Is your tween or teen a budding photographer? If recreational photography is really becoming a hobby, they probably find that the camera on their cell phone just isn’t quite what they need. When they’re ready to experience the feel of a real camera in hand, today’s market offers digital cameras for middle and high school kids, for any skill level, on any budget.
Before running out the door to buy your tween or teen their camera, let’s take a look at how to decide which is the best for your child.
What is a good first camera for a teenager?
Interest – You might think price should be at the top of the list, but with digital cameras for tweens and teens, it’s critical to first assess their areas of interest.
Are they interested in candid, action shots or do they want to try portraits of friends? Are they looking to capture the majesty of the landscape or close-up details?
The type of photography they’re into is a major consideration in determining which camera style to purchase.
Price – Digital cameras begin under $100 and go up from there. With the higher prices come more advanced features and technical applications. When taking price into consideration, it’s important to decide whether you or your child will be buying the camera and their level of responsibility and ability to maintain it.
Size – Is your tween or teen planning to take their digital camera along on everyday adventures in their pocket, purse, or school bag? Or are they going out on photography-specific outings? How often and to which types of places they’ll be traveling with their camera will help determine the size and style of camera that will be best for them.
Skill – In this list of the best digital cameras for tweens and teens, we’ve included a range of options best for beginners and for kids who have a bit more experience.
If you’re planning on presenting the camera to your child as a gift, you might also consider pairing it with a photography class from Outschool.com to really enhance their skills and experience and encourage their budding enthusiasm for photography.
With those considerations in mind, let’s take a look at five of the best digital cameras for your tween or teen.
- Fujifilm Instax Mini 9
The important details:
Flashback to the days of the Polaroid camera! Using today’s digital camera technology, the Instax Mini brings back the fun with printable photos giving instant satisfaction. The Instax Mini digital camera bundle includes fun frames and albums to give your budding photographer an extra pit of instant fun.
Keep in mind:
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is a camera intended for fun.
With few features and a simple design, this is a good option for your tween to help develop a sense of their true ability. - Sony DSC800
The important details:
This “point and shoot” camera is perfect for pictures on the go. This digital camera features a 5x zoom lens, SteadyShot Image stabilization, MP Super HAD CCD sensor for clean and crisp photos, and has the option to shoot HD video. It’s small size makes it ideal for travel, fitting conveniently in a purse, backpack, or even a pocket.
Keep in mind:
The flash on this camera is not overly bright making it a better camera for settings with more natural light. It’s good for the outdoors with friends and simple scenery shots, though the 5x zoom is somewhat limiting. Despite these minor limitations, the DSC800 is a good digital camera for beginners. - Panasonic Lumix FZ80
The important details:
Continuing up the price and advanced features scale of digital cameras for your tween or teen, the Panasonic Lumix FZ80 opens up a new realm of digital technology and skills. This camera features a 60x point and shoot lens, high-resolution LCD display, 4K video recording, low light performance, and wifi connectivity for wireless downloads to your preferred device. Best of all, the affordable price makes this a great entry-level camera for your tween or teen.
Keep in mind:
The drawbacks to this camera aren’t likely to impact the average user in any way that would cause them to turn it off and put it away. The fixed position LCD screen, small sensors, and challenges to recording HD video are recurring concerns among advanced photographers. - Canon EOS Rebel T6
The important details:
The Canon EOS Rebel T6 is the next step in photography and another excellent product from the Rebel line of Canon cameras. It sports good photo and video quality, a comfortable and lightweight design, and built-in WiFi. Venturing into the photography world is easier with a great camera.
With the right features, and ease of use – the Canon EOS Rebel T6 is that camera, and exploring the passion of photography will be right at your child’s fingertips.
Keep in mind:
This particular offering from Canon has a slightly slower shutter speed making it less than ideal for capturing activity with a degree of perfection due to slower image bursts. Still, for other photography types, the Canon Rebel is a great consideration for your tween or teen. - Nikon D3500
The important details:
The Nikon D3500 digital camera is an excellent choice for those tweens entering the digital photography world with a serious eye for more than point and shoot imagery making it, arguably, the best entry level digital camera.
Keep in mind:
Equipped with an image sensor 15 times larger than today’s smartphone, your tween or teen will capture photos and memories in extremely high resolution. Due to its size, this camera is not made for your pocket, purse, or backpack, but its light and comfortably balanced design with a huge 3” LCD display is made for everyday use. Using the SnapBridge app by Nikon this digital camera can stay connected with a smartphone for the easy download and sharing of photos.
Photography can be a peaceful and creative hobby helping to bring a greater balance to the chaotic world we live in. Photography helps focus our attention on what matters. The photographer crops out the noise and zooms in on the beauty of the subject giving greater appreciation to the simple things in life.
As you have seen, there is a wide range of options for your tween or teen when it comes to digital cameras. Knowing your child’s interests and abilities will help you choose the best option for them. And digital cameras have made entry-level photography easier than ever.
