Cameras for Kids

 I feel that most kids age 5 or older are ready for a “real” digital camera. Have you seen a 2-year-old pick up an iPhone? It’s like they were born knowing how to buy an app. To wit, the other day I was passing through the B&H SuperStore and noticed a dad with his son, about 12 years old, at the Nikon counter. As the dad was chatting with a sales staffer, the 12-year-old ambled over to the Nikon D5 model on display, picked it up, adjusted a few settings and started shooting like he had worked that beast for years! 

 My point is not to drop $5,000—or even $500—on a camera for your child, but to recognize that kids are very sophisticated within the context of digital gadgets and a plastic toy camera may be a waste of time and money. Money is an issue, of course, but if your child is into taking pictures or a vacation or summer camp is in the works, then a durable, moderately priced camera is a better investment than one that might break within a couple of weeks. Also, if your kids are like mine, they love to perform with their friends and record the antics. Most point-and-shoots have SD or HD video, so an affordable model will go a long way to keep kids busy and creative, making family movies without you even having to yell at them to smile.
  After that, if your child is really interested in taking pictures, it’s worth considering a leap to a more advanced DSLR or mirrorless camera, or even a film camera, to foster a deeper understanding of the medium.