© 2008

Camera Criteria for Baby Photography


Friends, clients and inquiring minds on the Internet frequently ask me which camera should they buy to photograph their children. Many of those same folks jump to the conclusion that they need a digital SLR, you know the big black cameras with the fancy lenses that seem so prolific among parents these days. Before you jump the gun (and check out the recommended cameras at the end of this) and buy one, it's important to note that beautiful pictures can be had with even a camera phone but better equipment does facilitate a higher number of "keepers". Let's distill the hundreds of camera specs to a few key metrics that parents should care about most and that may be less obvious:

  • Auto Focus and Shutter Lag
  • Image quality
  • Portability, Ergonomics and Usability

Auto Focus and Shutter Lag. The primary reason parents switch to dSLR is for their reputation for being responsive or specifically the time between pressing the shutter button to when the photograph is captured, is typically shorter with an SLR. However there are two components to this. First the time it takes for the camera to focus on the subject, or the time to focus. Second the time taken for the camera to actually record the image, or the shutter lag. The rate of auto focus varies widely with cameras but for most modern cameras, it is the constraint to taking photos of junior. Shutter lag on a decent point and shoot camera (e.g. Canon G10) is about 0.15 seconds whereas a high-end dSLR (e.g. Canon 5D) has a lag of about 0.078 or half that. That's a big difference in percentage terms but, even as a professional, the time lag difference is pretty inconsequential. The bigger factor is focusing - a point and shoot can take several seconds to focus particularly in dim light, an SLR will vary from another -.07 seconds outdoors to about half a second in very low light. In practical terms, anything over a quarter second means you risk missing the moment as much can change with a rapidly moving toddler in that timeframe. Anything under a quarter second requires the photographer to anticipate the moment. Bottom line: If you photograph your baby indoors a lot, an SLR will be highly beneficial. Otherwise, if you take mostly outdoor photos or more static photos (child in high chair) then pre-focusing will eliminate any discernible difference, can save you a huge chunk of change and allow you to carry less equipment.

Image Quality. Image quality is the sum of image sharpness, ability to produce beautiful bokeh (the nice blurry background) and low noise (lack of graininess and chromatic discoloration in low light). SLRs win hands down in every dimension - if you invest the appropriate lenses. The "kit" lens that comes with SLRs will actually take poorer quality photos then a decent point and shoot. Professional lenses let in more light per exposure providing nicer images. SLRs however, typically have a larger imaging chip, which allows better low light performance. Bottom line: If you shoot in low light conditions then an SLR is worth seriously considering. For every other circumstance SLRs are worth considering but be prepared to invest a chunk of change to reach this goal.

Portability, Ergonomics and Usability. You are already toting around diapers, wipes, toys, lubbies, sippy cups, bibs and kids. The last thing you want to do is carry a huge camera with a set of lenses. Bottom line: A point and shoot will always be more compact. An SLR will always be more ergonomic as its size contours to your hand better. However, if you can afford to it's nice to have an inexpensive point and shoot to carry around and an SLR for your home (or occasional trip when you have a pack mule, a.k.a spouse, with you) use where you can keep a set of lenses nearby. It's what I do.

How to Buy an SLR for Photographing Children

Picking a new camera is easier than parenting, but can be intimidating nonetheless. Here are some practical guidelines:
  1. Invest in the system not the camera. Assuming you're buying an SLR you'll have to invest in lenses, flashes and other accessories. The camera ends up being a fraction of the cost of all your subsequent purchases so avoid the temptation to buy the hottest or cheapest camera and look ahead to which system offers you what you most likely need long term. My choice came down to appreciating the quality of images from the Canon L-series (professional) lenses. Nikon has a brilliant flash photography system. Beyond that, the two leap frog each other every couple of years in the other feature/functionality areas.
  2. Canon vs. Nikon. There are many camera manufacturers, but for the vast majority of people these two brands are the ones to stick with. The reason is simple - they own the most market share. That's important because you can easily rent (or borrow) lenses for either camera, chose from a wide selection of compatible accessories, and have either brand serviced easily. RED, Hassleblad and Leica make great special purpose cameras, but Canon and Nikon still provide the best cost to value ratio.
  3. Buy from a camera store. Go to a camera store and try it out. The Internet is a wealth of information but it can't tell you how it'll fit in your hand or whether you'll find the camera layout intuitive. You could always go to a store and buy online, but it's rarely worth it. Most retail stores price their cameras competitively since they know consumers comparison shop.

Camera Recommendations for Parents

In the interest of full disclosure, the bulk of my time is spent sharpening my photography skills and not reviewing equipment (as much as my wife thinks I'm for a gadget geek). Photography technology changes quickly with sites dedicated exclusively to reviewing equipment, but here are some recommendations based on what I carry.

Carry Around Camera - Canon G9 (or G10 now). In addition to meeting the base criteria above, it has a number of nice extras. It has a view finder (which is handy when shooting in direct sunlight), is built like a rock (my baby daughter has dropped it a number of times), takes adequate black and white baby images indoors and finally is a camera you can grow into. At the end of the day though, it's easy enough for my wife to use, yet allows enough control that I've actually done professional work with it in lieu of my Canon 5D (originally retailing for ~$3000).

Top Image Quality - Canon Rebel XSi. It's one of the smallest SLRs on the market but provides the image quality and features on cameras that used to cost 3-4 times as much. Just remember to pass on the kit lens and save the money for some real lenses otherwise just go with a Canon G9/G10 or equivalent.

Camera Criteria for Parents

Kids are constantly running around and at the same time, parents don’t have time to tinker with the latest photography equipment. Here are some tips for new parents looking to buy a camera to capture those special moments.