Home New Camera for Baby

[meresal]

I know that there are TONS of camera threads out there, and I have read thru them... there just seems to be "too much" info for me and what we want.

DH and I want to purchase a really nice camera for baby pictures and to have as the kiddos grow up. Not a point and shoot. I understand that we will need to purchase different lenses for the different shots we want, (ie, as the kiddos become mobile and quicker) but we have no idea which actual camera model would fit our needs best.


What do you experts recommend?

 

[MonkeyPie]

Gosh I love these threads

I am such a geek.

Do you have a preference towards a particular brand? Like did you ever have a camera before (even a P&S) that you really loved? That will help narrow things down a bit. I know the most about Nikons, but they are similar enough to Canon that I can still recommend a few things.

 

[Puppmom]

Mer, I''m right with you! I want to have great pics of our LO. I can''t wait to hear the suggestions. My house has really crappy lighting so I feel like I have to get something that''s good in low light. Our P&S stinks at indoor shots - I''ve learned you can up the megapixels all you want and it doesn''t do much unless you''re shooting under the right circumstances.

 

[NovemberBride]

Mer,

We got the Canon Rebel xsi when Olivia was born and I love it. I am by no means an expert, so I wanted something pretty easy to use. You can get a good deal on the Canon xsi now because there is a newer model out (Ti1), but the only real difference is that it shoots video. We already had a video camera, so it was a no brainer for us. When I did my research it seemed that the Canons and Nikons were both really good. We looked at both and chose the Canon because (1) the Nikon was larger and more awkward for me to hold with my tiny hands and (2) Canon was running a promotion where we got the telephoto lens for free. I''d look at both the Canons and Nikons and see what you like and which one is offering the best deal.

Also, you will also want a point and shoot if you don''t already have one. The DSLRs are big and heavy and you aren''t going to want to take it everywhere (you''ll already be toting a ton of stuff around!) I always keep my point and shoot in my camera bag so I have it with me wherever we are. The pics aren''t as good, but I have still captured some things I would have missed otherwise.

 

[meresal]

Date: 2/23/2010 11:08:49 AM
Author: MonkeyPie
Gosh I love these threads

I am such a geek.

Do you have a preference towards a particular brand? Like did you ever have a camera before (even a P&S) that you really loved? That will help narrow things down a bit. I know the most about Nikons, but they are similar enough to Canon that I can still recommend a few things.

I've had 2 Canon P&S's that I loved, and now have an Olympus that I loved until it went wonky. (It just stopped taking certain shots, and won't take ANY indoor shots anymore without a flash... or to get the right light, the pics end up being extremely blurry because of the "shutter time". Stupid thing, and it makes me not trust Olympus.)

I'm pretty sure that we would prefer Canon or Nikon. My mom has an EOS that is at least 15 years old, and it has held up extremely well, so I think either of those companies we would be happy with!

Pupp- I have a feeling there are a few of us that are in this category! Pull up a pillow!

November- Thank you so much for the review! We received a video camera as a wedding gift from the groomsmen, so we wouldn't necessarily need that either! We have a P&S now, but I have had it since 2006 and those things just don't hold up well anymore. We will probably get a new Canon to tote around in the baby bag with everything else! Great advice!

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 2/23/2010 11:22:32 AM
Author: NovemberBride
Mer,


We got the Canon Rebel xsi when Olivia was born and I love it. I am by no means an expert, so I wanted something pretty easy to use. You can get a good deal on the Canon xsi now because there is a newer model out (Ti1), but the only real difference is that it shoots video. We already had a video camera, so it was a no brainer for us. When I did my research it seemed that the Canons and Nikons were both really good. We looked at both and chose the Canon because (1) the Nikon was larger and more awkward for me to hold with my tiny hands and (2) Canon was running a promotion where we got the telephoto lens for free. I'd look at both the Canons and Nikons and see what you like and which one is offering the best deal.

Also, you will also want a point and shoot if you don't already have one. The DSLRs are big and heavy and you aren't going to want to take it everywhere (you'll already be toting a ton of stuff around!) I always keep my point and shoot in my camera bag so I have it with me wherever we are. The pics aren't as good, but I have still captured some things I would have missed otherwise.

This is actually a great post. I intend on getting a little P&S myself - Canon is far superior when it comes to P&S cameras by far, or at least in my experience. They also hold up to a lot more wear and tear than most other brands I have tried. So this is something to think about. I can recommend a few that do really well in low light situations indoors if that is your biggest concern.

