The best LEGO Minifigures with cameras are more detailed and varied than you might otherwise imagine. LEGO is one of the most popular childrens’ toys in the world, so it’s likely you have plenty of memories piecing together the distinctive, colorful bricks from your childhood. But if you haven’t taken much notice of LEGO in recent years, you’ll find that it’s changed. A lot.
Simplistic yellow Minifigures and limited color palettes are a thing of the past. LEGO bricks are now available in a glut of different shapes, sizes, and colors, and some boast some rather exquisite printing too. It’s not surprising then that the Billund-based brick builders have been targeting nostalgia-infused big kids in recent years, with their range of 18+ sets, as well as pushing the envelope with more details and themes than ever before.
Read the best photo gifts for more prezzie ideas
As such, photographers are now a regular fixture in LEGO sets, but far from being just a standard Minifigure with a generic camera, they come ready to tackle a variety of photography genres and are even armed with different types of lenses. The fun doesn’t stop there, because LEGO sets of all flavors can make fantastic subjects for toy photographers or anyone wanting to test out the best macro lenses. In fact, LEGO recently released LEGO In Focus, a brand new toy photography coffee-table book, dedicated to the very best brick-based images.
Some photography-themed Minifigures are available standalone, while others have to be acquired as part of a larger LEGO set. Below we’ve compiled a huge list of Minifigure photographers to suit a variety of genres and budgets to help you find the perfect cutesy figure for your desk or a thoughtful gift for a photographer friend.
The best LEGO Minifigures with cameras
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The latest addition to LEGO’s fan-designed Ideas theme is this wholesome-looking A-Frame Cabin (21338). And as you’d imagine, the idyllic getaway accommodation is bursting with relaxing activities such as acoustic guitar playing, hiking, wildlife watching, writing and of course, photography.
But this LEGO camera features a neat little detail we haven’t seen the Billund-based brick builders implement before. A red 1 x 1 stud has been added to the lens, giving the camera a distinctive red ring, not unlike those featured on the best Canon lenses. And that little Minifigure will be needing that top-notch optic, because the A-Frame Cabin itself is a glorious-looking build, with beautiful autumnal trees and one of the most detailed building interiors LEGO has ever created.
The Nature Photographer was originally included in LEGO’s People Pack - Outdoor Adventures (60202), which also includes a bald eagle for her to photograph, but the Minifigure can also be found separately. LEGO’s standard camera body is used here, but a 1 x 2 tile and 1 x 1 slope has been positioned between the body and lens to create a convincing-looking flashgun. The pouch is a nice detail too, which doubles nicely as an, admittedly not to scale, camera sling bag.
LEGO’s modular buildings largely comprise real-world-inspired buildings and are a hit with adult collectors. Assembly Square is the crown jewel in the modular sets currently available and features over 4000 pieces and three buildings, with rooms including a dance studio, bakery, dentist and a retro photo studio.
The photo studio contains a surprisingly detailed large-format camera, where roughly 20 bricks have been used to represent components such as the bellows, lens, flash, film plane and even a tripod. This of course comes with a suitably creative-looking photographer, who sports a big moustache and beret. The studio also contains an equally well-detailed white backdrop, with just enough room to place a Minifigure sitter.
This charming little Minifigure was released in series 16 of the popular LEGO Minifigures range. These figures are typically sold in sealed mystery bags, so you never know quite what you’re getting. And indeed, in this series you could have landed yourself a variety of Minifigures including the Boxing Champ, Scallywag Pirate and Dog Show Winner. However, the one we were champing at the bit to unwrap was the Wildlife Photographer. This winter-expedition-clad figure comes with a DSLR and a little penguin to photograph. It’s just a shame she didn’t come with a longer lens, but if you have a few spare bricks laying around, you could easily make one.
Everyone knows friendly neighbourhood photographer Peter Parker (AKA Spider-Man) works at the Daily Bugle. And LEGO has recreated the rag’s high-rise offices in this ginormous set (76178). On one of the floors you’ll find Peter’s office, complete with the trusty camera he uses for all those Spidey selfies.
With 3772 pieces and no fewer than 25 Minifigures including Mysterio, Carnage, Daredevil and J Jonah Jameson, you won’t be surprised to hear that this is one of the largest Marvel-themed LEGO sets ever produced. So, once you’ve finished trying to work out what make and model LEGO based Peter’s teeny camera on, there’s plenty more fun to be had. And if you’re into toy photography, this modular building would make a fantastic diorama for cinematic LEGO close-ups.
Quirky this little figure is… and it comes bundled with DK’s LEGO Star Wars Yoda’s Galaxy Atlas. The child-friendly hardback book takes readers on a tour of 25 planets from the Star Wars galaxy, with Jedi Master Yoda serving as a guide. As you’d expect, he comes with a map, so he knows where he’s going, a backpack for provisions and his trademark cane. However, we know the first item we’d pack if we were invited on a tour of the galaxy, the best travel camera, but Yoda’s little LEGO camera will have to do for now. “Hard to see, the dark side is,” nope, you just need to bump up your ISO…
If you’re looking for a figure to stand on your desk and don’t want to shell out on the LEGO Diving Yacht (above), this standalone Minifigure set is a great alternative. Inside you’ll find enough pieces to construct a diver, complete with an underwater camera, as well as a small underwater scenic build and crab for him to photograph.
