Best camera for capturing kids on the move?

[LauralF22]

We have two little ones (4 and 2) who absolutely will NOT sit still for a camera, and we're going to Disney in October.

What is the best, small, camera to take that actually takes the picture when you push the button (as opposed to having to hold it for 3-5 seconds)? I want something that I can put in my pocket or small purse... and since Mother's Day is coming up...

Any favorites out there?

 

[Sacha_L]

when you find it please let me know! I have the same issue with my two boys the only thing I have found that works is my DSLR set in sport mode I too would love a small camera that I can just throw in a bag or pocket that had a fast shutter speed...without spending a $500+ though

 

[ilovejack02]

Im dying to know too.
I have an Olympus from about 6 yrs ago.. amazing pics, but not good at the kiddos moving. At the time i was looking at over 1000.00 for that .

 

[mom_of_3_70737]

I was looking for a camera that does everything that you described....I finally decided on the Canon Powershot SD750 Digital Elph. I LOVE it!!! It takes great pics and has all sorts of settings and modes to catch little ones on the move

 

[Sacha_L]

the elph looks pretty cool!

 

[daisylove]

My sony cybershot was really good at this type of pic. The pentax I have now not so good.

 

[Tabatha]

my favorite on the go camera is the Olympus SW.

Mine is a few years old, but still works great. The best part is its durability - shockproof up to 3 feet which is good because I am always dropping it & waterproof up to 3 feet. I've gotten some really cool underwater pictures of my kids without the bulky underwater compartment needed for other cameras. Lots of point and shoot settings to help us amateurs get the best possible picture.

I will admit that even in sport mode the shutter time is sometimes still too slow, but I think that its a trade off for the other features.

 

[dizneechic]

I just picked up a Lumix ZS3, which is a little spendy for a compact but it's absolutely wonderful. Mine just arrived a two days ago so I am still testing it out, but as a DSLR user (Nikon D90) and comparing image quality output it comes very close. I wanted a high quality compact to bring down for our trip so I didn't need to tote around my heavy bag and lenses, it had to be simple to use, HD video was a plus (stereo sound a bonus), great in any situation, and fire off instantly when the shutter button was pressed... so far it has met those expectations.

Here are 2 test shots -
Bee mid flight (force flash off):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/dizneechic/P1010065_bee1.jpg
My dd outside squirming in and out on me (camera in auto mode, no flash fired):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/dizneechic/outside_P1010029-1.jpg

The fun thing is it has modes for everything, food, fireworks, sunset, starry sky, ariel, pets, people, and lots of others. Now I just need to read the manual to figure out what most of them do!

 

[Tabatha]

I just picked up a Lumix ZS3...but as a DSLR user (Nikon D90) and comparing image quality output it comes very close. ...it had to be simple to use, HD video was a plus (stereo sound a bonus), great in any situation, and fire off instantly when the shutter button was pressed... so far it has met those expectations.s -
!

wow great photos! I just read some reviews about this camera, and really think that I might be making this purchase.

A question about the video mode...you mention stereo sound...how is it in playback mode? I was planning on getting a new video camera for my trip, but would love a camera that can do it all. How about memory card? Have you had a chance to play around with it enough to determine how much memory is needed per say 30mins of video?

Of course keeping my Olypmus for the waterproof aspects, but possibly handing it down to my children since its darn near indestructible.

 

[tzolkin]

my favorite on the go camera is the Olympus SW.

Mine is a few years old, but still works great. The best part is its durability - shockproof up to 3 feet which is good because I am always dropping it & waterproof up to 3 feet. I've gotten some really cool underwater pictures of my kids without the bulky underwater compartment needed for other cameras. Lots of point and shoot settings to help us amateurs get the best possible picture.

I will admit that even in sport mode the shutter time is sometimes still too slow, but I think that its a trade off for the other features.

Glad to hear your experience with this camera. We just bought an 850SW for our trip. It's supposed to be shockproof to 5 feet, waterproof to 10, and freezeproof.