The Rebel - any version of it - is always a good starter camera and the kit lens it comes with is pretty standard. If you want lenses that do better in low light, I can get you some links, but if you are ok with using the flash once it's dark, then straight out of the box this one will work for you.

Take a peek at the DSLR thread in Hangout right now, I recommended a camera body and lenses for BEG that will also work great for you from the Nikon line.

 

[lovelylulu]

mer,

I have a canon xti and love it. I generally use a 50mm lens. It''s a fixed focal point which means that it doesn''t zoom - you have to walk closer or further from what you are shooting, but it gives a really great depth of field (focal point is focused and the background is more blurry) and it''s a wonderful lens for shooting babies because even in low lights you don''t need a flash. babies do not love a flash.

good luck researching!

 

[sweetlime]

hi meresal:

i''m not a professional photographer, but digital photography is a serious hobby of mine. i would recommend a DSLR camera - either a canon or nikon. which one you choose is a matter of personal preference - both make excellent lenses. i picked nikon just because i liked how it felt in my hands!

i don''t know what your budget is, but i''d get the nikon d90. if you want to spend less $, then the D40 is another option (or its successor camera body)... just remember that the cheaper camera bodies won''t be compatible with the full range of lenses. i''d also avoid the "kit" lenses that are bundled with the camera because they are not that fast (i.e. the f-stop is a high number). you''re better off getting a fixed 35mm or 50mm f/1.8 prime lens - it''s inexpensive and fast. you can take great portrait shots of your kids with it (even in low-light situations). once your kids become more mobile, you can buy a wide-angle or zoom lens. i also have Adobe Lightroom 2.0 which is much easier to use than Photoshop.

camera gear is expensive, but to me it''s worth it. i''d prefer to have clear, crisp photos of my family/friends to share and archive for years to come.

 

[meresal]

Thanks everyone for your advice!

What is the difference between a 35mm and a 50mm? Would you recommend one more than the other?

 

[AllieLuv83]

When you look through a 35mm anything through the view finder will be further away than they would be if you looked through a 50mm and an 85mm would mean that it would look closer.

Think of 50mm as being the way you see things with your eyes, just like you baby is right in front of you.
If you look at your baby though a 35mm he will seem further away.
If you look at him though an 85mm he will look much closer.

HTH.

 

[meresal]

Date: 2/24/2010 12:58:36 PM
Author: AllieLuv83
When you look through a 35mm anything through the view finder will be further away than they would be if you looked through a 50mm and an 85mm would mean that it would look closer.

Think of 50mm as being the way you see things with your eyes, just like you baby is right in front of you.
If you look at your baby though a 35mm he will seem further away.
If you look at him though an 85mm he will look much closer.

HTH.

Thanks Allie! I think I like the idea of the 50mm, like you suggested earlier.

I wouldn''t really need an outfocus until the kids are older and move quicker. My mom used an autofocus for our sporting events because you never know where you need to take a picture during a game, but for babies, they don''t move away from you, and I''m guessing the 50mm will be best!

I really appreciate all of the advice!

 

[IloveAsschers13]

Hey I don''t have a baby, but I work with children and take tons of pictures of children. I LOVE my Canon p&s, I have this one. but something I would recommend is getting insurance on them. For example, I got my first point and shoot from Best buy and the 4 year warranty was about 60 bucks and they replaced my camera FOUR TIMES for nothing. Then finally it broke and they didn''t make that model anymore, so I got a camera of the same price. AWESOME. I also have the rebel Xsi, and I LOVE it for taking pictures indoor AND outdoor.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

My canon P&S did a great job until T became too quick. I got a Nikon D60 last x-mas (just after she turned 1) and it takes great pictures. The shutter speed on the P&S is no longer fast enough but it is still great to take mini videos with. I would plan on your needs for the next year or two since technology changes so fast.

 

[sweetlime]

Date: 2/24/2010 12:19:00 PM
Author: meresal
Thanks everyone for your advice!

What is the difference between a 35mm and a 50mm? Would you recommend one more than the other?

Just keep in mind that unless you have a full-frame camera body (which are $$$), a 50mm lens on the D90, for example, will actually be equivalent to a short telephoto lens (~75mm), and the 35mm will be more like a normal 50mm lens. It's a bit confusing, but this article will help explain the crop factor.

 

[mtjoya]

My DH and I got the Nikon D5000 DSLR. We are newbs and are trying to learn how to work the camera. We got a deal at bestbuy for $699 and got the protection plan for an additonal $150 for 4 years. Included with the package is an instructional DVD on how to take pics. DH did a little bit of research and ppl say that this is a good cam for newbs but the D90 is the best, a little bit more pricey, same lens but more features. Good Luck on your search!

