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Oaxis myFirst Camera 2 review: a little camera for big adventures
If your child is ready to take their first family holiday photos (or just snaps of any random pigeons that happen to be walking past), then this early years camera will help them to hone their skills.
By Laura Cooke | Last updated May 30, 2024
Overall ranking: 4/5
Price on writing: From £73 | Buy now from Amazon
What we like
Appealing ‘block’ design
USB charging
Includes 16GB MicroSD card
Works underwater with waterproof case on
Very small - so suitable for little hands
What we don��t like
No rear camera
No games included
Parents will need to check waterproof case is securely fastened before use in water
Key specs
Price on writing: From £73 | User level: 3 years+ | Megapixels: 8 megapixels | Lens: Single | LCD screen size: 2 inches | Max video resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Waterproof: Yes (in case) | Battery: 1000 mAh rechargeable battery
What Mumsnet users say
“There's only about £10 difference between the [Oaxis] kids' cameras and cheaper adult ones. My daughter would prefer the appearance of the kids' one.” Recommended by Mumsnetter MakeMineALargeProsecco
Our verdict
The Oaxis myFirst Camera 2 has a fun, block-like (or dare I say Lego-like?) design that is not only super appealing to kids but can be fully customised with the accompanying stickers. USB-rechargeable, with an eight-megapixel definition, full HD video and fun features such as preloaded photo templates, this is a great first camera for young children looking for a good all-rounder.
One of the best kids' cameras for holidays and travel, it also comes with a unique waterproof case, allowing it to be taken for a half-hour dip in the pool or sea at a depth of up to three metres. Or, in our case, for taking underwater shots of my daughter’s swimming Baby Born doll in the bath.
The screen quality on the Oaxis myFirst Camera 2 isn’t as good as some other kids’ cameras, but for a child’s first venture into photography, it is a solid choice.
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What’s in the box?
Camera
Micro USB charging cable
Silicone case
Waterproof case
Decorative stickers
Lanyard
MicroSD card adapter
16GB microSD card
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What’s the Oaxis myFirst Camera 2 like to set up?
The Oaxis myFirst Camera 2 arrived ready to use. The 16GB microSD card was already installed and the battery was already charged, so the kids were able to dive straight in to take some photos.
I found the lanyard quite fiddly to attach to the camera, but got there in the end. The waterproof case is excellent, although it is a bit stiff and difficult for children to do up and undo themselves. However, this is no bad thing, as the last thing anyone would want is the waterproof case ‘accidentally’ coming undone in the middle of the sea.
If you have the lanyard attached to the camera, make sure you take it off before putting the waterproof case on, otherwise water may be able to get through the gap. There’s a fixing point on the outside of the case to attach the lanyard to if you’re heading into the water.
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What’s the Oaxis myFirst Camera 2 like in day-to-day use?
The first thing I noticed when unpacking the box was the size of the camera. It is very small and obviously designed for little hands. This is in contrast to other kids' cameras, such as the VTech Kidizoom, which favour a large, chunky grip.
My five-year-old and six-year-old loved the myFirst Camera 2 and found it very easy to operate. They particularly enjoyed the frames and filters, transforming their subjects to bunnies, pirates and elves. My eldest was disappointed there was no rear camera or games to play, but she was happy enough to make videos, experiment with the timer function and loved the novelty of having a camera that could be used underwater.
The camera plays a chirpy little tune when it’s turned on or off, which isn’t too loud or too long to be an annoyance. The camera shuts down automatically if it’s left idle for more than a minute, which is a great feature to avoid running down the battery. When the camera does need charging, the whole process takes around four hours.
If you want to keep your children’s artistic photographic efforts, just pop the microSD card out the side of the camera, transfer it into the enclosed card reader and pop it into the USB slot of your laptop.
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Are there any special features on the Oaxis myFirst Camera 2?
The waterproof case is excellent, which makes the Oaxis myFirst Camera 2 perfect for taking away on holiday or splashing around in the paddling pool in the garden.
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Is the Oaxis myFirst Camera 2 good value for money?
Retailing from £73 on Amazon at the time of writing (May 30th, 2024), the Oaxis myFirst Camera 2 is £20 more expensive than the popular VTech KidiZoom Duo FX, which has a similar spec and of course those big chunky handles.
The VTech KidiZoom Duo FX also boasts a rear camera and games, both lacking in the myFirst Camera 2, but it isn’t waterproof. The myFirst Camera 2’s waterproof case is a surefire winner and if your goal is to get your child to capture memories of their first holiday abroad, then this is the only camera you will want to find in your hand luggage this summer.
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About the author
Laura Cooke is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, with a special focus on child’s play, outdoor play and toddler play content.
Laura started writing Swears By articles for Mumsnet in 2021, writing buyers guides and product reviews to help Mumsnetters make informed choices when it comes to parting with their pennies.
Laura is also a freelance journalist and has written articles for publications including the Daily Mirror, the i, Metro, Stylist and Happiful magazine.
About Mumsnet Reviews
All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.