Best digital cameras for kids

If it's time to buy a digital camera for the child in your life, what type should you buy and how much should you spend?

While you can find digital cameras for as little as $20 to $60, those are often built more like toys than serious cameras. Fortunately, there are a number of good, modestly priced cameras out there.

Here are some tips for buying a digital camera for a child between the ages of 8 and 12:

Choose a compact. This is the best type for a beginner, because the controls are usually large enough for a child to operate. All the compacts in our digital camera Ratings (available to subscribers) can shoot in Auto mode—which is important for a child—and have a built-in flash. Nearly all have face detection and image stabilization, both of which can help improve your child's photos. The best compacts had excellent or very good image quality; the rest had good quality. I suggest a price range between $100 and $150. For example, the Canon PowerShot A470, which had good image quality, is a good choice at $110.

Consider last year's models or refurbs. Although we include only new models in our Ratings of digital cameras, you should be able to find some great deals on discontinued ones. Try searching eBay or other auction sites. For example, I recently found a 7-megapixel Canon PowerShot A620 compact, which we top rated in 2006 at $220, on sale for $90 to $100. Or look for a refurbished model, which has been returned to a retailer or manufacturer and supposedly restored to good-as-new condition, and re-sold at bargain prices. For more on refurbished goods, see our previous post, Refurbished electronics: A bargain shopper's guide.

For more tips on features to look for, read the rest of this post on our Electronics blog.

Comments

[NewestGadgets]

My child has a PowerShot A620. He is very happy :)