Editors’ Note, October 15, 2025: With this update, we removed some models that are no longer available and added the Gofunly HD Print Camera for Kids. The other picks have been vetted for currency and availability.
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 with insight into what it looks like from their perspective. PCMag has many years of camera expertise, so we’ve highlighted several suitable choices here for kids from pre-K through high school, listed in order of audience age from youngest to oldest. Our list includes a couple of our Editors’ Choice winners, the one-touch Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 and the tough GoPro 12 Black, along with some DIY and analog options that can help to teach the younger generation what things were like before the world went digital.
Recommended by Our Editors
Makes Thermal Prints and Has Built-In Games
Gofunly 3.0″ HD Instant Print Camera for Kids
The Gofunly HD Camera is an affordable option that’s ideal for preschool and elementary-aged children. Its rounded edges, selfie mirror, built-in flash, and large screen are all positives, and we like that it prints out black-and-white photos on inexpensive thermal paper, plus it saves digital snaps on an included microSD card in case you want to make a color print or share a snapshot from your budding Annie Leibovitz with friends and family. Kids will like its image filters, which can add a color cast or kaleidoscope effect to photos. It even has built-in games to keep your child entertained in between photo sessions. The camera is available in black, blue, green, pink, or purple, so you can get one that matches your kid’s style choices.
A 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
A Digital Disposable Camera
Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital
The Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital camera is essentially a digital version of the classic disposable 35mm point-and-shoot, the type you’d pick up as a last-minute item on the way to vacation or summer camp. Today, most kids snap pictures with a smartphone, but that won’t be allowed at a screen-free summer camp. The Snap Camera doesn’t have a screen, just a viewfinder, so it works like an old-school camera, with lo-fi digital results from its 8MP sensor. The Camp Snap camera costs just $69.95, includes a pre-installed 4GB memory card, and a built-in 500-photo battery with USB-C charging.
Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital Camera Review
Get Our Best Stories!
All the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
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
Mounts to Your Bike or Skateboard
An action camera like the GoPro Hero12 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 Hero12 isn’t the latest model (that would be the Hero13 Black), so you can get it for around $300, a big drop from its original price.
GoPro Hero12 Black 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
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 Canon EOS R50 is a good starter option for tweens, teens, and college students. Its body is quite small, so it fits well into younger hands, and it includes a flip-out screen with touch support. The R50’s autofocus is superb for an entry-level camera, and it includes eye detection for people, pets, and wildlife. An ideal starter camera for budding creators, it snaps pictures at 24MP and supports 4K30 video.
Canon EOS R50 Review
Tips for New Photographers
You 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.
