Suggestions for a digital camera for a 6 year old?

May 21, 2022 11:31 PM

A year ago I bought my 5 year old one of those $30 cameras on Amazon that's full of typos and the picture quality is straight from 2006. It managed to survive a year and a half. Does anyone have suggestions for a camera that's under $100, has somewhat decent picture quality, and is somewhat durable? Ideally that you can attach a neck or wrist strap to? I thought about buying one of those action cameras on Amazon that's ~$70 that's slightly less full of typos, but none of them seem to support neck or wrist straps (what's up with that?)
posted by Mushroom12345 to Technology (12 answers total)

I have a circa 2010 or so camera that I'll send you if you like.
posted by Candleman at 12:35 AM on May 22, 2022 [4 favorites]

A used Canon Digital Ixus is easy to get, reasonably sturdy, and takes decent pics. It's also a real, grownup camera. Most 6 year olds love the idea of using real stuff, not kid stuff. I know I would have.
Since most people carry smartphones nowadays, these cameras can be had for a song.
posted by Too-Ticky at 4:42 AM on May 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Hi, I searched shop goodwill for waterproof cameras and got a decent one for my 5 year old. It was like 8 bucks. It’s the nikon cool pix awl. Excellent quality. Can be dropped. I would look there or at a local camera shop. There are tons of used digital cameras floating around.
posted by melodykramer at 4:44 AM on May 22, 2022 [3 favorites]

If you go to B&H and search for cameras under $150, you get a number of choices beginning with a $36 camera from Poloroid. The list includes cameras from Canon and others the print tiny pictures.

The moral of the story is go to a camera shop, not Amazon.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:53 AM on May 22, 2022

Best answer: I wouldn't buy a $70 camera on Amazon. I would buy one on Craigslist for $10-25. With the rise of smartphones, there's a ton of inventory and the bottom has fallen out of this market.
posted by J. Wilson at 5:55 AM on May 22, 2022 [6 favorites]

Perhaps these Paper Cameras from Father's Factory?
posted by dobbs at 6:54 AM on May 22, 2022

Best answer: A used Olympus Tough, if you can find one in your price range. Most compact digicams have extending lenses which are easily damaged if they're dropped. Olympus Toughs have everything internally and are waterproof too.
posted by scruss at 8:26 AM on May 22, 2022

Take a look at the Canon Ivy Rec
posted by yclipse at 9:14 AM on May 22, 2022

I have three little digital Canon elph cameras that I'm literally about to take to goodwill and would love to send to you. They all have wrist straps. One is powershot sd 1400 IS (in metallic hot pink!) and the other ones are powershot 350 hs and powershot sd400. the newest one is from 2015, though I don't remember which is which. They all work. Batteries and chargers and instruction books included!!! You'd just need a memory card. I just use my phone camera these days but they are little and cute and deserve a good home!
posted by pangolin party at 9:45 AM on May 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Any used camera - ideally one that doesn’t have a delicate retractable zoom or foldable screen.
posted by bug138 at 10:28 AM on May 22, 2022

nth-ing old Canon digital cameras. My little ones love playing with my old PowerShot/Ixus cameras. They're tough, simple, take decent photos, and can be found basically for free since cell phones have obsoleted them.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 4:06 PM on May 22, 2022

I have always given m kids my older cameras, they never have an issue understanding how to use them. Its onew of the only reason I hold onto them.
posted by silsurf at 5:25 AM on May 23, 2022