Keep it Tough with your Kid's Camera!

Fisher Price Kid Tough Camera

Reading reviews is the best way to work out what child's digital camera to invest in. However, all too often it is clear that people buying cameras for kids don't really know what they should be looking for. This is understandable, because you are buying something that is a cross between a "proper" camera and a toy. The age of the child is also a crucial factor, which can affect your choice.

It seems that the biggest mistake people make is searching for a kids camera that takes amazing photographs - the same quality as you would expect from a good quality adult camera. This simply isn't going to happen. For a start, you cannot expect to get a top quality camera, with all the advanced settings and features the best cameras have, for $100 or less. (That's not to say you can't find a wide range of cameras for children you can buy for less than $100!)

Of course, you could spend $200 or more and get yourself a really good model, but is this something you want to hand over to a child? Definitely not!

Also, you need to remember that a child is going to be taking the pictures. Very young kids will simply not take good photographs! Expect blurry images of mundane objects like the wall and the floor! (And be prepared to act amazed at how good they are!)

Naturally, the older the child the better they will be at taking pictures. Many older children do have a keen interest in photography, and at this stage you will probably want to think about buying a basic adult camera. But until then, the key is durability. You want your purchase to last - and if you have a pre-schooler at home you will know only too well that many things simply don't survive long in those little hands!

Go for something like the Kid Tough digital camera from Fisher Price, which manages to combine durability with style, ease of use and quality.

Looking For the Best Digital Camera for Kids? Our Top 3!

If you have started looking for a childrens camera online, you may well be feeling overwhelmed by the large range available. Every camera claims to be the very best digital camera for kids - but of course they all can't be the best!

What you have to remember is that the manufacturers of these kids cameras want to sell as many cameras as possible, in order to make the most money! This may sound harsh, but it's true!

To find out what really are the best of the best (and therefore what you should be spending your hard-earned cash on!) you need to take advantage of the hundreds - if not thousands - of consumer reviews that are posted online. This is where the Internet becomes your best friend - someone you can ask for advice and get it in spades! Best of all, it's free!

People who have tested kids digital cameras want to share their opinions with others and have no ulterior motive in doing so (unlike the companies who make them, who are fighting for customers in an increasingly competitive market place).

Of course, not everybody has exactly the same priorities when shopping for a camera for their child. If you are buying for a very young child, you will want it to be extremely tough and durable. For an older child, the quality of the photographs becomes more important. You may have a tight budget to stick to - or want to splash out!

Here are our current Top 3 digital cameras for kids - choices that are backed up by hundreds of customer reviews:

#1 Winfun Megapix Funcam

This camera is an absolute steal at less than $30, and is a perfect first digital camera for a very young child. It is very durable, incredibly easy to use and can be used as a hand-held games console (it comes with 12 games).

#2 Vtech Kidizoom Spin & Smile

This is perfect for the 3 - 8 year age group, comes in either pink or blue and is still great value for money at around $60. It has a 4 x digital zoom, a built in flash and comes with 5 games. The rotating lens is a fun feature, which allows kids to take pictures of themselves!

#3 Flip Video Camera

If you are looking for a digital camcorder for a teenager and are happy to spend $100 or more, this is the perfect purchase. Slim and sleek, it looks just like a cell phone and is really easy to use. Your teen can record hours of video in amazing HD, and then quickly share the footage on all the main social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter.

Have you bought a camera for your child that you are really impressed with? Leave a comment and let us know!

Choosing A Kids Camcorder

A kids camcorder can be a good investment whether you are buying for a preschooler or a teenager. Obviously, you will have different priorities if you are buying for a very young child than an older one.

The following checklists can help you make the best choice of video camera for kids…

Buying A Camcorder For A Preschooler

• Consider a digital camera with a video function, rather than an actual camcorder.

• Choose a model that is really easy for little hands to grip, such as one with a thick rubber housing.

The Little Tikes My Real Digital Video Camera can even be used underwater! 

Buying A Camcorder For Kids Age 5 - 10

• Consider a very basic camcorder; kids from around age 5 should be able to use a simple model with a little adult assistance.

• Check that the buttons are large and accessible, and other controls are self-explanatory. Too many choices and intricate settings will just confuse a young child

• Try to find a model that is lightweight but durable too, as it is likely to experience regular drops and bumps!

The Kidizoom Spin & Smile is aimed at the 3 -8 year age group and has a decent video function.

