A more advanced camera that a mommy photographer can learn to use?

[romtea]

So I have never cared very much about the quality of my snapshots before. I just bought whatever discounted / value point and shoot digital camera I could afford.

Well now I have 2 beautiful kids (my 7 month old twins) and I am frustrated beyond belief. Either the picture turns out fuzzy no matter how still I try to hold the camera or there is not enough light or the flash washes them out etc. etc. etc.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good digital camera that is a step (or maybe 2) above a point and shoot, that I could learn to use by experimenting and with the manual to a certain extent and that takes great pictures more often!!!

I wouldn't want to miss capturing those special memories because we just didn't try to find a good camera! Thanks for any suggestions...

 

[taitai]

We have a Nikon DSLR 40. I love it. LOVE IT. The best thing is that you can just push the button down and it clicks away. None of the horrible delay I used to get with my old point and shoot. It really has been a great camera for us. People see my photos (and I know NOTHING about photography) and ask who the professional was that I used for our Christmas cards. The camera is THAT good.

 

[hedgehog2owl]

we have a Sony Alpha 300 DSLR. Easy to use, and comparing the old point and shoot to the Sony's pix is laughable

I know some people really like the Canon XSI too

 

[Disnewbie76]

I agree on the nikon. I have a D50 and when I bought it, I knew basically NOTHING about photography. Even if you only ever use the auto settings the thing takes awesome pictures...plus, if you ever decide to learn more and go further with it, its a great camera for growing with.

 

[WowWow]

My husband is a professional photographer. Just some things to keep in mind when you look for a camera.

Look at the number of megapixels. Usually 8 megapixels is good for most family use cameras. It will allow you to make larger prints or crop prints better than 4 megapixels.

Look at the type of lens or lenses included with the camera. If you are going to be taking pictures of sports like football you need a longer lens in order to get a good close up shot.

Hope these two suggestions help you in your search.

 

[romtea]

Sorry - I am new on the boards - don't know how to have your responses in my response yet but

THANKS so far for all of the ideas... I had seen somewhere else about the nikon so I think I will investigate that one further. The one we have now claims that it has blur reduction but even when I put it on that setting the pictures are still blurry a lot of the time... I promise I'm not flinging it around when I take the shot I am trying to hold as still as possible

Those of you that use the nikon.. do you feel that the blur reduction is better or I might I be doing something wrong when I take the shot? Thanks again... would love a few more suggestions!

 

[Tjkane28]

I agree with the d40 suggestion, but you may find better ideas on the photography board. Blur in your photos can be caused by many things...how many cups of coffee are you drinking each morning. Let's start there.

 

[scoochie75]

I play around with photography for a hobby - I had a Nikon D50 and now use a Nikon D300. To be completely honest with you though when I am taking the kids to the park or out for the day I tend to grab my point and shoot and I get excellent pictures with it- not professional shots that I would make into a canvas picture but good enough that at times I have enlarged one or two. I love my DSLR but it is a large bulky piece of equipment and there is a rather large learning curve if you want to get the real value out of owning one. With that said - I started with a DSLR when my middle child was the same age as your twins (b/c she was impossible every time I tried to take her to get her pictures done) - if you have the time to learn the camera (and with twins that comment may have made you chuckle) I would say go for it - if you don't look into a higher end point and shoot and you will probably be happier with that.

 

[enchantingodin]

I have a canon powershot A630. I'd call it a mid/high level point and shoot. The thing I LOVE about this camera is the movable screen. It's like a camcorder. Great if you need to get a funky angle or want to self potrait. It also does take vids, with both sound and zoom. I had the 5 meg version before I upgraded a few years ago, then bought the next one up. Only tiny draw back is it only has a 4X optical zoom. But it does have a digi zoom too - so that helps. LOVE IT so much.

 

[seashoreCM]

Many problems with "ordinary" point and shoot cameras come about because the camera is incapable of taking the picture under the (dim) lighting conditions without accessories such as a tripod. Simply put, the lens is too slow. There are point-and-shoots that let you choose the shutter speed. You want to speed up the shutter to reduce blur if the subject is moving or you don't hold the camera perfectly still, but often you can't without making the picture come out too dark.

Most DSLR cameras also work automatically. To get a faster lens you almost have to upgrade to a DSLR. You can learn about the features of the DSLR at your own pace.

Point and shoot cameras with at least an f/2.8 lens and 3x zoom and at least 5 megapixels are pretty much the minimum you need for good pictures and are also almost ubiquitous. Except that when you zoom, their lenses slow down, perhaps to something like f/4.5 or f/5. Also the more you zoom, the steadier you need to hold the camera. Both of these things work against you in a dimly lighted scene. Even the full f/2.8 lens opening at 3x zoom probably requires a DSLR for which you selected such a lens.

Using an ISO like 1600 or more lets you shoot in dim light with less blurring from not holding the camera absolutely steady. Except that the picture acquires another kind of blur, graininess. On average, all other things being equal, a DSLR yields less grainy pictures for a given ISO than a point-and-shoot. You'll have to read magazine reviews to find out which point-and-shoots yield passable versus pathetic pictures at ISO 1600 or 3200, if they even have that high a setting.

Digizoom (digital zoom) in any camera does nothing more than cropping or zooming by yourself in your computer after uploading can do.

Many cameras including point-and-shoots let you "play it by ear" for focusing. Aim directly at the intended subject, press and hold the button halfway, wait a moment*, then frame the picture and shoot. Some cameras require that you make a menu setting or two to have the camera behave that way. Usually when you press the button the rest of the way, there is no additional lag before the picture takes. Except when the flash red-eye compensation in the form of multiple flashes is in effect (another menu selection).

Digital camera hints: http://www.cockam.com/digicam.htm

*Some cameras signal you that they succeeded or failed to achieve focus. Release the button, aim very slightly differently, and try again if needed. Dark subjects are harder to focus on.

 

[WAHMto5]

I also have a D40 and love it! I purchased different lenses and it has been great for everything!

 

[romtea]

Thanks for the digital camera shooting tips. You're probably right that it is more difficult in the dim lighting because I have the hardest time with the indoor pics. I never knew that it was harder as well when zoomed in.

I will check out that link for the tips!