By Tati Taylor 2 days ago, Cameras & Lenses
Good budget digital cameras for teens and tweens.
If your child-teen has got involved in photography art, you would like to give him/her the best camera for teenager at an affordable price.
As far as we know, teens are usually tireless and inquisitive in their occupation and things connected with it. But each teen needs a different camera to bring his/her ideas to life. We’ve prepared some worthy cameras to simplify the task.
To make your choice a bit simpler while selecting the best digital camera for a teenager, we’ve gathered some top brands introduced on the market with the most notable features and functions. The prices will pleasantly surprise you.
Type: DSLR Camera | Sensor size: 1/3” | Resolution: 24MP | Lens: NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G | Viewfinder: Optical | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 5fps
⊕ Small
⊕ Low-cost
⊕ 24MP resolution
⊕ 5fps ongoing filming
⊖ Fixed LCD lacks touch support
⊖ Without mic port
The D3500 is a digital camera for teens with a 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor. Besides, it offers a magnificent 5fps ongoing filming speed compared to the competitors in the same price range that offer 3fps.
This beginner camera for teenager has a long-lived battery allowing you to take 1,550 shots. However, by using SnapBridge a lot, you’ll increase the battery level consumption. The D3500 has widely-used EN-EL14a presented in similar models in the class.
To charge the battery, use the kit outer wall charger as there is no possibility of in-camera charging. The camera has one memory card slot that supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards.
Type: Point and Shoot Camera | Sensor size: 1/2.3" | Resolution: 18MP | Lens: Vario-ELMAR F3.3-6.4 | Viewfinder: Electronic | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 10fps
⊕ 10x zoom level
⊕ Fast autofocus and 10fps burst rate
⊕ Shoots in RAW and JPEG
⊕ Touch screen
⊖ Soft-edged at wide angles
⊖ Fixed LCD
The Lumix ZS60 is a worthy camera for teenager interested in photography as it provides a high-end image with great 19.3-bit color and a dynamic range of 10.6 EV at ISO 80.
Though its sensor isn’t big, it works fine at a resolution of 18.1 megapixels, showing great results at 109 ISO in low-light conditions.
The ZS100 has a slim body with a lens that sticks out slightly even when folded. It’s a 2.5x4.4x1.7 inches-sized construction with a weight of up to 11 ounces. This teenager camera is available in 2 colors – black and silvery.
Type: Digital Camera | Sensor size: 1/2.3" | Resolution: 20.3MP | Lens: 24-960mm f/3.3-6.9 | Viewfinder: none | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 10fps
⊕ 40x optical zoom
⊕ 4K video
⊕ Flip-forward display
⊕ Simple to use
⊖ Poor picture quality
⊖ Slow in taking pictures
⊖ Without touchscreen or EVF
This universal digital camera has a 40x (24–960mm) picture-stabilized zoom lens and a 20MP sensor.
Plus, it offers a new DIGIC 8 processor letting the SX740 HS films 4K video and takes pictures at up to 10fps.
It can be called the best camera for teenagers due to Digic 8 picture processor and the fact that the camera records 4K video at 30/25 FPS and offers continuous shooting at 10fps.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support allows you to share picture wire-free from a smartphone. Besides, you can use GPS to specify the location in your photos. However, you also need the Canon Camera Connect app for this task.
Type: Mirrorless Digital Camera | Sensor size: 1/3” | Resolution: 24.3MP | Lens: F2.8 Power Zoom | Viewfinder: Electronic | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 11fps
⊕ Compact
⊕ Good EVF
⊕ Onboard Wi-Fi & NFC
⊕ 1080p60 video capture
⊖ Slow start up
⊖ Poor light causes EVF lagging
The Sony A6000 is one of the best cameras for teenage photographers. It has an onboard electronic viewfinder, boasts a high-speed focus and produces high-end photos in any lighting condition.
Either a fast-action shot or candid one, you are bound to get amazing results thanks to 24.3MP resolution and the high-speed autofocus.
To take a picture of fast-going important moments, you can take advantage of an 11-pictures-in-a-second option. Besides, the model is simple to use. It’s rather adjustable as you can change settings with the help of two fast-access dials.
The camera is slow at start up; you have to wait nearly 1.9 seconds. However, once it’s activated, the speed is rather good.
