“What’s the best camera for kids?” It’s a hard question because we could find a reason to love most cameras, but we get this question ALL the time.
All types of cameras and lenses get used in our classes, but it's so fun to see how the students each have one that they especially like after a few weeks! Here are three of our favorites.
The “little” Canon - Canon EOS Rebel T7
We call this one the “little” Canon, but it’s pretty amazing for a starter camera. It’s by far one of our best cameras for kids. I wish we had 100 of them.
FEATURES WE LOVE:
-It’s small and light, making it really easy for small hands to manipulate the shutter speed and aperture settings.
-The focusing system is really easy for kids to use and get things they want in focus, and the manual focus is also super intuitive.
Last Note: While this is not at all a professional camera, it’s PERFECT for families with kids that want to learn.
2. Big Mama - Sony A7ii
This camera is so fun. There’s (of course) a newer version but we still love this one and all the lenses that we’ve been collecting.
FEATURES WE LOVE:
-The flippy screen! Kids enjoy the pop-out screen for perfectly composed low angle shots.
-You can seamlessly start shooting from photos to video without compromising settings, and it’s mirrorless which makes it extra usable for video.
-The EVF (electronic viewfinder) is so accurate, and allows you to clearly see the scene and how your settings will be rendered before you shoot. This can be an adjustment when you’re used to the true-to-scene viewfinder that traditional dslr’s utilize.
Last Note: When the viewfinder (where your eye goes) gets dirty it stops working well, so you have to shoot with the monitor until you give it a good clean.
3. Shiny Cutie Pie- Nikon D3500
Our students love this camera! It’s been so reliable and easy for them to master.
FEATURES WE LOVE:
-We love its compact, durable and versatile camera body and kit (standard issue zoom) lens.
-The optical viewfinder is good in low light - while still showing you an accurate view of the scene.
-It’s so little and great for travel.
-Easy connectivity with smartphones, to share or send while on the go.
-It looks impressive while also being very intro level- our students love how this camera feels like a “pro camera”
-Shoots full 1080/60p HD video
-Incredibly long (1500 images!?) battery life (we barely charge this one, and it gets used in at least two group classes and three private classes each week.)
Final Note: The focusing system on the kit lens is a little laggy, but if you put a nicer lens on it like this one, it’s not a problem at all.
