Best Digital Camera for a Fast-moving Toddler?

I am incredibly picky about my cameras and currently use a Canon Powershot SX10IS and LOVE it. It is large, though and will not fit in your pocket. My children have digital cameras- a fuji and a Kodak. Both are adequate for what they use it for. But they are not taking picks of wiggly toddlers. THere is not a point and shoot on the market currently, that fits my picky style. I wish there was! Camera companies have sacrificed picture quality for silly features in cameras like larger megapixels. I have a 6 megapixel Kodak that beats the pants off most point and shoots today (I bough it in 2004). It is, sadly, on its last leg. But I still use it from time to time when one of its features is better than the Canon I currently have for every day.

A few key points to look for- a good return policy. I have returned cameras after a couple of weeks because they do not perform to my standards.

A fast motion (action) setting. Allows for less time between shots (sometimes) and operates at a faster shutter speed to catch those movements.

Stay away from Nikon. Their high MP DSLRs are some of the best on the market, but they can't make a point and shoot to save their lives.

I do like the Canon's and most have great reviews. They have good accessories (Canon makes and underwater case for all of their models) and are intuitive and easy to use.

My best advice is to find one that looks like it will work for you, buy it at a store with a great return policy and try it out.

Good Luck

2 moms found this helpful

We never found a point and shoot that was fast enough. And we looked for a while. We saved and finally purchased an digital SLR camera (Nikon 3100) and we couldn't be happier, but it is an investment piece of equipment. While shopping at the camera store I asked what point and shoot they recommended (my MIL was shopping around). He said that he thought the newer Nikon coolpix were a pretty good option. We also learned that some SD cards for digital cameras are faster than others.

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We have went through 3 digital camera's trying to find one that didn't delay. Never found one that was fast enough. We invested in a DSLR (Nikon D3000), and it has been my best friend since the day I got it. It takes 3 pics per second, so you never miss a thing :)

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I always buy Cannon cameras, they are the best! I bought a Nikon coolpix camera for around $200 and I hate it. It was awful, every picture I took was blurry and fuzzy. I traded it in for Cannon Power Shot and never been happier!

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A dslr would be best. But if you can't get one, one tip is to make sure your ISO is as high as can be on your point and shoot. That will help indoors especially.

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Nikon Coolpix, definitely. I know you're looking for something that costs a bit less, but thought I'd give my experience anyway, just in case you change your mind in the future...

Our son is in his high school Chorale and they dance on stage quite a bit. We invested in the Nikon Coolpix P100 (It was about $350) and after taking the time to read the manual and learn what the buttons actually do (we're a bit photographically challenged), we've come to love this camera! It took clear, precise pictures. Nothing fuzzy or grainy... and that was from halfway up the auditorium seating with about 24 dancing and singing kids bouncing around!

I have full confidence that it will catch great pictures of a very active toddler!! Good luck! :)

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I didn't read any other answers so forgive me if I am repeating.
My favorite for my kids is my Flip camera. It is a video, that i can then download-software is in the camera- has a plug in to your computer (attached to the camera, no extra cords to get lost) and I can just freeze frame for pics! I love it!
Edit: I had a couple of requests so I wanted to post the website for these! http://www.theflip.com

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There is not a point and shoot camera on the market that will let you take
continuous shots. There will always be a pause. You would have to get
an SLR, Cannon, Nikon, etc. to achieve the continuous shoot. Now
you would be talking about a minimum of $600.

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Before becoming a professional photographer, I went through many point & shoots. I was always looking for that perfect combination. (Plus, I REALLY wanted zoom!)

I agree with Jennifer, Canon Power Shot is fabulous for point & shoot. For DSLR, Nikon is my baby! (Canon DSLR has a problem with focus.)
Canon makes Power Shots with just about anything you need. Continuous shooting mode was my best friend with my active toddler.

Are you a Costco member? If not, go check it out. (No, I don't work there!) There is no other company out there with a return policy like theirs. Plus, the prices are hard to beat.

Above all, get out of Target! I love that store. However, it's NOT where you want to be buying electronics. Go to Best Buy if you want to really check out cameras. Even if you don't buy there, it's a great place to check them out.

I completely agree with you on it being small enough to fit in the pocket at this time. With toddlers, you don't want to be lugging around a DSLR. As much as I love mine, we wouldn't have half as many photos of our little guy if the camera wasn't kept in my purse. My photography priorities have changed since then, and it's now worth it for me to carry the camera on my back. (Like our trip to the zoo yesterday!)

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

I know the feeling of camera-lust-can't-afford!!! Aaargh. I've been saving for a new DSLR for over a year, and it will be at least another year before I can get it. And the one I'm getting isn't even my "dream" camera (that one's 7k).

May I suggest, however, looking into a *refurb* or *used* DSLR? My nikon is only 6.1MP and I get better, clearer shots than my husband's pocket 12MP camera. It's because a) the lenses "create" the extra pixels (because the physical zoom is so much better, as well as the lenses themselves ), and b) I'm not blowing these photos up to poster size, but in general I print to only 5x7 / 8x10. You can get "my" camera these days for $100 - $250 (rofl... although it cracks me up people trying to sell them for $600 which is what they cost new 5 years ago, and what the 12.3MP nikon dslrs cost currently). Many camera shops or photography schools will also rent bodies and lenses so that you can try them out.

If that doesn't sound appealing, I'd suggest a mini-lesson. At an actual camera store (as opposed to mega store), have a pro walk you through the features to look for / how to use them to get the shots that you want. Camera geeks LOVE to talk details, and show the difference between things. IMPORTANT: Write it down. Even the least dyslexic person can have letters and numbers swimming in their minds after 10 minutes. ISO/ fStop/ aperature/ and all the numbers that get rattled off make *sense* to them, so they don't often know that they are overloading someone who doesn't speak camera-ese. Write down the settings so that when you get home, you aren't crosseyed. So often the reviews of why people "hate" their camera are written by people who don't know how to use the settings. It's like reading a review that an oven takes FOREVER to cook, when the user never turns the heat up past 200, because they don't know how.

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My daughter bought a Sony DSCW220 w yrs ago. She left to go to college and I had to buy one for myself. I had to get it from the web cause they already came out with the next model and it didn't feel the same as this one. This is a 12.1 mp. Takes excellent (better than my Kodak SLR) photos, you can just keep snapping and it will take-has a 2 second delay but that is just for the flash. The battery looks more like a cell phone battery and holds a charge for weeks. This thing is smaller than an iphone. Matter of fact, I bought a cellphone case to carry it in (walmart has good hard cases).

Not sure with what you have looked at but some cameras have an "action" setting where it will take multiple shots at once. Read the manuals to see what settings you can get as you test "drive". (I know-novel idea and advice I never seem to follow....)
Good luck!

I also HATED my Canon Powershot. Got sooo many pics of the back of my toddler's head. Every time I went to use it I found myself muttering "I hate this camera!!!" We finally sprung for a Canon Rebel a couple of weeks ago ($500 on Amazon) and within 2 days we had more good pics of my 3 year old than we had gotten in the last 3 years put together. It was painful forking out all that $$ but I figure we'll have it forever and when it comes to memories of your young kids...well I just have to think it was worth it. LOVE the Rebel!!

I have coolpix that was 130 and it takes good pics. I hold the button half way down so it can adjust to the environment (from what I know all cameras do this) and then ask her to take a pic b/c my daughter is 2 and I can barely get nice pics of her lol. There's also a freeze frame camera, you'll have to google it, the commercial with ashton kutcher taking pics of the dancers. That seemed good but probably pricey.