If you’re like me, you do endless amounts of research before you buy anything above, say, $30. Is it obsessive? Maybe. Will I keep doing it? Yeah, I don’t really know how to be any other way.
When it comes to cameras for kids, tweens, and teens, I happen to know a thing or two beyond just working for a brand that makes them. You see, my wife is a professional photographer. Cameras, pictures, posing — all of that has been in my life for years and years, and by extension, my kids’ lives as well.
We offer quite a few different models of cameras here at myFirst, from digital to instant print. But when it comes to what’s best for tweens, I want to focus on the latter.
What Matters In A Camera For Tweens
When kids are younger, the things that matter are in the realm of:
- Grip and stability,
- Ease of use,
- Weight,
- and Price
Stuff like that. For older kids, it’s all about:
- Focus type,
- Exports,
- Lenses and image quality,
- and does it look cool?
Oh, and I guess the price remains a constant concern, though you should expect to pay a little more for a more advanced camera for older kids.
Here’s a breakdown of what you need to keep your eye on.
Focus Type: Physical vs. Digital
Hey so, does that camera have a physical button or lever to press to bring things into focus? What about when you tap on the screen, like a smartphone?
At any age, the most important thing is that their pictures come out in focus, with ease. How they get there is less of a concern. But, being able to have an impact on focus one way or another is good for learning proper photography. Learning rules to break them, you know? Getting properly artsy with it.
That being said, as long as the pics with their friends, or the moments they deem important in their lives, come out looking great, that’s what matters. A good camera with a good autofocus will still win the day.
Exporting Photos
Sometimes when a camera is meant for younger kids, all of the media and storage gets built in to the camera itself, and exporting files becomes an afterthought. Children are content just looking at what they do on the small screen on the back before they shoot another 15 pics of the dog.
Tweens are a different beast, and if they’re not looking to export digital files to edit (for either posting or printing), they’re going to want to hold it in their hands, give it to others, or put it up on their wall.
Make sure their camera, if digital, does this easily. Keep a lookout for the type of cable it uses, or a standard SD card. But the best route is actually a camera that prints directly. There isn’t much editing, but that’s the point — and for all kids (younger and older), waiting can be a drag. An instant print camera remedies this, and they can then do whatever they’d like with the photo almost immediately.
Bonus points if the instant print camera lets them choose what pic they want to print first, or gives them the ability to print more than one copy.
Lenses and Image Quality
The more expensive a camera, the more likely you’re to run into this, but lenses (especially interchangeable ones) have a direct impact on image quality, along with the camera’s sensor.
At the 8-11 age, image quality doesn’t need to be pro-level. It needs to look good enough that there aren’t second thoughts, and good enough to display. If your kid is becoming a photography hobbyist, then you should consider investing in their passion. An prosumer level of camera that has interchangeable lenses might actually be a really great “wow” feature for them.
If they just want something to capture the fun and memories around them, you don’t really need to concern yourself with lenses — and you’re awarded some grace on image quality as well. Tweens don’t need to shoot in RAW unless they’re fully set on learning the craft.
The goal: pics that are simple and don’t look like trash.
The Cool Factor
Tweens don’t want to be caught using a camera built for younger kids. They want to be seen using things designed with them in mind, or even older kids in mind. That means a proper camera for tweens.
They’re not looking for additional bulk (usually added as protection for clumsy hands), and while some tweens might still be into bright colors, you want to find them a camera that strikes a balance. Retro is always in style, so finding an old camera that still works would be great, as long as they are cool while waiting for film to develop.
Again, there are instant print cameras that scratch this itch. You could scour Ebay for a used Polaroid camera, but that could be hit or miss on functionality. Then, there are cameras that are designed with that kind of sensibility in mind like our Insta Lux, which also comes in a more mature gray & white color-way.
Our Pick For The Best Camera For Tweens
Go instant print. It has a novelty factor, they usually come in shapes and sizes that are cooler than most other cameras, there isn’t a lot to worry about, and they get a tactile result quickly.
If you go even further, choose an instant print color that lets them choose their photos, and allows them to print them more than once. Our Insta Lux is one of our latest offerings, and a jack of all trades to boot, as it can be a digital camera as well, as well as a mobile printer for smartphones.
Plus, we design it with them in mind: it looks retro, comes in more elevated colors, and has a dedicated selfie camera.
At the end of the day, it just needs to work. And be loads of fun capturing what they feel are the most important moments of their lives.
