The 8 Best Camcorders to Buy for Kids in 2019

New camcorders are few and far between these days, but Canon released this VIXIA model in early 2017 to show that a mid-priced camcorder is still better than your smartphone for capturing great video footage. This camcorder especially excels at zoom. In fact, the VIXIA has up to 57x advanced zoom and SuperRange OIS. That means this camera is just as good capturing something right in front of you as it is capturing footage hundreds of feet away. Your kid will enjoy mastering 15 levels of Zoom Speed settings, allowing them to express their creativity. Dynamic Image Stabilization helps prevent camera shake, while horizontal, vertical and roll axis all result in distortion-free video. Kids don’t have the steadiest arm, so these features provide assurance that the final product will come out OK.

The camera also has a 3.2 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor to capture high-resolution footage with natural color in 1080p and 35 Mbps bit rate, resulting in high quality footage. Other nice features include high priority mode to prevent loss of detail and high brightness areas. It also has zoom framing assist, slow motion recording and file lock function.

This Sony camcorder is a tried-and-true handheld at a great price. It has a 26.8mm wide angle Zeiss lens that can record beautiful widescreen footage. It has 30x optical zoom and 60x clear image zoom, capturing nature or stadium entertainment from a distance in high definition. The camera has plenty of features, including Optical SteadyShot image stabilization and the ability to automatically create highlight footage in MP4 from clips captured at different times. The battery lasts for two hours and it works well in low light. This camera may not have the most advanced features, but the zoom and image quality make this a great mid-ranged option.

There are a few specs to look for when searching for a kid-friendly video camera. One is affordability — because accidents can and will happen — and the other is waterproof capability. This option from CrazyFire checks both of those boxes. For a little over $50, you’ll get a 5MP CMOS sensor for still photos and video recording capabilities up to 720p and 30 fps, which is pretty good for the price point. The body is rugged and waterproof, offering protection at up to 9.8 feet submerged. That makes for a pretty forgiving camera, no matter the conditions. 

The CrazyFire has an 8x digital zoom, a built-in mic, and a self-timer that can be set to two, five, or ten seconds. It’s powered by a pair of AAA batteries with a flash. There’s a two-inch tilting LCD screen and the package even comes with an 8GB micro SD card to get you up and running filming and snapping pictures. It can also accommodate up to 32GB microSDs for even more storage.

An action sports camera is a great option for kids because it’s durable, offers impeccable image stabilization, and usually comes with a decent set of protective and waterproof accessories. The problem is that the most well-known action cameras (like GoPros) tend to climb pretty quickly in price, which doesn’t make them a great option for accident-prone kids. This Campark option walks a nice line between affordability and features. At its core, there’s a Sony-manufactured sensor that is capable of recording 4K at up to 30fps. There are also time-lapse and slow-motion capabilities, which further adds to the camera's versatility.

The built-in WiFi allows users to control the camera with the app and transfer files wirelessly, but there’s also a mini-HDMI to transfer files physically, too. The waterproof casing can protect the camera under 30 meters of water, making it perfect for watersports or just summer days. This pack comes with quite the spread of accessories including the waterproof case, two batteries, a handlebar mount, a fixed base, two helmet-mount systems, all the cabling you’ll need and more. It’s a great value for a starter pack for budding young filmmakers.

The design of the YI 4K camcorder is a welcome departure from the traditional (and dated) camcorder designs. Measuring 1.7 x 2.6 x 1.2 inches and weighing just 3.36 ounces, it’s much more pocket-friendly than the other designs. It records 4K/30fps (100mbps), 1080p/120fps, 720p/240fps video using its 155-degree wide-angle lens with a F2.8 aperture and has a 2.2-inch, 330ppi Retina touchscreen, viewable from 160 degrees to make taking and reviewing your shots a breeze. With built-in Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) with 3-axis gyroscope and 3-axis accelerometer, you’ll capture steady video even when the camera shakes.

With the accompanying camera app, you can easily edit clips, add filters and insert music, then share to social media networks in real time. Long story short, it’s a great stand-in for the GoPro HERO5, and at half the cost, a more realistic option for active kids.

This camcorder from Panasonic is a little pricier than most other options on the list, but the extra investment pays huge dividends in quality. It has more professional features, meaning your children can use it for their projects and you can borrow it to record a wedding or professional event. The professional quality comes from an exclusive high-dynamic range feature that reduces bright spots for a professional look. HDR capture allows for dynamic footage regardless of lighting, and 20x Optical Zoom gets you closer to the action. Your kids can harness their creative powers with neat features like Full-HD slow motion, miniature effect, silent movie and time lapse recording.

The other premium feature on this camera is its advanced WiFi functionality. It has NFC to connect to a tablet or smartphone in just one touch, where you can use the Panasonic Image app as a remote control for advanced features. You can also broadcast in real time, thanks to USTREAM Full-HD resolution. Many choose to use this feature as a baby monitor, since the app gives a push notification to your phone or tablet if the baby starts to cry.

As far as kid-friendly cameras go, you can’t find anything much tougher than a GoPro — after all, they’re meant to be taken with you on action sports adventures like skiing, hiking, and biking. It’s great for kids, especially if they’re on the sportier side, because it’ll not only give you a rugged build but also simple, high-quality performance.

The HERO7 Black is a bit on the pricey side, but you get some great features. Central to the performance is a new GP1 chip that powers a super smooth optical image stabilization engine. This is hugely important for an action camera and is also an asset for young photographers who might not be able to get the steadiest shot. It can shoot 4K video at 60fps, and you can even capture stills at up to 12MP. The HERO7 Black also has some cool new functions like an 8x slow-motion video capture, a TimeWarp hyper-lapse shooting feature, and even some smart HDR SuperPhoto capabilities. It's waterproof up to 33 feet (adding to the durability factor) and if you pair it with any of the many GoPro cases, accessories, and grips out there, you’ll have a handy, rugged little camcorder.