Wednesday, 8 April 2020

The best cameras for kids

 

DSLR being held by a kid

Kids are curious beings with a learning desire, which is why we must support their interests as much as possible. Your little one’s newfound enthusiasm for photography could kickstart a life-long hobby or career. It could also help them create great memories. This is why we have put together a list of the best cameras for kids.

While it is true trusting expensive gadgets to kids isn’t always the best idea, keep in mind our goal isn’t to show you a list of the cheapest cameras around. Instead, we promote value. We will include some of the best affordable options, as well as shooters with educating and fun features children may find enticing. Ruggedness is another factor to keep in mind, because we all know kids can be destroyers! This list of the best cameras for kids should have something for everyone.

The best cameras for kids:

Editor’s note: This list of the best cameras for kids will be regularly updated as new devices launch and older ones are phased out.


1. Holga 120N

Holga 120N pinhole camera

A pinhole film camera with complete manual controls will give your kids a deeper appreciation for photography. The Holga 120N is the best camera for kids who want to learn the fundamentals of this art. Of course, operating this camera requires skill and knowledge, so you will also need to be proficient in photography in order to teach your child how to use a Holga 120N. This camera isn’t for everyone, but it is affordable and a great tool for learning more than how to press a button.


2. VTech Kidizoom Duo

VTech Kidizoom Duo kids camera

The VTech Kidizoom Duo is affordable, fun, and convenient. Its body features a couple cameras: a main one with a 1600 x 1200 pixel resolution, and a selfie cam with 640 x 480 definition. The 2.4-inch screen can be used to play games and preview images. What makes this one of the best cameras for kids is its more rugged construction, as it’s made to handle falls. And if it happens to break, the price is set under $50, making this one of the cheapest kids camera in this list. Our only gripe is that it has no built-in battery, so you will need traditional batteries to use it.


3. Polaroid Snap

Polaroid Snap instant camera for kids

Digital cameras are convenient, but instant cameras could be a much funner alternative. The Polaroid Snap is one of the best cameras for kids due to its ability to materialize images right after they have been shot. Our only complaint is buying paper for printing can get expensive, but the Polaroid Snap can also use microSD cards of up to 32GB for storing images. And boy does this camera look good!


4. Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6

Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6 instant camera for kids

Modern kids have Instagram ingrained into their minds, so they will feel at home with the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6. This instant camera has a beautiful design and shoots square 1×1 photos. Images are printed immediately, and this camera has no memory card support, making the nature of the camera truly instant. Those who like the true experience of an Instax and beautiful designs will love this camera, though.


5. Polaroid Originals OneStep 2

Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 best cameras for kids

Polaroid holds a special spot in the photo industry. The company was the first to commercialize user-friendly instant cameras, changing the way we look at photography forever. Polaroid keeps producing instant cameras, and the OneStep 2 stays true to its roots with a classic design. But don’t mistake this for an old camera. The Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 has a built-in rechargeable battery that can last 60 days, a powerful flash, and a quality lens.


6. GoPro Hero 7 Silver

GoPro Hero 7 Silver

The GoPro Hero 7 Silver could be the best camera for kids you can find. It is small, portable, has superb image/video quality, features a rugged/waterproof construction, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. This will be great for casual 10MP photos and 4K video. A built-in touchscreen makes it easy to frame and preview photos. GoPro is trusted by the industry, making this an option you won’t regret.


7. Sony DSCH300

Sony DSCH300 digital Sony camera

The Sony DSCH300 looks and feels like a serious camera, but costs under $200. Its 35x optical zoom lens, 20.1MP sensor, various shooting modes, image stabilization, and traditional DSLR-like design are great for the young photo enthusiasts in the family. It also helps that you get all these features from one of the cheapest point-and-shoot offerings from Sony.