We've had a good experience with our other Olympus camera (bought it 3 years ago), so we thought we would try this one.

 

[dizneechic]

wow great photos! I just read some reviews about this camera, and really think that I might be making this purchase.

A question about the video mode...you mention stereo sound...how is it in playback mode? I was planning on getting a new video camera for my trip, but would love a camera that can do it all. How about memory card? Have you had a chance to play around with it enough to determine how much memory is needed per say 30mins of video?

Of course keeping my Olypmus for the waterproof aspects, but possibly handing it down to my children since its darn near indestructible.

I haven't had time to play with the video mode yet but there are samples up on youtube already http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKLr2UfxYR4
I'm planning on tinkering a bit more myself with the video over the weekend but for Disney will be borrowing my moms Flip Mino HD which I know can handle longer recording times than the ZS3 (and won't kill the battery for when I want pictures). I've found in the past that I want still images as keepsakes over video, but love the video to capture the moment so having 2 devices (one for each) is my best bet for key events. For an all in one "purse camera" though the Lumix is perfect since it can do what ever I needed and do both very well.

Funny about the underwater... there is an underwater mode on the ZS3 as well, but I believe you need to pick up the special housing for the camera to go into to submerge it. I don't think it's something I would ever try, but it sounds like it could be fun!

 

[Tabatha]

Glad to hear your experience with this camera. We just bought an 850SW for our trip. It's supposed to be shockproof to 5 feet, waterproof to 10, and freezeproof.

Funny about the underwater... there is an underwater mode on the ZS3 as well, but I believe you need to pick up the special housing for the camera to go into to submerge it. I don't think it's something I would ever try, but it sounds like it could be fun!

underwater pics are really fun, I would recommend to anyone. I was really scared the first few times I submerged the Olympus, but it is truly waterproof. I would recommend practicing with it underwater before going to Disney. I've had the camera for about 3 yrs now and just recently figured out how to time the pictures underwater and trying to view the screen underwater without goggles is difficult. HINT*After using underwater be careful of water spots on the lens if you don't dry afterward.

I like to let my kids (3-13) play with this camera whenever they want and its fun to see what they take pics of. Its been dropped so many times and still works fine. I routinely drop mine in my beer mug which is why I gravitated to the shockproof/waterproof model

 

[dizneechic]

I like to let my kids (3-13) play with this camera whenever they want and its fun to see what they take pics of.

Ok I'm venturing OT here but I love handing my cheapie P&S over to my oldest who is 7.5. Last year I brought my crew to see BNL locally and he took a ton of pics and did really well. I blogged (and haven't really since) about it, but I took pics of him taking his pics and posted some of the results. It's a really neat perspective, and something we'll repeat down in Disney for sure!
Kids BNL blog post

 

[left210]

I just picked up a Lumix ZS3, which is a little spendy for a compact but it's absolutely wonderful. Mine just arrived a two days ago so I am still testing it out, but as a DSLR user (Nikon D90) and comparing image quality output it comes very close. I wanted a high quality compact to bring down for our trip so I didn't need to tote around my heavy bag and lenses, it had to be simple to use, HD video was a plus (stereo sound a bonus), great in any situation, and fire off instantly when the shutter button was pressed... so far it has met those expectations.

Here are 2 test shots -
Bee mid flight (force flash off):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/dizneechic/P1010065_bee1.jpg
My dd outside squirming in and out on me (camera in auto mode, no flash fired):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/dizneechic/outside_P1010029-1.jpg

The fun thing is it has modes for everything, food, fireworks, sunset, starry sky, ariel, pets, people, and lots of others. Now I just need to read the manual to figure out what most of them do!

Did you use any manual settings or do any post processing on these pictures. They are really good and I want a camera that will take good pictures right out of the camera. Have you tried it indoors yet with and without flash? Can you post some pictures to show us your results.

 

[baz212]

Another vote for the Canon elph. The first shot I tried was my son coming down a slide. I was so used to having to push the button early because of the delay on my Kodak, I ended up with a shot of the tips of his feet instead of his body.

