Childrens Digital Cameras

If you are in the market for a childrens digital camera then you have more choice now then ever before. Only a few years ago the decision was limited to giving your child a low cost or hand me down digital camera or choosing from the very few, and rather appalling, childrens digital cameras on the market.

There has been an explosion in kids cameras as both manufacturers and suppliers have seen the potential in this lucrative business. Prices are now very competitive starting at cheap $30 and rising to around $150.
So what do you get for your money.

Well right off the bat lets get one thing out in the open. Despite the claims of the various kids digital camera makers these cameras are a world apart from an ‘adult’ digital camera. They are built to be rugged, tough, colourful and big so that a toddler can use them without parents worrying about damage. However if you are expecting quality pictures on a par with a Canon or a Nikon then you may be disappointed.

Even kids cameras offering 3.0 megapixels resolution won’t hold a candle against most entry level adult digital cameras. So are they worth the money? Absolutely yes! But with some qualifications.

First off are you really going to let a three year old or younger use your Canon DSLR even if it is a hand me down? Tiny fingers may have trouble operating tiny controls and after it has been dropped, sat on, left out in the rain and smeared with jam (and worse) will the camera even operate again? A childrens digital camera is ruggedized to tolerate a good deal of abuse yet still function and take reasonable photographs. However all kids cameras are not created equal so you need to take some care with your choice.

Considering just how quickly children are able to absorb and master quite technical  tasks these days do you even need to go down the childrens digital camera route? Is your child already at ease using a computer, DVD player and even, dare we say, a cell phone. Most childrens cameras are capable of taking basic photos of reasonable quality and it may be that a six year old who can already operate a variety of technical equipment will soon discover their limitations. You may be better locating a good point and shoot camera like the Canon Powershot A490 at around $100. Or what about a good used compact, these could go for as little as $20. Another thought why not upgrade your own camera and let your child use your old one?

If you are buying for a toddler then probably you will want to consider childrens digital cameras so what is on offer? There are many half decent units available but there are some you will want to avoid. Generally speaking you get what you pay for, there are exceptions of course, but you should not expect much in a child’s camera costing $20.00. Our advice is to stay in the medium to high end range, do your due diligence and you are less likely to be disappointed. There are some fundamentals that you need to consider before you buy so here goes.

Look for a decent resolution. Generally a 3.0 mega pixel camera will give better results than a childrens camera having less than 1.0 mega pixel. It’s true that pixels are not the be all and end all but they do give an indication of what to expect.

Get a camera with a view finder and viewing screen if possible. Many  digital cameras for children have twin view finders, most two and three year olds find this layout easier to use. Childs cameras that have only a viewing screen are more limited in use. Bright sunshine can make viewing the screen tricky so go for a viewfinder every time. Don’t forget also that a child will want to emulate an adult and use a camera just the way they see us taking photos.

Make sure that the camera comes with digital memory card which is removable. Sooner or later you will want to get the photos onto a computer. Viewing screen quality on a childrens digital camera leaves something to be desired and deleting unusable snaps, and there will be many, is much easier on a computer screen. Children tend to take lots of photographs so try to figure out how many photos the card will hold and maybe think about a spare.

Does the camera connect easily through the usb port on your computer? Some childrens cameras have difficult to remove memory cards (for obvious reasons) so if you can download without removing the card this is a bonus.

What about flash? A childs digital camera will always operate best in bright daylight but indoors flash is a real benefit. Just a little tip here for you. Usually these cameras will not have the light metering capabilities of their sophisticated counterparts and often pictures taken at close range will be washed out. Use clear scotch tape to cover the flash unit, this will defuse the light and give better results.

Batteries! What will you need? See if there is an indication of how many photographs can be taken before they need changing. What about rechargeable? If you can use those it will be a lot less costly on your pocket.

Depending on what you go for a childrens digital camera can also be used as a webcam and for shooting video. Don’t get too excited, the video is not going to be cinematic quality but it will give your child another wonderful avenue of exploration. Watch out for cameras that have games too, these can keep children happy for hours so are an added bonus. Some cameras play games on the camera while others hook up to the TV using various cables usually provided. Take some time to look at the comparisons.

Choosing the best child friendly digital camera for kids is going to depend on many factors not least the age of the child. It’s true that the quality of photographs from childrens digital cameras have improved since they first hit the market and they will probably only get better. If you do decide to go down this route try to keep your expectations in check, the emphasis should be on the child and the joy they are going to derive from having a digital camera of their very own so early in their childhood.. And if your child becomes interested in photography as result then what’s wrong with that?