Buying A Camcorder For Age 10 Through Teens

• Forget about digital cameras that are little more than interactive toys; these won't interest older kids at all!

• Check out the range of affordable video cameras that are available. You don't want to spend hundreds of dollars, but you should be prepared to spend up to $200 for a decent model. 

• Choose a portable model that is easy to use, with the ability to upload footage to social networking sites, a USB cable for simple downloading to a computer, and a decent amount of built in memory (aim for one that allows your teen to film for at least one hour before you need to download it to a computer). 

The Vivitar iTwist is great for pre-teens and teens, and comes in a wide range of colors. 

Whatever the age of your child, you have a wide range of digital camcorders to choose from. Read reviews on the models you like the look of, work out if they offer what you are looking for, and make sure they fit into your budget. 

Make A Splash With An Underwater Camera For Kids

An underwater camera for kids is a brilliant item to take to the pool, the beach or if you want to record your scuba adventures!

Before we had digital underwater cameras, the only options were extremely expensive film cameras or low quality disposable cameras. In both cases, you didn't really know how your images were going to turn out and you just had to keep your fingers crossed for a good result!

The beauty of underwater digital cameras is that you can preview your images (as you do with digital snaps you take out of the water) before you take them, so that you know if something is going to work or not.

Kids love splashing around in the water and having a camera on hand to record funny moments makes it even better. When you are looking for an underwater childrens camera, keep a few things in mind. First of all, you want the quality of the photos to be good. As with any kids camera, the pictures might not turn out great, because after all it is a child who is taking them and he is not going to be as precise (or steady with his hands!) as an adult. Nonetheless, you want the pictures to be reasonable enough so that you can actually make out what the photo is of! 

Secondly, an underwater model should be very durable so that it survives any bumps and drops that come along. It needs to be easy for a child to hold, which means they are less likely to lose grip of it.

Finally, it is crucial that the kids camera is easy enough for a small child to use. It will be even harder for them to take photographs under water than out of the water, so make sure the buttons are large and well positioned, and there are no complicated settings to deal with. 

How much you pay for your childs underwater camera is entirely up to you, but if your budget is tight there is no need to worry. You can pick up a kids underwater camera for less than $50, which is hard to beat. 

Get Ready For Summer Snapping!

Ok, so summer is not quite here yet, but Easter is just around the corner and in a few weeks time we'll all be dreaming of our summer vacations. Vacation time means no school, however, and it can be hard to keep the little people entertained, week after week.

Even if you don't have any trips planned to exotic destinations, you can easily turn the school vacation into one long adventure with the help of a simple little item - a digital camera for children.

Years ago, these were little more than toys, and really only suitable for very young children. Any older than pre-school age, and they wouldn't keep them entertained for long.

Times have changed, however, and kids cameras have improved so much over the past few years. Some of them actually take pretty good quality images, allow you to shoot video, and come with a load of special effects to make photography fun and interesting for the kids.

As with all products designed for children, durability is one of the most important factors. It's all very well being able to do fancy editing and take cool pictures, but if the camera isn't going to survive in the hands of a 5 year old, it's simply not worth a cent! Kids of all ages love rough play, so a camera needs to be built to last! The best kids digital camera is one that takes good pictures but is also tough and durable enough to withstand being dropped, kicked, chewed and splashed!

It can be difficult to decide what your budget should be for a camera for your child. On the one hand, you don't want to go for the cheapest model, as it's unlikely to offer the features of a more expensive one. Nonetheless, spending a huge amount of money on a product isn't advisable either, because, after all, kids are kids and you just can't guarantee that they are going to take care of a top of the range model. So the key is to find one that is good quality, durable and a reasonable price.

Generally, you can expect to find a good quality model for less than $50. The price you pay depends on the age of the child you are buying for - naturally you can expect to pay a little more for an older child than you would for a pre-schooler (and you will probably feel more comfortable doing so).

When it comes to finding the best camera for your child, it can be a pretty confusing process. There are so many options out there, and every manufacturer claims that their product is the "must have" item. Visit a site like Kids Digital Camera Reviews to benefit from honest, impartial kids camera reviews, which will help you work out what you should be spending your money on - and what you should avoid!

With a great digital camera, your kids will have lots of fun this summer. Whether they are messing around in the yard, splashing with friends in the local pool or venturing a little further afield, having their own camera means they will be able to record every moment.