7. Olympus Tough TG-6

Olympus Tough TG 6

The Olympus Tough TG-6 has a rugged construction that makes it great for adventure seekers. Children can be even tougher on tech, which also makes this one of the best cameras for kids around. It is waterproof (up to 50m), dustproof, shockproof (7ft), crushproof (100kgf), freeze-proof (14°F), and has anti-fog protection. The sturdy body protects a 12MP 1/2.3-inch sensor, a 4.5-18mm f/2.0 lens, and a 3-inch monitor.


8. Nikon D3500

Nikon D3500 DSLR camera body

The Nikon D3500 is a great starter camera for kids. It can also take amazing shots if you are a proficient photographer. A previous version of this camera lived in my bag for a couple of years, and though something better would have made my job easier, I liked that the lack of features forced me to learn. I made the most of what I had and pushed the camera to its limits.

This comes with a great 24.2MP APS-C sensor, 11 autofocus points, and Nikon’s F mount, which has a plethora of available lenses. This will future-proof a kid’s photography experience for quite some time, but it is a bit more expensive at nearly $400 for the body and a kit lens.


10. Canon Powershot G9 X Mark II

Canon Powershot G9 X Mark II

The Canon Powershot G9 X Mark II is an amazing portable camera even professionals can use as a secondary shooter. It’s also one of the best cameras for kids who can be trusted with a more expensive gadget. Specs include a 20.1MP 1-inch sensor, 3x optical zoom (28-84mm equivalent), a 3-inch screen, and 8.2fps shooting speeds.

The Canon Powershot G9 X Mark II isn’t affordable, but it’s a great pocket camera for learning photography. It comes with full manual controls, a large sensor (for point-and-shoot cameras), and is absolutely gorgeous.


How about a camera phone?

Pixel 3a back camera macro

Is your kid at age to own a smartphone? If he is, you should consider getting him a phone with a good camera. These are often good enough to satisfy most casual users, and smartphone cameras are often better than some of the dedicated cameras listed here.


This list of the best cameras for kids should help you find the right tool for your little ones. Each has its pros and cons, and we have covered different price points to fit your individual budget. Now go enjoy this new tool with them!

Want your kids to learn more about photography? Here are some great educational posts for them to check out.



from Android Authority https://ift.tt/2wu8yJU

How a nearly fatal accident changed the way I do business


We often hear suggestions on living happier, more fulfilling lives. We read them in books, hear them on podcasts, see them online – they’re practical things we know make sense, yet we often go back to our old ways because that’s the grind we know. For me, one bad decision changed my life. And that decision has and will affect how I make choices and live my life – both personally and professionally. My story In June of 2019, my family and I arrived at my friend’s vacation home in Merritt Island, Florida — and here’s what happened. My friend’s father…

This story continues at The Next Web


from The Next Web https://ift.tt/2Xlt9Lk

Google Fit adds new Wear OS Tiles, prioritizes step counter, and improves Heart Point recommendations (Update: APK download)

Now there's a reason to keep checking your watch while you're stuck inside

Just as many people are getting a bit stir crazy from staying indoors, the Google Fit team is delivering some long overdue attention to the Android app and Wear OS. Over the next week or so, several enhancements to the interface are set to roll out, meant to make information more visible while streamlining the interface so users can quickly pull up the most important bits of data.

Read More

Google Fit adds new Wear OS Tiles, prioritizes step counter, and improves Heart Point recommendations (Update: APK download) was written by the awesome team at Android Police.



from Android Police – Android news, reviews, apps, games, phones, tablets https://ift.tt/3bWkqTO

Tesla cuts wages and furloughs staff — still aims to reopen in May


Despite going through a “will it, won’t it” phase a few weeks ago, Tesla closed its Fremont factory in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Now, the company is cutting wages, and putting staff on temporary leave until it decides to reopen. In an email sent to employees — seen by Electrek — Tesla‘s head of HR said that all salaried employees that are able to work from home or are considered to have a critical role, are taking temporary pay cuts from between 10% and 30%. [Read: Alternative electrode materials could unlock the secret to faster-charging EV batteries] Everyone else…

This story continues at The Next Web

Or just read more coverage about: Tesla


from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3c1RvOw

All the OnePlus 8 series camera details have just leaked

OnePlus 8 series specs have leaked once again.WinFuture

The OnePlus 8 series launch is a week away, but we already have a ton of rumored specs to pore over. The stream of leaks continues today though, as a comprehensive list of specs have surfaced online.

