Best Camera for Beginners (and Kids) | Phoenix Family Photographer
Quick Summary:
This guide explains how to choose the best camera for beginners—especially kids and teens—based on age, learning style, and long-term use. It covers what to buy, what to avoid, and how cameras support photography education.
You will find a list to my recommended items at the end.(Includes affiliate links.)
One of the most common questions I hear — especially in our homeschool communities — is:
“What camera should I get for my child to start photography?”
It’s a great question. And also an overwhelming one.
There are endless options, confusing specs, and a lot of advice that assumes adults are the ones learning. Kids are different. They need tools that encourage curiosity, not frustration.
As a Phoenix-based family photographer and photography educator, I’ve helped many families choose their first cameras — both for younger kids and for teens who want to learn photography more seriously.
This guide focuses on cameras that support learning, not gadgets that feel like toys or equipment that’s too advanced too soon.
The head behind the gear matters more than the gear.
One of the “compliments“ I have heard so much during my professional career is “your camera takes such good photos, which one is it?“ This is when I smile and say thank you, but secretly roll my eyes.
Overall, I am a firm believer that less is more. You don’t NEED the latest version of a piece of equipment to create art. Technology WILL change, and there WILL always be a newer camera released. If a camera was a good camera back then, it is a good camera right now.
My husband, my father, and my father-in-law coming back from their horse riding experience as a get-to-know-you before my wedding.
This image was taken on a Nikon D300s, not a model that would be considered a professional-level camera. The les i had on my camera was one of those kit lenses that came with the camera. The photo was taken in JPEG format, not the fancy RAW files that can retain so much more data for post-processing. However, this is still one of my favorite photos I have ever taken. Will my current professional-grade camera give me a better image? I don’t think so. The only difference it might make is that with my current camera, I could have blown this image to billboard size instead of only being able to print it to 20x30. Let’s be honest…how many of us will ever need to print photos to billboard size as a beginner?
Before Choosing a Camera, Ask This First
Before brand names or price points, ask yourself:
How old is my child?
Do they want to learn photography, or just take pictures?
Will they be responsible for caring for the camera?
Do I want this to grow with them?
The “best” camera is the one your child will actually use — and feel confident holding.
Cameras for Younger Kids (Ages 6–9)
Not toys — but not overwhelming either
For younger children, the goal is engagement, not mastery.
At this stage, kids are learning:
how to notice light
how to frame a scene
how to slow down and observe
They do NOT need interchangeable lenses or complex settings.
What to Look For:
Simple controls
Durable build!!!
Decent image quality
No internet or apps required
Recommended Type:
Basic point-and-shoot digital cameras
Look for:
physical buttons
rechargeable battery
optical zoom
no touchscreen dependency
These cameras teach kids that photography is about looking, not tapping.
Avoid “kids’ cameras” that are brightly colored, low-resolution, or marketed as toys — they often frustrate kids who are genuinely interested. These cameras will quickly become a toy for kids to spend more time fiddling with the fun frames and playing games than actually photographing.
Cameras for Older Kids & Teens (Ages 10–14+)
Entry-level cameras that grow with them
Once kids start asking questions like:
“Why is this blurry?”
“How do I change the background?”
“Why does this look different in the shade?”
They’re ready for a camera that introduces manual control — slowly.
What to Look For:
Interchangeable lenses or advanced manual modes
Ability to adjust aperture, shutter speed, ISO
Comfortable grip for smaller hands
Room to grow
Recommended Types:
Beginner DSLR kits
Entry-level mirrorless cameras
A kit lens, one that comes in the combo when you purchase it from Amazon or Costco, is more than enough to start. Learning composition and light matters far more than gear.
Mirrorless vs DSLR for Kids
Parents often ask which is better. You hear A LOT about mirrorless nowadays because it is the new trend.
Mirrorless Pros:
Smaller and lighter
An electronic viewfinder helps kids see exposure changes in real time
DSLR Pros:
Optical viewfinder (no screen lag)
Often, more affordable used
More options in the market with camera bodies as well as lenses, simply because they have been around for longer
Durable and straightforward
There’s no wrong choice here. The best option is the one your child finds comfortable and enjoyable to use. And one that fits your budget.
What About Phones or iPads?
Phones are convenient — but they don’t teach photography the same way. There are a lot of functions and settings that are not available on phones. And honestly, I don’t really like the distractions that come with a phone or tablet— you might be trying to take a photo and really see the world from a different perspective. Then a text notification comes through, and your focus is lost.
Dedicated cameras:
encourage intentional framing
slow kids down
reduce distraction
build real photography skills
For learning photography, a camera with a viewfinder and physical controls makes a meaningful difference.
With that being said, if you are not in a position to purchase a new camera at this moment but have an old smartphone around that is not in use anymore, you could use that as a dedicated camera. Iphone nowadays have pretty amazing technologies for photography and there are a lot of accessories available to turn your iphone into a pro-feeling camera. As a matter of fact, I actually teach iphone photography classes for adults. However, call me old-school if you want, I think social media and the ease of camera access with our phones have changed how we see the world, in a negative way.
What I Recommend Avoiding
Overly advanced professional cameras
A lot of families have shared that they don’t want to have to upgrade again soon and want a good camera that their kids can grow with, which is a very good way of thinking. However, being professional is still a wide range. As your kids learn, and narrow down what they are truly interested in —landscape, portraits, sports, journalism, concert etc etc — they will need a piece of equipment that is best suited for the specific genre.
For example, the camera I have right now is Nikon Z7ii. At the time of my purchase of this camera(it was a used camera btw), I was thinking about Nikon Z6. Z6 performs better in low light, which I need for my documentary work which happens in people’s home and often around dinner/bed time routine; or in the hospital where I do Fresh 48 newborn sessions. It also has a better video performance than Z7ii. However, Z7ii has way larger file sizes which means that for my commercial work, I am able to provide larger prints and more flexibility for their editors to manipulate the files in post-processing. This is why I opted for Z7ii instead of Z6.
Buying expensive gear too early
It goes along the last point above. You might have spend a lot of money on this camera that you child should be able to grow into now, but you might find out in 5 years that your child have decided to change hobbies. Or your kids have realized that a different model has a much better performance in a specific genre.
As much as we try to take very good care of our gear, it is a balance. I want the kids to be able to experiment, which means that there will be a higher risk that a camera might get “injured“. I would much rather have a child use a $200 used DSLR to enjoy learning about intentional camera movement than them holding a $2k camera still and be afraid that they might break it.
Cameras that require constant menu navigation
Anything marketed as a “toy”
Including Instax camera — I love these as fun toys but not real photography learning devices. It also can get really expensive with the cost of film. There is an alternative, cheaper Kidamento cameras, which you can find in the link at the end of the post. Their printout is BW and on thinner paper.
Photography is a skill. Tools should support learning — not intimidate or distract.
I HIGHLY Recommend Used Gear
More than half of my equipment was purchased as used gear. My go to place for used gear is MPB.com . I have purchased and sold with them and I have never had any issues with the equipment I got.
You can also go to local camera shops as well. I would be careful with general craiglist or FB marketplace unless you know what to check.
Used gear is so much more affordable. When you take good care of your gear, you can trade it in later when your kids have outgrown the current set up to lower the cost again.
Let me know if you have any other questions about what camera is the best option for you or your child.
