Toy camera definition?

[narsuitus]

Exactly what is the definition of a “toy” camera?

[Klainmeister]

A camera that is intended for fun use but not for the end result? I dunno. Cute aesthetics?

[mooseontheloose]

I think most toy cameras are made from plastic, and have a plastic lens (although I'm not sure if the Holga with the glass lens would still be considered a toy camera). There may be exceptions to this rule. In some photography competitions, pinhole cameras and lensbaby lenses are also acceptable, but disposable cameras and old (vintage) cameras like Brownies are not.

[polyglot]

Why would a particular brand not be "acceptable"? Surely if it produces the required result, that is all that matters...

I don't see the point in looking for a precise definition for a term that is generally used only as a pejorative.

[markbarendt]

1-"All my cameras" because there major use is fun.
2-"All your cameras" because mine are better.

Seriously though the definitions I've seen are pretty arbitrary.

[bblhed]

A toy camera is any camera you would be willing to hand over to an unsupervised child and not worry about the child or the camera being harmed. I would not put the Holga into that category, I don't believe that a Holga could take the punishment a child can dish out.

Fisher Price made a lot of really great cameras for kids over the years.

You would be surprised what passes for "toy" at my house, my kid has a Kodak cameo Motor EX (possibly the last folding camera Kodak ever made, it has a plastic folding bellows), a Canon WP-1, and a National Geographic half frame binocular camera that I let her run free with. She also has a Nikon N65, that she only uses under parental supervision. As for my equipment, she is only allowed to use the cameras that she can hold by herself and look through the viewfinder, the only cameras she can't use now are the F4 and the Pentax 6X7, and always supervised.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I'd submit that anything that satisfies the entrance requirements of the SohoPhoto Krappy Kamera competition fits the category--

http://sohophoto.com/krappy_kamera_comp.html

They don't necessarily have to be toys, and there's a question of whether Dianas and Holgas were literally intended originally to be toys or just as inexpensive cameras manufactured from cheap materials, but I think there's an aesthetic there. The idea is to make an interesting photograph with a camera that doesn't necessarily give the user much technical control and may even introduce artifacts that are beyond the user's control. It's about giving chance a greater role in the production of art.

[Chan Tran]

I surely need a good definition of toy camera. All my cameras are my toys.

[Dave in Kansas]

I was glad to see this thread and the replies generally confirmed my thoughts.

Reading Markbarendt's reply gave me a good chuckle and is one of the reasons I enjoy APUG.

Dave

[Chan Tran]

All my cameras are my toys and may be that is why I never have backup camera. I have many cameras but never a backup. If one of them quit working I would stop shooting and cry. I can't see myself when one of mine quit working simply pull out the spare and go on. That would be too professional like when I lose or break my tools at work. I don't care about the shoot I care more for my toys.