 

[dizneechic]

Did you use any manual settings or do any post processing on these pictures. They are really good and I want a camera that will take good pictures right out of the camera. Have you tried it indoors yet with and without flash? Can you post some pictures to show us your results.

The ZS3 is 100% auto, there are "scene" modes (18 of them) but no manual options except disabling the flash. With my DSLR I do a lot of post processing but in testing the ZS3 everything was straight from the camera (except maybe some cropping to tighten up the images).

Here are some indoor shots, both of my ds.
flash on (and fired), portrait mode, front hall of my house with average lighting:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/dizneechic/P1010037_flashon-1.jpg
To me a little bright, but still fabulous skin tones and didn't blow out anything.

flash turned off, portrait mode, same location a few minutes apart:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/dizneechic/P1010047_flashoff-1.jpg

This one is my dd again, indoors, daylight but all blinds down so the room was dark and the light source is behind the couch she was laying on, red eye reduction (ie double flash) was on:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/dizneechic/test_night_P1010024.jpg
I think this could have been sharper, but she was moving all over and I don't recall what mode the camera was on (one of the 1st inside shots).

Here are 2 more taken at ballet class. The lighting is dim in the room as it also serves as a yoga room. These are both with the flash off, and would have been a lot better with the flash on, but I didn't want to disrupt and it gave me a chance to test for noise in a low light situation.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/dizneechic/ballet_P1010089.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/dizneechic/ballet_P1010102.jpg

 

[Carlucci]

Another vote for the Panasonic Lumix line here. I love mine. But, you should be able to achieve what you want if you familiarize yourself with the features of most point-and-shoot cameras.

1. Check for a continuous auto-focus feature. Usually, this is NOT the default, as this drains batteries faster, but constantly adjusts the focus while you aim, not just when you push the button down. Not being in continuous mode costs you a split second while the camera focuses, or requires you to hold the button halfway down to focus before taking the final shot.

2. In daylight, turn off the red-eye reduction. Having this mode on will light a small lamp to light before the main flash fires, and this costs you a small amount of time too.

3. If you've got a spare battery and a big memory card, look for a "burst" mode, that will take 5-10 shots in rapid succession, allowing you to pick out the best from several.

4. Experiment with the image-stabilization, ISO settings, etc. You really have to play with it to get familiar with what works best in a given situation.

Practice, practice, practice. It's not like old days where each individual shot cost you something. Now you can easily delete those you don't like.

 

[LauralF22]

Another vote for the Panasonic Lumix line here. I love mine. But, you should be able to achieve what you want if you familiarize yourself with the features of most point-and-shoot cameras.

1. Check for a continuous auto-focus feature. Usually, this is NOT the default, as this drains batteries faster, but constantly adjusts the focus while you aim, not just when you push the button down. Not being in continuous mode costs you a split second while the camera focuses, or requires you to hold the button halfway down to focus before taking the final shot.

2. In daylight, turn off the red-eye reduction. Having this mode on will light a small lamp to light before the main flash fires, and this costs you a small amount of time too.

3. If you've got a spare battery and a big memory card, look for a "burst" mode, that will take 5-10 shots in rapid succession, allowing you to pick out the best from several.

4. Experiment with the image-stabilization, ISO settings, etc. You really have to play with it to get familiar with what works best in a given situation.

Practice, practice, practice. It's not like old days where each individual shot cost you something. Now you can easily delete those you don't like.

Thanks for the tips! Everyone here made some great suggestions - and I love the pictures that PP added. I'm going to take a look at all the options.

Thanks everyone! I'll let you know what I decide. If anyone else out there has a vote, chime in.

Laural

 

[GoinToDisney]

My sony cybershot was really good at this type of pic. The pentax I have now not so good.

How long ago did you have the Sony? I ask because I had one 5 years ago that was great. Then we broke it (cat knocked a glass of orange juice over and the camera caught most of it). We bought another one, I'd say it was 2 or 3 years ago, and the cybershot just doesn't work like it used to. It's OK, but I loved my old one. Now I am in the market for something better.