 

[violet02]

My DH and I are planning on buying the Canon Rebel T1i and maybe picking up an extra lens. I'd love to maybe get the Nikon D90 but it's just a bit too high for us price range-wise.

Question for you camera buffs. The lens it comes with is listed as 18-55mm. That's sufficient for everyday kid picture taking right? (to be precise it's listed as: EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens)

 

[Tacori E-ring]

violet that is the lens I use 99% of the time.

 

[meresal]

Does 18-55mm mean that it is an autofocus lens?

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 2/25/2010 7:57:10 PM
Author: violet02
Question for you camera buffs. The lens it comes with is listed as 18-55mm. That''s sufficient for everyday kid picture taking right? (to be precise it''s listed as: EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens)

Yes. It works best in brighter light, but it isn''t bad at all - it''s the standard size of kit lens for a reason!

Mere, if it is a Nikon lens, AF means auto-focus. If it is a Canon lens, it will say EF, which means electrofocus, but Canon usually uses the words "auto focus".

 

[AmberGretchen]

Best combo IMO for starting out and taking gorgeous shots of a baby would be a Canon XSi body with a 50mm f/1.8 portrait lens - don''t bother with the kit lens that comes with the XSi body, I have it and I can tell you its not worth it, but the XSi bodies can be had for cheap now that the T1i (and soon the T2) are out, and the 50mm f/1.8 (referred to as a "nifty fifty" on a lot of photography websites) can be had for $100 or less, and takes GORGEOUS portrait shots, while being fast enough that once your LO does start moving around a bit more, you''d still be able to capture them.

I took a class when I first got my DSLR on how to use it and post-processing and stuff, and the teacher said that he still uses his 50mm f/1.8 a lot even though he has a ton of fancier and more expensive lenses, it is still one of his favorites, especially for taking pictures of his daughters.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 2/26/2010 5:14:11 PM
Author: AmberGretchen
Best combo IMO for starting out and taking gorgeous shots of a baby would be a Canon XSi body with a 50mm f/1.8 portrait lens - don''t bother with the kit lens that comes with the XSi body, I have it and I can tell you its not worth it, but the XSi bodies can be had for cheap now that the T1i (and soon the T2) are out, and the 50mm f/1.8 (referred to as a ''nifty fifty'' on a lot of photography websites) can be had for $100 or less, and takes GORGEOUS portrait shots, while being fast enough that once your LO does start moving around a bit more, you''d still be able to capture them.


I took a class when I first got my DSLR on how to use it and post-processing and stuff, and the teacher said that he still uses his 50mm f/1.8 a lot even though he has a ton of fancier and more expensive lenses, it is still one of his favorites, especially for taking pictures of his daughters.

I won''t lie, I adore my 50mm, but I have the F2.8 macro. I use it for EVERYTHING. It works in almost any situation - except small rooms where you can''t back up enough to fully appreciate the 50mm hehe.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Date: 2/26/2010 5:28:24 PM
Author: MonkeyPie

Date: 2/26/2010 5:14:11 PM

Author: AmberGretchen

Best combo IMO for starting out and taking gorgeous shots of a baby would be a Canon XSi body with a 50mm f/1.8 portrait lens - don''t bother with the kit lens that comes with the XSi body, I have it and I can tell you its not worth it, but the XSi bodies can be had for cheap now that the T1i (and soon the T2) are out, and the 50mm f/1.8 (referred to as a ''nifty fifty'' on a lot of photography websites) can be had for $100 or less, and takes GORGEOUS portrait shots, while being fast enough that once your LO does start moving around a bit more, you''d still be able to capture them.



I took a class when I first got my DSLR on how to use it and post-processing and stuff, and the teacher said that he still uses his 50mm f/1.8 a lot even though he has a ton of fancier and more expensive lenses, it is still one of his favorites, especially for taking pictures of his daughters.

I won''t lie, I adore my 50mm, but I have the F2.8 macro. I use it for EVERYTHING. It works in almost any situation - except small rooms where you can''t back up enough to fully appreciate the 50mm hehe.

I do love my nifty-fifty, it takes gorgeous photos, and I get a TON of use out of it. My next lens though will likely be a macro - I''m eyeing the 100mm f/2.8 (the new L one with IS), but its obviously a whole lot more expensive, so for now I''m saving my fun money

 

[lovelylulu]

I heart my 50mm. I had a 50mm 1.4 (runs around $300) but it broke after about 2 yrs. and I picked up the 1.8 (under $100) and think that it''s terrific. Again, great for babies because no flash necessary even in low light.