Why I’ve given my son the Kodak WPZ2 as his first camera

Kevin Hofer

11/8/2023

Translation: Katherine Martin

Though the Kodak WPZ2 is actually an underwater camera, I’ve given it to my son as a kids’ camera. A sound decision, as this review demonstrates.

My son wants a camera for his sixth birthday. And as an amateur photographer, I agree right away. However, I’ve no desire to buy him a children’s camera. Not only do they usually offer lousy picture quality, but they also rely on bunny ear effects and whatnot. The main thing his first camera should allow him to do is discover the joy of taking pictures – without the gimmicks. After a lengthy search, I decide on the Kodak Pixpro WPZ2.

Cameras

EUR179,69

Kodak WPZ2

4.9 - 19.6 mm, 16.30 Mpx, 1/2,3''

68

One seaside summer holiday later, I can confirm that the camera is really well suited to children – and not just because of its size. Being waterproof, shockproof and dustproof, it sure can take a beating. The image quality, on the other hand, leaves a lot to be desired.

The camera – and tricky pics

At 10.3 × 6.6 × 5.2 centimetres, the camera is smaller than a smartphone. As a result, it’s a perfect fit for my son’s hands. The screen is small, with a diagonal of 6.9 centimetres. Unfortunately, it isn’t the brightest either – something that’s made twice as annoying by the fact the WPZ2 doesn’t have a viewfinder. Sadly, you can barely make out the subjects in harsh sunlight. At least the camera can be connected to a smartphone via Wi-Fi. That way, you can view both your child’s photos and your own on a larger screen while you’re out and about.

The camera offers a focal length range of 4.9 mm to 19.6 mm, which, with the 1/2.3-inch sensor, corresponds to 27-108 mm in full frame. The aperture ranges from f/3 to f/6.6. This means the lens isn’t particularly fast, which has a noticeable effect on photo quality.

After we buy the camera, my son reveals that he mainly wants to photograph animals. Basically, he’s starting out with the one discipline requiring a great deal of patience. Not exactly a virtue a six-year-old has in spades. The camera’s specs complicate matters: the maximum focal length of 108 mm combined with an aperture of f/6.6 aren’t the specs an aspiring wildlife photographer would want.

So that he’s not completely discouraged, I come up with a bright idea. In Corsica – where we’re going on holiday – there’s a turtle park called «A Cupulatta». In enclosed spaces and slow-moving, the turtles make the perfect subjects for a dry run with the camera.

Wildlife photography in Turtle City

Camera packed, we set off for Turtle City. I set the camera to Program Mode (P) for my son. The WPZ2 has numerous other shooting modes, including Underwater, Portrait and Beach. You can also set the exposure time, aperture and light sensitivity manually. For my son, Program Mode will do for now. Instead of overwhelming him, I want to encourage his enjoyment of photography. Everything else will come in time.

He actually manages to take a few good snaps. The image quality, however, doesn’t impress me. The photos look blurry, and the colours aren’t accurate. If you ask me, they’re on the level smartphones were in 2017. My son isn’t bothered about the quality. He thinks it’s great that he can finally take pictures himself.

Most of the time, the enclosures get in my son’s way – he’s still too little to take photos over them. Or he zooms in too close, causing the photos to blur. This is where the camera’s weakness becomes apparent. It’s difficult to take clear photos with an aperture of f/6.6 at maximum optical zoom, even if you do have a steady hand. This is even more true indoors in poor lighting conditions. Nevertheless, Hofer Junior is having fun taking photos, and that’s what counts.

In the beginning, my son does a thorough test to ensure the camera is fit for rough situations. When he’s not swinging it around, occasionally hitting me or a railing in the process, he’s dragging it along the ground. I’m forced to explain that this isn’t how you treat a camera. Most of the time, he remembers that too. And now I know that the camera can withstand quite a bit. The two-metre shock resistance stated in the camera’s specifications should do the job. Amazingly, it makes it through the vacation with barely a scratch, despite its savage treatment.

Video

The camera is also capable of shooting videos with a resolution of up to 1080p and 30 frames per minute. Though poor, this is perfectly sufficient for the short clips the little guy films. As I mentioned before, six-year-olds have different priorities. They want to make videos and have fun doing it. And that’s exactly what my son does.

Handling

The WPZ2 doesn’t have many settings. Something that’d be a downer for adults is perfect for kids. My son learns quickly – even by himself – which button is good for what. It’s not long before he can view and delete images, turn off the flash, zoom and rewind videos.

The water element

The WPZ2 is meant to be water-resistant to a depth of 15 metres. A beach vacation in Corsica provides the perfect opportunity to test this out. Before going into the water, I check whether the flap protecting the charging port and microSD slot is closed. It’s protected by two switches: one to open the cover, and one that acts as a child lock. Even so, my son always opens it himself to charge the camera. If the cover stays open, however, the camera will lose its water resistance.

I’m initially worried the water will make the meagre image quality even worse. In reality, the sea goes easy on the camera. The colours on the snorkel mask in the photo above look the same as they do with the naked eye. The WPZ2 probably benefits from the fact that it’s brighter when snorkelling than at A Cupulatta, which was shaded by trees. I’m also under the impression that the photos are sharper than before. This might also be because my son didn’t zoom in as much underwater because of its magnifying glass effect.

Even after several snorkelling sessions, no water penetrated the camera. Of course, my son didn’t test this to a depth of up to 15 metres – right now, snorkel depth is the best he can manage. Even so, the camera is a glowing success in water.

Macro mode provides a nice injection of variety

The WPZ2 also has a macro mode, which shortens the minimum focus distance from 60 to five centimetres. On a rainy August day, we set off for «Häftli», a nature reserve near Büren an der Aare. As well as birds, the area is home to small animals unable to fly away. It’s where we come across a grass frog. My son doesn’t get within five centimetres of it, but he at least manages to capture the creature (on camera, that is), despite it only being about three centimetres long.

This photo isn’t perfect either. But when you consider how quick you need to be when photographing a frog – and that this picture was taken by a six-year-old – the quality is good enough.

Verdict: not perfect, but still really good for kids

Is the Kodak WPZ2 the perfect first camera for children? No, the lens is too slow for that. Since kids are unsteady when they’re taking photos, they’re reliant on a fast lens. I didn’t come across any cameras equipped with one in my search, which is why the WPZ2 is a good choice. Besides that, many of the camera’s features are just right for kids: the size, its water- and shock resistance, and its handling.

My son enjoys experimenting and snapping away wildly. Do the pictures fit in with my idea of what’s «good»? No. But that doesn’t matter. In getting his first camera, the most important thing is that my son develops an enjoyment of photography. And the WPZ2 has been successful in sparking that enjoyment. He keeps asking me if we’re going on any days out so that he can take photos. «Real» photography will come in a few years time.

Kevin Hofer

Senior Editor

kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.ch

From big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.

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