Do I need a Digital Camera for a Preteen?

The advent of the tablet computer and the smartphone has allowed many of us to ditch gadgets that we used to depend on for communications, recording important moments, and managing our lives. I remember my Dad lugging a huge video camera to my high school graduation so that he could record my speech. Today, we carry video and digital cameras with our smartphones, and many of our preteens and teens do the same. A digital camera for a preteen may be more of a luxury than a necessity, and it may even be an inconvenience. However, you may find that a tween's interest in photography on a smartphone leads to a desire for better quality in the photos taken.

Check out the colors and pricing, watching for great deals during the holiday season and as tech updates occur.

If you are looking for an entry-level digital camera for a tween, I really like Nikon CoolPix because it is easy to manage and older versions tend to be very affordable. My daughter was a tween when she got her 10 MP version, and two years later, I picked my 12 MP version up at the same price that hers cost previously. The model pictured above is listed in the $140 range, but can be found on sale at $90 or less. Available in tween-friendly colors, the device is a great option, many megapixels stronger than my version from a year ago.

If you select a digital camera for your middle schooler, be sure to find a manageable case and to consider a protection plan as this can be a time of tech casualties as tweens go through many physical and emotional changes.

Vivitar Digital Camera for a Tween





If you have a tween with a creative eye or artistic interest, then a digital camera is an outstanding tech gift idea, and there are many models of Vivitar Digital Camera for a tween which provide an entry level apparatus, without a huge expenditure of money. The 8.1 megapixel model pictured above retails at approximately $50 (details linked through image), and is a great way to put a quality camera in the hands of your tween.

Several years ago, I invested in Black Friday deals on such digital cameras for my then tweens, and it provided a quality gift that permitted them to manage their own digital images, and to experiment with photography. While one of the two didn't do a lot with her camera, the other has gone on to work artistically, and has since upgraded to a more advanced digital camera. I'm a firm believer in providing a tween with opportunity to explore an interest. When the child finds that the interest is worthy of lots of their time, then we examine more advanced tools. In the beginning, though, budget friendly tech tools are a great springboard.

7.1 Megapixel Vivitar Digital Camera
Priced in the under $30 range...
A great way to provide an introduction
to photography for your tween.

Nikon CoolPix Digital Camera for a Tween

Nikon CoolPix Digital Camera for a Tween

If you are thinking about a digital camera for a tween gift, and are perusing the black friday ads and rumors, you may see some of the Nikon CoolPix models included. Having purchased a CoolPix digital camera for my teenage daughter in the last year, I'm happy with the performance of the camera, and the ease with which she has been able to use it. There are colorful models available, and it's easy to accomodate a color preference in your selection process, a feature that may not be essential, but which is fun for the tween and teen age groups.

There are periodic sales on the Nikon CoolPix cameras, and while there are some reported black friday deals on the forefront, I'm finding similar pricing even at this writing, at Amazon, as with the 14 megapixel model depicted above. Pricing is subject to change, but you'll often find some outstanding offers leading into, and through, the holiday season.  And it's always good to keep in mind that a tween digital camera is often a starter camera, an opportunity to learn and adapt to managing media. Check out an even better option in Nikon Cool Pix Cameras for tweens here: Nikon COOLPIX L26 16.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Zoom NIKKOR Glass Lens and 3-inch LCD (Red)

Digital Cameras for Tweens

Digital Cameras have become so much more affordable by the year, and photograph quality, as well, has improved exponentially.  Given the sale prices on the models available, digital cameras have become a favorite tween gadget gift for parents and relatives to give.  A more inexpensive model will generally serve the needs of a middle school student, or younger, without sacrificing on quality.  When your tween reaches high school, he or she may want to upgrade, at which point a more costly camera will also be more advanced, in all likelihood.  This was the case with my daughter, whose first digital camera was a Black Friday doorbuster, and which served her well for 4 years, at which point she requested something more advanced.

My daughter's new Nikon Digital Camera has twice the Megapixels of her starter camera.
Your tween will enjoy getting used to using, and caring for, a digital camera, and when older
will be ready for a more expensive model.

Colorful digital cameras are abundant, and for tweens, colorful gadets are well liked, whether computers or cameras.  Kodak Easy Share Cameras have been great performers through the years, and are available in assorted colors, at great prices.

Kodak EasyShare Sport in Red

EasyShare C143

Find green digital cameras, orange digital cameras, purple digital cameras, blue digital cameras,  red digital cameras, and pink digital cameras for your tween.

You can also check out Amazon's most gifted digital cameras list.