The details come via reliable journalist Roland Quandt of WinFuture, and it corroborates some of the rumored specs we previously heard about the series.

For one, Quandt’s report also mentions that the vanilla OnePlus 8 will offer a 6.55-inch FHD+ OLED screen (2,400 x 1,080) with a 90Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 8 Pro is said to deliver a 6.78-inch OLED panel (3,168 x 1,440) with a 120Hz refresh rate. The company has previously confirmed that it’s using an MEMC chip to boost the frame-rate of content, and WinFuture suggests that this could be limited to the Pro variant only.

The report also mentions IP68 water and dust resistance for the Pro model, with no mention of any IP rating for the standard OnePlus 8. This seems to follow previous rumors as well.

A ton of camera details

OnePlus 8 interstellar green black colorwaysWinFuture.de

Quandt says the OnePlus 8 Pro camera setup consists of a 48MP IMX689 main camera, a 48MP IMX586 ultra-wide shooter, a telephoto zoom camera (3x hybrid zoom), and a color filter camera. This mostly echoes earlier reports as well, but we also get loads more information on specific camera features.

OnePlus is apparently ditching 8K recording on the series (topping out at 4K/60fps), even though it’s supported by the Snapdragon 865 processor. Instead, the company is said to be focusing on improving 4K video by offering HDR (combining three 4K frames at a time), and improved 4K stabilization by combining EIS and OIS.

The Pro model is believed to support audio zoom functionality too due to its use of three microphones. This should allow you to zoom in on a subject and focus on the sound coming from them. We’ve previously seen this feature on the likes of HTC and LG devices, but we’d be glad to see it here too.

The color filter camera seems like an odd addition, and WinFuture says it delivers “unique style through artistic lighting effects and filters.” Hopefully there’s more to this sensor.

Leaks point to the OnePlus 8 Pro having the far superior camera specs on paper.

Other noteworthy camera-related details mentioned for the Pro model include a macro mode via the ultra-wide camera (as per previous devices), a flicker sensor as seen on other phones to prevent flicker in recorded videos, and a night mode once again. But we can likely expect the latter two features on the vanilla variant.

Meanwhile, the standard OnePlus 8 is tipped to offer a 48MP IMX586 main camera, a 16MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 2MP macro camera. Don’t expect telephoto zoom, the brand-new IMX689 main camera, or a 48MP ultra-wide sensor, then.

The OnePlus 8 series is believed to also deliver a “cinema format” video recording option, a better Pro mode, and a pet-focused recording mode. Both phones are tipped to share the same 16MP selfie camera, albeit with slight aperture differences.

Other differences between OnePlus 8 phones?

OnePlus previously said that LPDDR5 RAM was coming to the series, but WinFuture asserts that only the Pro model will get the faster RAM standard. Meanwhile, LPDDR4X is tipped for the vanilla variant. Otherwise, both phones are said to get 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage (non-expandable).

We’ve previously heard that the OnePlus 8 Pro will have a slightly bigger 4,510mAh battery with wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. Meanwhile, the standard OnePlus phone was said to offer a 4,300mAh pack with no wireless charging. The new report corroborates these claims, while adding that the standard model should hit 50% capacity in 22 minutes (a minute faster than the Pro’s apparent 23 minutes).

There’s no word on official pricing, but it’s claimed that the phones will be available a week after the reveal event. OnePlus previously said the phones won’t exceed the $1,000 mark, but we’re still expecting significantly more expensive pricing than previous devices.

More posts about OnePlus



from Android Authority https://ift.tt/3bZ320J