Type: Mirrorless Vlogging Camera | Sensor size: 1” | Resolution: 24.1 MP | Lens: EF-M 15-45mm | Viewfinder: Electronic | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 11fps
⊕ Remarkable photo quality at high ISO
⊕ Precise OLED EVF
⊕ Tilting back screen
⊕ Onboard Wi-Fi & NFC
⊖ Without touchscreen
⊖ Display isn’t fully articulated
⊖ Disappointing AF setting
The EOS M50 starter digital camera for teenager offers rather good picture quality, but unlike its competitors, it degrades in low-light conditions. Its new 24MP sensor uses up-to-date microlenses technology paired with an innovative Bionz X picture processor.
One of the greatest advantages, comparing to competitors, is an ongoing shooting at 11fps with autofocus and auto exposure for a minimum of 50 JPEGs or 22 RAWs.
I’d recommend choosing this camera for teens due to its price and pack of functions. Nikon zips past it, but it offers a 1-inch sensor and a much lower resolution.
Type: Digital Camera | Sensor size: 1/2.3" | Resolution: 18.1MP | Lens: LEICA DC VARIO f/2.8 | Viewfinder: EFV | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 30fps
⊕ Small size
⊕ Budgetary option
⊕ 24MP resolution
⊕ 5fps continuous shooting
⊖ Fixed LCD lacks touch support
The Panasonic Lumix FZ80 features a 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor. It works great as a beginner camera for teenager.
You can take high-quality photos with 5fps ongoing shooting, which is better than what competitors offer.
The model has a capacious battery with no need to recharge it often. It covers at least 1,550 shots. This camera uses the EN-EL14a as the majority of recent models.
There is no in-camera charging option, but you can use the outer wall recharger instead. There is one slot for a memory card that supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards.
Type: Digital Camera | Sensor size: 1/2.3" | Resolution: 20.3MP | Lens: F3.4-6.5 Zoom | Viewfinder: Optical| Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 5.9fps
⊕ 50x zoom ratio
⊕ Great controls arrangement
⊕ Responsive
⊕ Pretty compact
⊖ Without EVF
⊖ HD video limited to 1080p30
The Canon PowerShot SX540 HS supports a universal lens with 50x optical zoom, equivalent to 24-1200mm but receives other technological improvements due to a higher-resolution image sensor, a quicker picture processor, enhanced video shooting functions and many others.
The SX530 HS costs $144.5 on Amazon. This is 3.2x4.7x3.6” camera for teens that weighs 15.6 ounces.
You can benefit from a convenient handgrip and a big lens that stands out from the body and feels like a tiny DSLR or mirrorless device. Still, the lens is not detachable and there is no electronic viewfinder.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Nikon D3500
Our Choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
 |
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60K
Budget |
CHECK PRICE → | |
 |
Canon PowerShot SX740
Professional |
CHECK PRICE → |
Though it’s my opinion only, but I strongly believe everyone wishes to spend less money on devices for their children than for themselves or other adults. That can be explained by the fact that teens are usually less attentive to their things. Still, as far as we all know, “buy cheap, buy twice”, and this really matters when choosing a good camera for teenager. I picked affordable cameras that, at the same time, can live longer and help their owners develop skills.
It’s not surprising nowadays, that most teens have great smartphones. Such telephones usually are capable of taking nice pictures. That is why I recommend choosing a camera for teen that offers more functions and better image quality than his/her phone.
Cameras for teens should be compact and light-weight enough to fit in the pack. As for me, I prefer special camera bags, but consider them unsuitable for teens. It’s better if your children can put the camera in their backpacks with no extra weight and pressure. There is a great choice of digital cameras for teenagers with different sizes.
Unfortunately, you won’t find a camera that will be as easy to use as a smartphone. Still, it’s important to choose the one that is easy to start, even if it takes time to master the device. That is why all digital cameras for teens described here are simple to use. The shooting process will be a real pleasure.
I recommend using a DSLR or mirrorless cameras for teenagers. Though they are not as compact as other models, they provide your children with all necessary functions and open possibilities to reach success in photography.
Our choice is Nikon D3500. Though Nikon hasn’t launched any innovative entry-level DSLRs for a while, the D3500 is still a great variant for beginners in photography. It keeps all strong points of the D3400 model, but with some helpful new features.
We recommend buying Canon EOS Rebel SL3/EOS 250D or Nikon D3500. These are the best DSLRs for newbies available on the market.
Unfortunately, the Nikon D3500 isn’t weather-sealed, waterproof or ruggedized. Thus you need to be pretty careful with the device while shooting in a damp environment. You can find ruggedized models among the Nikon D7 series.
Both brands offer great autofocus, resolution, and the entire performance compared to low-cost DSLR models in an affordable price range. However, the Nikon model is a bit lighter, offers you a longer-lived battery, and the greatest benefit you’ll discover is the high-end sensor.
