My job as Cool Aunt is simple: introduce my nephews to the fun stuff, encourage questionable amounts of ice cream, and then return them to their parents before the sugar crash begins.
So, when I was given the chance to test the new myFirst Camera Insta Lux, I knew exactly who needed to review it: my three-year-old nephew, Luca. Because while adults can appreciate a 5MP dual-lens camera, dye-sublimation printing and WiFi connectivity, three-year-olds have a much more important question: “Can I take a photo… and can I hold it straight away?”
For a day out during the school holidays, we packed the camera and headed into Sydney. There was exploring around Darling Harbour, a visit to the museum, dumplings for dinner and, naturally, ice cream to finish the day. Basically, the perfect test environment for a tiny photographer with a big personality.
My Name Is Luca, I’m Three, And I’m A Photographer Now
Hi, my name is Luca and I’m three years old.
My aunty Tun took me to Darling Harbour. And I took photos of the water, the park, and lots of things at the museum.
My favourite thing was pressing the button and then getting a photo that came out. It was like magic!
I took a photo of my aunty and she kept it in her bag. I also took a photo of my ice cream because it was yummy and I wanted to remember it.
The camera has stickers and funny pictures you can put on your photos. I liked making them silly. I made my aunty have a funny frame because she is funny.
My favourite part was that I could see the photo before I printed it. Sometimes I took a photo and said “No, I don’t like that one” and then I took another one.
I think everyone should have a camera.
Especially me.
Cool Auntys Review: Finally, A Kids Camera That Isn’t Just Another Toy
As a journalist for a site called “Women Love Tech,” I have a complicated relationship with kids’ technology.
On one hand, I love anything that encourages creativity and independence. On the other hand, I have seen enough “kids gadgets” that promise the world but end up abandoned after five minutes because they are slow, frustrating or feel like cheap toys.
The myFirst Camera Insta Lux immediately feels different.
The biggest difference is the quality. This isn’t a toy camera that produces blurry, barely recognisable images. It uses a 5MP dual-lens camera with smart exposure, meaning even a three-year-old pointing it at random things can capture surprisingly clear photos.
And trust me, Luca tested this feature thoroughly.
From bright outdoor shots around Darling Harbour to indoor photos at the museum, the camera handled different lighting conditions well. There was no complicated setup or endless menu navigation – just point, press and capture.
For little hands, that simplicity matters.
The Magic Is In The Printing
The feature that really won Luca over was the instant printing.
There is something special about children seeing a photo appear in their hands moments after taking it. In a world where most photos disappear into thousands of images sitting on our phones, the Insta Lux turns moments into something tangible.
Unlike traditional instant cameras, the Insta Lux lets kids preview their photos before printing. This might seem like a small detail, but when a three-year-old wants to print every single photo they take, it saves a lot of wasted paper.
The prints themselves are also impressive. Instead of the grainy, low-quality images you might expect from a children’s camera, the Insta Lux uses four-layer dye-sublimation printing technology. The result is vibrant colour photos that are waterproof, fingerprint-resistant and designed to last.
Translation: they can survive being carried around in a toddler’s backpack.
More Than Just A Kids’ Camera
What I also loved about the Insta Lux is that it grows with your (sister’s) child.
For younger kids like Luca, it is a fun way to explore creativity and learn about capturing memories. But for older kids (ie his seven-year-old brother Leo, who also wanted to play), it becomes something more- a tool for scrapbooking, journaling, travel adventures and creative projects.
The camera can also work as a portable photo printer, allowing parents to connect their smartphone through the myFirst Circle app and print favourite family photos. It means the camera isn’t just something kids use for their own pictures – it becomes part of the family memory-making process.
The built-in filters, frames and stickers add another layer of creativity, allowing kids to personalise their photos and make them their own.
Cool Aunty’s Verdict
At around $249, the myFirst Camera Insta Lux is definitely more of an investment than a basic kids’ camera. But the difference is that it doesn’t feel like a toy that will be forgotten after a few days.
It feels like the beginning of a hobby.
Watching Luca walk around Sydney taking photos of boats, museum exhibits, dumplings and ice cream reminded me that kids don’t just want technology – they want ways to experience the world.
And sometimes, the best memories aren’t the perfectly framed photos.
They’re the slightly wonky ones taken by tiny hands, with a very serious photographer behind the lens.
Luca says: “I love my camera. I take photos everywhere.”
Cool Aunty says: “It’s creative, easy to use and I love that we have physical memories instead of just photos sitting on a phone. The ice cream photo was definitely the masterpiece.”
