Help Choosing a Digital Camera!!!

Hey J.,
I am a Photographer in Northfield, Mn., specializing in Child/infant photography,(www.ginaledmanphotos.photoreflect.com). I would recommend to you that you find a camera with the least shutter lag (time between when you press the shutter button and when the camera takes the picture). This is the single most important feature when photographing children because 1). they are constantly moving, and if you try to snap a pic and they move even the littlest, you end up with a blurry pic.(try to get your 2 1/2 year old to hold still for 5 seconds and smile, you'll see what I mean). 2). You have the potential to miss some really critical moments. Ex. blowing out birthday candles.
Go to the store and try each camera first. Test the Lag and the Zoom. Also ask to see if any models have an Optical zoom vs. the Digital zoom. Optical gives you sharper results and you have more control.
Don't obsess over the pixel issue. The only difference between a camera with 3.0 pixels vs. 10.0 pixels is the image when you enlarge it. An image can look exactly the same on a 4x6 to an 8x10 with both cameras. You will see a huge difference if you try to enlarge the image larger than an 11x14. The 10.0 pixel camera will have supurb quality up to probably a 24x36 poster size, if not larger. The photo taken with the 3.0 mp camera will look horrible at anything that is bigger that a 11x14 (probably). So if you are not interested in enlarging most of you photos, dont be really concerned about the number of megapixels. Just get something in the middle and you'll be fine.
Focus more on the other options and functions. Also, see if you can find one that lets you control the flash. You should use flash outdoors when it is sunny (I know, it sounds wierd). It is very useful for fill light when your subject is in front of the sun and their faces are very dark. Also helps avoid "raccoon eyes" due to shadows. Normally the camera would tell you it is getting enough light and doesn't need the flash, but if you can override that mode and turn it on, you can get some pictures that you normally wouldn't be able to get.
Hope this helps! If you have any more questions, I am happy to help!

G.

"As I was watching my kids play in the yard, I wondered what they will be like in 20 years" ... Then I wondered, "in 20 years, will I remember what they are like today".

2 moms found this helpful

Nikon is the best of the best but I have a Kodak camera and love it, it has the 10X zoom. It also has so many settings on it for things like: snow, landscape, fireworks, etc. I am also obsessed with taking pictures and I am so glad we got this camera!

1 mom found this helpful

I WOULD CHOOSE THE KODAK I HAVE THE 6.1 AND IT IS GREAT I BOUGHT IT LAST CHRISTMAS AND IT TAKES GREAT PICTURES.

1 mom found this helpful

I've never used a Nikon, but my Mom and best friend both have Kodak and they take excellent pics. I actually like my Mom's camera better than mine and I spent a ton more money on mine.

1 mom found this helpful

I would check out comsumer reports. www.ConsumerReports.org

1 mom found this helpful

I have both and Nikon if you spend enough is very good.

Kodak is extremely user friendly and extremely easy to use. I had a kodak digital til Bryana dropped it and broke it. I now use a panasonic digital and hate it.

I would play with both in the store and see which you like the best.

1 mom found this helpful

I have the Kodak P712 and love it! Nikon makes great dSLR's, but I've heard mixed reviews about their point and shoots. I haven't heard anything bad about the newer Kodaks.

1 mom found this helpful

I have a Kodak I do love it for the ease of use and the ease of putting it on the docking station to charge and transfer pics. But I agree with the first person it is a little slow if you want to capture a number of pictures in a row or something movie but I love it.

1 mom found this helpful

My answer is the Canon PowerShot SD600 Digital Elph. I am a pro photographer and this would be the one I would get (as far as point and shoot). This camera uses SD cards by the way...

My real answer would be to invest in a DSLR. You can't beat 'em. Especially with little kids! There is no camera delay when you press the button like most point and shoots. It really is an investment because photographs last forever. I wish I had gotten into photography sooner because my boys have sad little point and shoot baby pictures with the flash exploded in their face.

I had a Kodak digital camera before I went pro and hated it. Do your research- check out epinions.com and see what others have to say.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

J.,
I don't know much about the camera's you mentioned although Kodak is a good camera. Although I have heard that it is very slow. I picked up a Sony Cybershot 7.2mp. With my camera I haven't missed those cute faces and smiles yet. The higher the mega pixels the better the quality of picture. It was just under $200.00 (I got it in January at Best Buy) and I have to tell it is a great camera even on close ups of my daughter. I can take movies of her with it and send them to my family. Hope this helps.
L.

1 mom found this helpful

I actually sell camera's and I believe the kodak is what you'd be happiest with. It is a little more but like you i take tons of pictures and I know what one I would choose if it were up to me. The 6.1 mp will also allow you to have better pictures if you decide to go bigger than 4x6.

1 mom found this helpful

ok here is my opinion and only my opinion, i am very much into photagraphy(eventually want to do it professionally) so i have a very expensive camera but ive had quite a few before it and heres what i have found. kodak has great quality but...if you plan on using it to take pictures of kids it is very slow and you usually miss the pic that u want. my mom has a kodak and she always complains about it being to slow but if you turn the flash and red eye reduction off then you have a bad pic. nikon is a great one if your gonna spend like 400-600 dollars the cheaper ones are a bit faster then kodak but the pic isnt as sharp..but there is many comp programs that can inhance that if you have the time to do it. i finally ended up with canon and i love it! like i said my camera is a rebel(which at costco is 699 and thats the lowest)so its not cheap but its got a reapeat setting so you can take 24 pics a min(nice with kids) the pics are sharp and very clear. but i also have a cheaper one (canon) that i use when i dont want to lug mine around and it is very nice also compared to the other i have had. one major thing about kodak is there are certain thing that must be kodak to work like the memory card. where almost all other cameras use anything. one thing you should really do is go into a proex and play with the ones you are considering. i live at proex when it comes to learning things about my cameras they are very friendly and are really willing to answer all your questions even if you tell them you dont want to buy one there that day. you know if you find a better deal elsewhere from best buy you could always sell your giftcard and use the money somewhere else. just a thought sorry if i rambled to much just a topic ive spent much time on. good luck!
A.

1 mom found this helpful

I would go with the Nikon if I were choosing between those two. I have had a Kodak digital camera and hated it. It worked really well the first year, but then the pictures got fuzzier as time went by. By the end of the second year it was not worth using. Kodak has put a lot more into the quality of their photo developing rather than their cameras. The camera is very easy to use, but does not stand the test of time. I hope this helps!

A.

1 mom found this helpful

If you are obsessed with taking photos, I'd suggested going to a place like National Camera Exchange, where they specialize in finding the right camera for you, and won't be off selling someone a washing machine when they're done with you!