Recommendations for a camera for kids

[usrtyz]

I have a 4 year old who will be 5 when we go to Disney and a 6 year old. They always want to use my digital camera to take pictures. I thought I could get them a camera for Christmas they could use it on vacation and I wouldn't have to worry about them dropping mine. I don't want to spend a lot but I also don't want to get one that isn't going to work great. Any suggestions? Thank you!

 

[disney_5]

My daughter has this one and its easy to use

http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-Fine...r_1_49?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1317134860&sr=1-49

it looks like amazon has the black one on sale for a good price.

Otherwise I would just go and see what is on sale at Target, Staples, or Walmart. Most of the point and shoot cameras now are pretty easy to use.

 

[kaseyC]

When my two youngest DDs were 6 and 8, I bought them each a Kodak Easy Share. They were each under a $100 and very easy to use. I also invested in a decent, small cross body camera case. The girls are now 10 and 8 and the cameras are still going strong. They have been used on multiple Disney trips, a few cruises, 2 trips to Europe as well as everyday kid functions.

Edited to add. It's pretty cool to see what your child finds important to photograph... to see the trip through their camera lens. During our trip to London when we were taking photos of the kids and all of the amazing landmarks my youngest DD was taking pictures of the pigeons. LOL

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I bought my kids Kodak Easyshares as well. But to help with not dropping it I put it on a lanyard so they can wear it around their necks. (I do this for my camera, too).

 

[adventure_woman]

Make sure you buy a real camera - not the 'kid' one. My DD got one of the Fisher Price ones and it is worthless....literally. She loves to play with the one we just put in our pocket - I think it is a Canon. It has a wrist strap on it, so I have taught her to always wrap it around her wrist.

 

[DISdreamin']

I would steer well clear of the Nikon CoolPix cameras. I bought two for DD and DS for a trip out west and one of the lens covers broke within the first few days we had the camera. Ironically, every SINGLE time I have seen the camera in a store display since then, the exact same thing has happened to each one. BJ's, Best Buy, Target...same thing in all.

Although they are cheap and take nice pictures, they are evidently not hardy enough to stand up to anything but the very gentlest of handling. I should mention that the camera in question doesn't have so much as a scratch on it -the kids are REALLY careful with their cameras and we have really good bags for each one. It just isn't built well.

 

[kkwis2]

I don't mean to be controversial, but I have to disagree twice. We started both of our kids out with a Vtech Kidizoom camera about 3 yrs ago. DD8 still uses hers, DS10 got a "real" digital camera last Christmas (when he was 9). Actually DS first got a Polariod kids camera - that WAS a piece of JUNK! The Vtech has been great - very kid friendly.

The camera my son got a year ago is a Nikon Coolpix. He uses it constantly, and we've never had a problem with it. The camera went to Disney with us this summer as well as camping and on many trips on the boat and to the grandparents' house. Great pics and easy to use . . . for my now 10 yr old. He knows how to do more with his camera than I can do with mine! I don't know how a 5 or 6 yr old would do with it though.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I have a Fuji FinePix X10. I picked it up in May at Office Depot on sale for $99 it was usually $149 I think. It's been dropped several times from around 3 feet, it's been in my pocket for a few hrs at a time in the pool, and it has a smart scene setting to set it and forget it.

I picked it up just to use in the pool because it's waterproof but now it stays in my camera bag next to the DSLR as a decent backup and goes with me every time we go out crabbing on the boat.

My 2 boys (5 & 7) LOVE using it around the parks and fight over it in the pool. Just thought I'd share

 

[kayrosek]

I have to disagree on the Nikon Coolpix too. I have expensive SLR's and don't really use point and shoots but if I was going to this is what I would buy. We bought my DS one for his first real camera and diden't have any problems with it's durability and he's one of those rough on everything kids. I loved, his coolpix until it was stolen at WDW so apparently someone else thought it would be a decent camera as well.

 

[goosedwn]

Every kid is different. My kids still love to use my camera even after I bought them their own. DD 10 got hers when she was 5. It was an Olympic one. Not sure where it is now. DS 5 got his Vtech when he was 3. He is still playing with it. It is more of a toy for him. I am thinking about getting him and my dd each a new camera this xmas. Sometimes, they can get a pretty darn good pictures that I would never thought of taking. At 5, I think it is better to get a real camera. I struggled with this when my husband insisted in getting a real one for my dd 5 years ago. Now, I totally understand why. She has gotton so much pictures that I treasure. My son took some good pictures on his Vtech too but the resolution is so bad.