In our last post, Shopping for Kids Digital Cameras, we advised getting kids digital cameras that are durable and easy to use. Here we’ll go into a bit more detail on some of the additional features that will differentiate these digital cameras from each other. Again, this series focuses primarily on younger kids ages three and up. As kids get older and have more experience with digital cameras some of these will be less important and we’ll be touching on that topic in future posts.

Large LCD screen

Look for a camera with a large LCD screen. Kids will want to review pictures they’ve just taken and this will make it easier for them to see if they got the shot they wanted. This will be particularly important when they’re just starting out and figuring out how to frame shots to capture their subject. 

Binocular Viewfinder

Kids will generally have a much easier time taking pictures using both eyes rather than one. This is a popular feature that can get them going right away with digital photography.

Auto-shutoff feature

Kids digital cameras will go through batteries rather quickly without this type of feature. Remember, kids may put the camera down and forget to turn it off so this can be a very useful feature to have.

SD Card Memory Slot

Unlike most traditional digital cameras, kids digital cameras will offer internal as well as additional memory for taking pictures. Look on the packaging for mention of SD Card slot that will allow you to buy an additional SD memory card to take additional pictures. 

This will greatly extend the number of pictures your child can take without having to delete existing pictures from the camera. This is particularly important as you may not introduce picture management when they’re first getting started.

Easy to access compartments

You’ll want the most frequently used ports compartments to be easily accessible. For example, to transfer pictures to the computer you’ll be using the USB port. You want to make sure this is easy to get to for you, but not exposed so your child doesn’t. The same goes for the memory SD slot and battery compartments.

TV Port

Some cameras allow you to hook them up directly to the television using an included cable. This can be a fun feature so that you don’t first have to transfer to the PC to view the pictures. 

All of these features will of course vary from camera to camera and affect the price you pay. Try to pick the ones that are really important to you and set a budget when shopping for your first kids digital camera.

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Looking to introduce your child to digital photography for the first time? We’ll go over some things to look for when shopping for your first digital camera for kids. Children as young as three years old can get started with kids digital cameras and you’ll want to pick one that is appropriate for their age. Here we’ll give an overview of shopping for younger kids and we’ll follow-up on advice for shopping for older kids in future posts.

One of the suggestions I’ve read from a couple of different sources online is to look for the latest or most popular model as seen on TV or ads. Their reasoning is kids will be proud of their camera and want to show it off to their friends. I have to say I completely disagree with this advice and would caution you against buying something merely because it’s on TV ads or because it’s the newest model out. Your goal here should be to get your kids interested in taking pictures, not brand names and consumerism in my opinion. This may be a bit controversial so I’d love to hear your comments on this.

Another reason not to go along with this advice is that, particularly when it comes to electronics, you don’t really want to buy the newest thing. Often there just isn’t enough information out there about the quality of the product. Wait until the market has had a chance to test the product and do a little bit of research online before spending your hard earned money on a substandard camera.

My recommendation is to focus on two major areas when shopping for kids digital cameras. These are durability and ease of use. You’ll want a camera that can survive the rough handling by younger kids especially if you plan on having more than one child share the camera. You’ll also want to make sure they can pick up the camera right away and start having fun taking pictures.

These two areas are generally what set kids digital cameras apart from traditional digital cameras but it’s worth taking note what makes these specialized cameras durable and easy to use. Starting with the camera body you might notice kids digital cameras are generally ruggedized (usually a one piece rubber encased body) with no moving parts. This helps the camera survive drops and even spills and makes it easier to grasp with small hands. Ease of use is measured in how quickly the child can get going with the camera. Automatic shooting settings, large buttons, large LCD screen and a simple interface all contribute to the ease of use of the camera.

Of course, there are plenty of other technical features you may want to factor in. These will be the ones that have an effect on the price you end up paying. We’ll go into more detail on these in a following post and would love to hear back on what you look for when shopping for kids digital cameras.

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