LEGO’s Monkie Kid theme is inspired by the 16th-century Chinese legend Journey to the West. And this magnificent 2,433-piece set is oozing with creativity thanks to its beautiful gold and white color palette and intricate LEGO-brick designs.
Among the eight Minifigures is the Monkie Kid himself, complete with a selfie stick and smartphone. No doubt to appeal to the set’s 10+ age rating – you won’t find DSLR dinosaurs here! The size and attractive color palette of this large set make it another contender for a great toy photography diorama.
The LEGO Diving Yacht (60221) features two diver Minifigures, one being a female underwater photographer. We like how LEGO has gone for a vibrant green-colored body, since colorful underwater housings aren’t uncommon. You also get a fish, swordfish and crab for her to photograph as well as a diving yacht. The set contains just 148 pieces, so it won’t take long to build and since it’s a LEGO City set with a 5+ age rating, young photographers can enjoy putting it together too.
The LEGO City Arctic Expedition Arctic Exploration Team is a fun little set and contains an Arctic explorer Minifigure, complete with a trapper hat and snowshoes. Beyond that, you get a surprising amount for your 70 pieces, with a snowmobile and trailer, a little Arctic scenery build, a husky and two additional Minifigures. Just remember to tell that photographer Minifigure to dial in a little positive exposure compensation, so as not to end up with photos of grey snow.
If you’re just looking for a cool-looking figure to display alongside a few framed holiday snaps then this Holiday Maker Photographer is a really nice accompaniment. This little figure features a smaller, travel-friendly camera and a rather curious four-legged travel tripod for sunny selfies. She also looks the part, clad in a vibrant, beach-themed shirt.
LEGO Friends is definitely targeted towards children. However, if you’re intent on building your own LEGO photo studio, Emma's Photo Studio contains plenty of useful bricks you could poach for your own creations. You’ll find a studio backdrop with lighting and a neat, standalone light with studio umbrella build. Obviously, there’s a camera and while a tripod would have been preferred, the stand would make a good monopod for a sports or wildlife photographer Minifigure. And if that wasn’t enough, you get a photo printer to boot. Not bad for only 96 pieces.
If you’re a photography enthusiast who also happens to enjoy camping, then this set is worth checking out. It contains 190 pieces, mostly used to build an accurate-looking campervan, which even boasts a miniature interior and sleeping quarters. The set of course comes with a camera, as well as camping provisions, the perfect start to a landscape photography adventure!
Other photography and film-themed LEGO sets
If you’re looking for a faithful LEGO rendition of a retro film camera then the Vintage Camera comes highly recommended. This little set only comprises 179 pieces and isn’t to scale, but it’s pretty incredible how good looking it is considering the simplistic build. Its most endearing quality is the fact that the back opens up to reveal a film compartment that can actually house the LEGO roll of film. The set was originally a gift with purchase for LEGO VIP members, but can still be found online. And if you’re into creating your own MOCs, it’s a great base for further expansions, since you could build your own collection of lenses too.
It makes sense that a photography or videography creative would want to ditch the instructions and make their own imaging-themed LEGO sets and you can do just that with the LEGO Large Creative Brick Box. This box comes with 790 LEGO bricks in all manner of sizes and colors, and can be used to make your own creations or mini builds such as a castle, frog, house and a fine-looking camera. Specifically, the LEGO designers have made a neat, retro 35mm film camera, with a nifty fifty and a pop-up flash. But we reckon it could be easily modified to look like any one of the best film cameras, especially if you have a few extra bricks laying around.
LEGO has released a number of sitcom-themed sets in recent years from hit TV-comedies including Seinfeld, The Office and The Big Bang Theory, but our favourite set is the Friends Apartments. The set features both Joey and Chandler’s apartment and Monica’s apartment, which join together with the hallway in the middle to create one cohesive set.
But this isn’t just a LEGO representation of the iconic apartments, it’s actually a representation of the television set itself, complete with stage rigging and lighting, with diddy little barn doors! Sadly, there aren’t any camera operator Minifigures, but you could always snag a couple elsewhere.
The set includes all six main characters, as well as our favorite character, Janice (Oh – my – Gawd!). Throw in a few props such as the Chick and the Duck and Joey and Chandler’s recliners, allowing you to create various iconic moments from the show, perfect for toy photographers!
Okay, so the photography/videography link is a little tenuous, but this is another LEGO Friends set that delivers some pretty unique pieces that could be used to bolster a custom photo studio or film-set build. The video camera is a highlight, but the mixing desk control panels and speakers could be put to good use too. Overall, the set contains 172 pieces and you’ll also end up with some vibrantly-colored bricks for your bits box.
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