The Best Nikon for Kids: the Waterproof Nikon S30

Nikon is one of the top names in camera manufacturers, so many parents who have budding shutterbugs and who want to get the best camera for their kids know that Nikon is a name they can trust. But what's the best Nikon for kids? With the spring 2012 release of the Coolpix S30, Nikon has provided a perfect answer - a waterproof, shockproof camera that shoots great photos and HD video at an affordable price. Here's what you should know about this camera designed for both kids and adults.

(Photo by Lisa Howard)

An affordable waterproof camera for the whole family

1. It's tough enough for kids

One of the reasons the Coolpix S30 is the best Nikon for kids is due to its rugged design. In our house, the camera has already fallen out of a pocket, been dropped on the ground, and been knocked around quite a few times. And it's still working just fine. The S30 is waterproof to 10 feet, shockproof to 2.6 feet and able to withstand the challenges of living with a child (or children!).

2. It's more fun than regular cameras

The Coolpix S30 isn't just cool on the outside. Inside the bright blue, pink or white exterior is a digital playroom that lets you have more fun with your photos. You can add digital frames, create special effects such as starbursts, soft focus or fish-eye effect and create albums. You can also change the color of the background menu and the sounds the camera plays when it performs certain actions. For instance, you can make it bark like a dog or chirp like a chick when you shoot photos or hit the replay button.

Adults may tire quickly of some of these features, but the camera also comes with shooting modes that both kids and adults can use, such as a special setting for fireworks or for shooting underwater. It also offers continuous shooting, time lapse and smile shutter modes.

3. It takes great photos and videos

Of course, no parent wants to spend money on a product that doesn't work well, and, fortunately, you won't have to worry about that with the Nikon Coolpix S30. The 10 MP CMOS sensor takes excellent photos, and the 720p HD video is clear and crisp. Of course, kids will still need to work on their photo taking skills to get the best results. As you can see from the photos taken by my 5- and 11-year-old kids (below), the camera alone won't make your child's photos ready for National Geographic. They'll still need to learn basic photo skills. But, unlike some low-resolution, low quality cameras made for kids, the Nikon S30 can produce excellent photos, so you and your kids will be able to see the results in the images as your kids become better photographers. That's what makes this a great beginner camera for kids.

With a price tag of about $120, the Nikon S30 is not only the best Nikon for kids, but it's also one of the most affordable waterproof cameras with HD video on the market, making it a great choice for anyone who wants a good underwater camera at a decent price.

The Nikon S30 is designed to appeal to families with members of all ages. It's a great first camera for kids because it can grow with them, but adults will like it, too, for its great quality of photos and HD video.

I created this video shortly after I got our Nikon S30. It walks you through all the menu options and shows you some of the fun features included in the camera.

The Coolpix S30 is the best Nikon on the market for kids because of the quality of photos, the special features, and the kid-friendly design, but it's certainly not the only waterproof camera on the market. There are plenty of others that are also rugged enough to withstand the abuse of kids or affordable enough to be used as a kids camera. None of them combine the features and pricing of the Nikon S30, but if you'd like to see other underwater cameras, here are some of the available models.

The weather isn't warm enough yet for the kids to take our new camera in the pool, so here's a video shot by someone else showing the S30 in action underwater.

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Photo taken with a Nikon S30. Copyright Lisa Howard