Please recommend a good camera for a 4 year old without games.

January 27, 2021 9:47 PM

I want to purchase a camera for a child who is always interested in using my phone to take pictures with. The vast majority of ones I can find on amazon seem to include games, which I do not want. I don't care if it comes with an SD card or not so long as I can add my own, and I don't really care about video either. So basically looking for a robust, kids-size digital camera that just takes photos.
posted by modernnomad to Shopping (14 answers total)

Consider an old Pixel cell phone (recommend Pixel 2 XL). Add the app, "just phone," make the camera app and gallery the sole icons for home screen. Cost is probably $60.
posted by firstdaffodils at 9:51 PM on January 27, 2021 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Consider an old Pixel cell phone (recommend Pixel 2 XL). Add the app, "just phone," make the camera app and gallery the sole icons for home screen. Cost is probably $60.

Thanks, good idea - but I'm looking for something that also looks "like a camera" rather than a phone.
posted by modernnomad at 9:54 PM on January 27, 2021 [1 favorite]

This is what VTech is for, with the proviso that you shouldn’t count on their internet security (don’t connect to any of their online services).

For example.

That’s one device, they make others including camera-watch hybrids, etc.
posted by aramaic at 10:11 PM on January 27, 2021 [1 favorite]

https://ask.metafilter.com/350687/A-truly-simple-kids-camera-for-a-4-year-old may have helpful answers
posted by readinghippo at 10:37 PM on January 27, 2021 [2 favorites]

Or an oldish Windows Phone: a Lumia 950 can be rigged up pretty easily to be a very good digital camera.
posted by holgate at 10:46 PM on January 27, 2021

There is a kid's digital camera on Amaszon for $24, with a 10% off digital coupson, so it's 22. Even includes a 16GB microSD card. 1080p screen, 5 mega pixel sensor, includes a lanyard strap. It does seem to have a built-in game though. :-\
posted by kschang at 11:12 PM on January 27, 2021

A kids digital camera is a good camera.
posted by parmanparman at 11:23 PM on January 27, 2021

No solid hits so far..


All of your specifications and it's ..really cute: My First Camera 3 Potentially spendy for the price point, but it's.. literally just a small, simple camera. No hokey, distracting games. Prints on thermal paper. The site even lists specs! *The first version is $50.
posted by firstdaffodils at 11:26 PM on January 27, 2021

If you want something a bit more professional looking, I'd probably pick Kodak Pixpro WPZ2. available on Amazon Renewed (refurb) for $120. Being a refurb, it has a 90 day renewed warranty, but this is a pro camera that's both shockproof and waterproof and dustproof, with 4x optical zoom, 16MP sensor, but you need to supply your own SD card (up to 32FB). You can buy a new one for $130, so renewed may not be the way to go here. This would definitely have no game in it, but it is of course, quite a bit more expensive.
posted by kschang at 11:28 PM on January 27, 2021 [1 favorite]

Does it need to be something made for kids? With the rise of really good phone cameras, I suspect a lot of digital cameras that are a few years old are sitting unused and someone in your neighborhood or social circle might be happy to give you theirs.
posted by needs more cowbell at 12:04 AM on January 28, 2021 [4 favorites]

I have a little Canon Powershot. High res, does videos, works in low light, and very robust. When I bought it about 6-7 years ago, it was around $500 Australian dollars, but it's never given me an ounce of trouble though some of the menu is worn of the controls. Fits in a pocket, good with low light, and does autofocus, and macro. And you can transfer your pictures by wifi, which is good, because while it has a card in it, that I could put in a card reader, the jackhole for a USB lead is no longer working. $500 is probably too much for a 4 year old, but maybe you can find a second-hand one. Oh, and the zoom is part digital and part lens, and it's smaller than a pack of cigarettes, so good for little fingers.
posted by b33j at 12:22 AM on January 28, 2021

I gave my 6 year old an old small Powershot that I got used for $30 or so, showed her the power button, shutter button, and zoom, and she had a grand old time. Yes, there's a higher chance of breakage than with a kid-proof model, but even with a tough camera there's a good chance of loss.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 6:58 AM on January 28, 2021 [3 favorites]

Fuji XPS water proof cameras are "shockproof" and not terribly expensive. EG: The current XPS 140 is less than C$200. I use one as my bike/beach/backpack camera. Any of the series used would be a good choice.
posted by Mitheral at 9:57 AM on January 28, 2021

Best answer: Ok for what it's worth in case anyone else stumbles on this thread, I'm going to go with this one (recommended to me, but not by AskMe): https://www.amazon.com/Kids-Camera-MagicFun-Camcorder-Rechargeable/dp/B07W63QNS3

I'll follow up with the experience if the thread is still open by the time I give it to my kid and she's had a go with it.
posted by modernnomad at 6:16 PM on January 28, 2021 [1 favorite]