To begin with, kids digital cameras should be sturdy and simple to use, and fortunately, most of them are. While you might see something in a discount store or even online, that provides the bare essentials, even those cheapest digital cameras are usually enough to keep the pickiest preteen happy.
There are three primary companies, Fisher Price, Sesame Street, and Disney that sell kids digital cameras. Although those companies are not the actual manufacturers, they have the cameras manufactured and branded under their name, and do in fact, sell a quality brand product.
What's the difference between the cheapest digital cameras and the more expensive ones? How does the consumer judge the quality? What features do youngsters need?
Regardless of age, the basics are sufficient for most children and adults. There are expensive features that appeal to professionals and to "would-be" pros, but, to snap simple photos of the family vacation or holiday gatherings, the professional features are not really necessary.
When you are shopping for a camera that is simple to use, such as for your child, "point-and-shoot" is the type to look for, plus sturdy construction. (Many adults prefer this as well) The SLR (single lens reflex) is better for professionals and experienced photographers, while beginners and children lean towards the automatic focus and all of the various settings already programmed in. No manual controls or settings wanted here!
The size of the camera can have an effect on the price, but does not greatly impact the quality of the photos usually. There are a number of ultra-compact models that create very good images, however, they are not the cheapest digital cameras. Starting out, we recommend that you choose an average size to get a reasonable price and decent photos. You can always upgrade later after you pass the learning curve and begin to look for many more bells and whistles.
Kids digital cameras should have at a minimum, a view finder and an LCD display for previewing the photo. The screen size is usually less than 3 diagonal inches, however if you opt for a larger screen size, expect to pay more, and at this stage, it isn't really needed.
Internal memory is also something to consider when purchasing your digital camera. Memory is measured in mega-bytes or gigabytes, and as an example, you may see a camera with a 16MB internal memory card that, when shooting at low to medium resolution, will allow you to save several hundred photos without having to download.
The cheapest digital cameras have the least amount of internal memory, but some brands will have an option to purchase an additional memory card. For kids, the internal memory of 16MB is usually sufficient, as the child will normally be anxious to download his/her photos on their computer to show to their friends.
The kids digital camera should come with a USB cord to allow for downloading the photos to a computer for printing or permanent storage. Once the photos are downloaded and the memory is cleared, the internal memory card can be used over and over again.
Adult versions of the "point and shoot" digital cameras usually come with a lithium battery and charger, but most of the kids digital cameras on the market are powered by off-the-shelf AA batteries. As it is with most of their new toys, don't be surprised when you look at the box and see "batteries not included".
