When I was growing up we captured memories by taking photographs, except that we had to put film in our camera, send it off for developing and wait for the photos to come back. In today’s digital world, capturing memories is still extremely important, but it works at a much faster pace. We live in a world where things seem to race by faster each year, so giving kids the tools to visually document their adventures helps them slow down, notice the details and create keepsakes they can look back on with pride, especially with the summer holidays now starting. Whether it’s a day out with the family, a weekend sleepover or simply playing in the garden, children love taking ownership of their experiences and a camera designed just for them makes that possible. The Canal Toys Photo Creator Mini Cam Digital Camera taps directly into that instinct. It gives young creators a fun, accessible way to record the moments that matter to them, while also introducing them to the basics of photography in a playful, confidence‑building way.
While lots of people these days will have a phone on them wherever they go, ready to snap away at a moment’s notice, do you want your young ones playing around with expensive equipment just so they can take a photo? No? Well, that brings me to the Photo Creator Mini Cam from Canal Toys. It is a mini camera built with children firmly in mind (and it’s available in four different styles: Instant, Compact, Pro and Retro – for this review I am using the Retro style). Its compact size fits comfortably in small hands (to be honest, at first glance I thought it was a toy as it only measures 4.5 x 3.5 x 2.5cm with a 1” screen) and its lightweight design means kids can carry it around all day on a keyring or attached to their backpack without feeling weighed down. But don’t let its size fool you, as it did me, it is a fully functioning digital camera.
In the box:
- Mini Colour Camera
- USB-C Cable
- Key Chain
- Instruction Manual
Despite its miniature appearance, this tiny camera offers digital photo and video recording, a mini screen and even filters, giving the kids the freedom to take pictures wherever they go. Plus it is very lightweight as well as being durable (it has survived several knocks off the table as well as being thrown on the ground when attached to a backpack).
The camera is simple to use: press the power button on top to turn on/off and press the camera button to take your picture. Press the up/down buttons on the side of the camera and you can add some cool frames around your image.
Overall, this tiny little camera is a bit of fun for kids. It’s not trying to compete with high‑end digital cameras, the price reflects this. While the image quality isn’t the greatest, it is perfect for children to be snapping away, learning about photography and capturing fun memories. Adding frames and stickers to images allows children to be creative with the pictures that they capture. It’s a fun camera to get kids used to taking photos, learning how to frame images and add effects to their images. And its tiny size ensures that it can be taken everywhere with them – the key chain makes it perfect for attaching to bags.
While the camera does have a small amount of storage space on its internal memory, it does require a microSD card to be able to store your photos and videos (it will store a few photos without the need for a memory card but it will not record video until a memory card is inserted). It isn’t supplied with a memory card so you will need to purchase one separately.
It also includes a rechargeable battery (USB-C), which is far more convenient than relying on disposable ones. Charging is simple and the battery life is generous with enough for a full day of casual use.
From a value perspective, the Photo Creator Mini Cam offers a lot for its price. With an RRP of just £12.99 it is excellent value for money – although you do have the extra cost of adding in a microSD card. It’s a fun, functional, child‑friendly camera that encourages creativity, independence and memory‑making.
The Canal Toys Photo Creator Mini Cam Digital Camera is a charming, well‑designed camera that allows children to document their world and memories in a way that feels empowering and fun.
I think that for the price and ease of use it is a fun little camera to help children get an interest in taking and editing photos before moving up to better quality digital cameras. And while it may look like a toy, it functions just like a more grown-up camera with a screen, microphone, flash and storage that allows still images and videos with sound to be captured. And there are four styles to collect.
Easy and fun to use. For simple quick photos without the need for a bulky camera or expensive phone, the Photo Creator Mini Cam Digital Camera is perfect for kids.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £12.99
For more information, visit canaltoys.co.uk. Available to buy from Amazon here.