If your child has recently started showing an interest in photography and you are thinking about buying them their first camera, there are a few things you need to consider.

As a parent you probably know that the child’s interests can change tomorrow, next week or even next year but the good news is that you can still support their new hobby without breaking the bank.    

Here are our top 7 tips for choosing a camera for your child. 

1. Choose a camera that will enable your child to learn the basics quite quickly. Make sure that the controls and buttons are manageable and that the size of the camera is suited to the size of their hands. The menus should also be logical, easy to read and have intuitive icons that are easy to understand

2. Children love to experiment and tend to learn faster when they can do so. An entry-level DSLR camera will allow them to adjust exposure settings such as ISO, shutter speed and aperture. Interchangeable lenses are also a great learning tool but definitely not essential as a beginner.

3. When deciding on a camera for your child, take a look at the screen. It should be large, bright and have great colour reproduction. It should also be easy to use both indoors and outdoors as there is nothing more frustrating than not being able to see your images clearly on the screen due to bright sunlight. 

4. Ensure that the sensor resolution is good enough and meets your specific requirements, especially if you want to print larger size images. In most cases a 10-14 mega pixel camera is a sufficient for an entry level photographer. 

5. As a first time photographer, your child will want to keep practicing so it’s important that you are able to extend the camera’s memory using a SD/SDHC memory card. 

6. Next come the accessories. Your child will want to download their images from the camera onto a computer for editing so a USB cable will be an essential accessory. 

7. Not sure that a brand new camera is the best route to go as your child pursues their interest in photography you can also look at buying a secondhand camera instead. Ask around because many photographers may be willing to sell an older model camera. Be sure to find out about all the camera’s features and any extras that it might come with before making the purchase to ensure that it meets your specific requirements. 

 My Favourite are (please do your own research before buying the camera – to suit your child’s individual needs):

* For young children:      VTech KidiZoom Duo Camera– click here to view it 

* An instant result : Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 – click here to view it

* Under water camera ( or just in case in ends up in the water) : Hero7 White (Go Pro) – click here to view it 

* Affordable & compact:  Canon IXUS 185 – click here to view it

* Introduction to the camera world photography ( if they choose to study photography): Canon EOS 200D – click here to view it 

I hope this blog has helped you to decide on what camera to buy for your children. I have attached some photos took by my then 5 year old son – he had so much fun taking them and he used my very old Canon SLR camera. 

I am currently planning “Children basic camera setting courses”. Should you require a basic camera training for  your child – get in touch!
www.miraphotography.co.uk or email me: mirademeterphotography@gmail.com