spill, this Ourlife Kids Waterproof Camera—with its IP68 waterproof rating—will stand up to basically any inclement weather.

It can film at an HD resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 frames per second and delivers impressive-looking video. There’s also an option to record video at 1920 x 1080 (FHD), but it can only do so at a maximum of 15 frames per second. The 1.7-inch LCD screen displays previews and gives you intuitive control and metering settings. Plus, the device includes a one-year warranty alongside unlimited support and customer service for as long as you own it.

Best Instant Film: Instax Mini 9

What We Like

–> Stylish

–> Fun for parties

What We Don’t Like

–> Photo quality not great in outdoor lighting

Following in the footsteps of the Mini 8, this Instax camera is a proper successor with updated features and the same durability (AKA, totally kid-proof-ness). In fact, the rugged, springy plastic design, while not necessarily meant exclusively for kids, is actually the perfect housing for a kids’ camera. The Mini 9 operates on two AA batteries, employs a brand new macro lens for close-ups as near as 35 cm, has an automatic exposure measurement system for automatically perfect pics, as well as a high-key mode for brighter shots. That is to say that kids don’t need to worry about features – they can just have fun snapping pics.

Best Beginner Waterproof: Abdtech Waterproof Kids Camera

What We Like

–> Easy to use

–> 6x zoom

What We Don’t Like

–> Low photo resolution

Large, simple controls and a soft but durable casing make the Abdtech Waterproof Kids Camera an excellent choice for beach or pool pictures. The camera is waterproof up to a depth of three meters and offers a 6x zoom, along with the option to record video. An MP3 and MP4 player are also built-in, giving kids the ability to play music via their camera. Several games are also included on the device.

At 5MP or 8MP resolution, the photo quality isn’t as high as some other cameras reviewed here, but for an inexpensive underwater camera, it’s enough for a starter model. It’s a compact but tough little camera that can withstand drops and falls, and the included wrist strap makes it easy to keep track of the camera in the pool.

Best Polaroid: Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera

What We Like

–> Easy to use

–> Self-timer

What We Don’t Like

–> Expensive film

Available in a range of cheery colors, the Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera is a fun camera that allows kids to shoot away and then print out instant color copies of their photos. Prints are ready in under a minute and have an adhesive backing, allowing them to be stuck to notebooks or on the fridge. The camera uses ZINK technology, which allows for instant printing without ink cartridges. The resulting prints are smudge-proof and high quality.

While the Polaroid Snap Instant is a quality camera and a great way to introduce your kids to the joys of Polaroids, note that replacement film can be expensive, so perhaps encourage your little ones to go easy on the printing.

Best for Social Media: NICAM 4K Wi-Fi Camera

What We Like

–> 4K, 20MP action cam

–> Easy to use

–> Waterproof

What We Don’t Like

–> Poor battery life

Dollar for dollar, the NICAM 4K cam is the best kid-friendly camera in terms of durability. GoPros are too expensive, and not super user-friendly for children, but cheaper knockoffs don’t have the features. The NICAM comes with all the features for a fraction of the price (and it has Wi-Fi connectivity). So it’s perfect for sharing travel pics, awesome timelapse videos or selfies on social media platforms such as Instagram of Facebook.

The video resolution is 3840 x 2160 pixels and it has a 20MP still sensor, a 170-degree wide-angle lens, voice controls for on-the-go shooting and waterproof protection up to 100 feet. In other words, this thing will share photos and videos on the go with tons of resistance to the elements (read: kids) and it’s also super easy to use.