When Point-and-Shoot Isn't Good Enough: Camera Equipment That Will Help You Take Perfect Pictures of Your Kids

In my first hub about child photography, Taking Perfect Pictures of Your Kids: 3 Simple Secrets That Will Radically Improve Your Family Photographs, I focused on providing simple solutions to taking better pictures of your kids which anyone can learn, practice and which don't require the purchase of any special camera equipment.

But let's face it, there's a reason that professional photographers carry around big bags of cameras, lenses, tripods and lighting. While you might be able to get beautiful photographs with your point-and-shoot, the likelihood of a professional photographer getting a beautiful photograph is higher. The reason for this is not merely because of their better equipment, but because years of shooting, and looking at photographs, has taught them to know what to expect under certain conditions. So they know how to get what they want, and how to get it more often.

Maybe you've compared your photographs with theirs, and can see the difference. Maybe you've been hankering for a better camera, so you can also get better shots, and more often. A word of warning: Getting a better camera does not guarantee better pictures. If you're buying better equipment, you also have to make a commitment to yourself to learn how to use it, so that you can also create the effects you're looking for.

Many photographers start out with a specific camera system early on in their career, and rather than constantly reinventing the wheel, they stick with it, to ease the learning curve. Again, they want know their equipment, and want to know how to get what they want under certain conditions. I'm writing this hub based on my own experience as a photographer. My experience with SLR's began with Nikon film camera, and when I switched to DSLR I stuck with Nikon. Most of my photographer friends who don't use Nikon, use Canon - so Nikon and Canon are the two companies whose equipment, and its results, I've seen most often. So just in case you're wondering, I'll only be talking about Nikon and Canon is this hub.

Having said that, in this hub I will address the next question that I most often get from parents about photography. That is, "I'm getting a DSLR for my birthday from my spouse. What should I start out with, and what accessories should I buy with it?"

Remember, you're moving up from point and shoot, so keep your hand on your wallet! When you're talking about camera equipment, the prices climb quickly. These are the questions I was thinking about most when I chose which cameras to recommend:

1. Does it have both manual and automatic modes?
2. Is the lens changeable? As you learn more about what your camera does with a certain lens, you may be interested in trying others.
3. Is there a shoe mount on top, so you can add a top-mounted flash? Creative use of lighting can radically change the nature of your photography.

Having said that, without further ado - here are my top choices.

Nikon D3100 and Canon Rebel T3i These are both great entry level DSLRs, that give you plenty of automatic options. They also have the manual options that will give you more range for creativity, the possibility to use interchangeable lenses, and shoe mounts for a flash. An added plus is that you can also shoot HD video with these cameras. If this is more than just a *plus* for you though, you should read about the specifics in the product description on Nikon's website here and Canon's here, to make sure it can do everything that you're used to doing with your present video camera (i.e. Can it zoom in and out during shooting?) For a comparison of the two cameras, this will give you a start.

When you start to look around to compare prices for the two cameras above, you're going to notice that most of them are sold as a "kit". This means that they've chosen a decent, "overall" lens to go with the camera, and if you buy them together you get a better price. For both the Nikon and the Canon, the lens they've chosen for the kit is 18-55 mm. This is often a great deal when you are on a limited budget, and can be a good way to get started with a DSLR.

For those of you who have budgeted for a better option, I have some recommendations for a great "overall" lens (Warning: It will be larger and heavier than the kit lens, so think about this carefully if you like your cameras to be relatively portable).

I've always found the 18-55 to be a bit limiting when it comes to distance shots. My top choice for an overall lens is the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II Nikkor Telephoto Zoom Lens. You're going to look at the price and say "Whoa! That's more expensive than the camera body!", and I will reply, "I told you to hang on to your wallet!". For a less expensive option, you could try the Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom Lens. The Canon equivalent is the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom Lens. The lower priced option for use with Canon DSLRs is the Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom Lens.

Just to recap - these are expensive lenses! If you're not even sure that you'll carry around such a large camera, my advice is to buy the "kit" first. This may be all you need. If you decided you needed the 18-200mm, you could always add it later, or sell the used 18-55mm on ebay, and use the money to invest into the other lens. Always start with the least you possibly need, and work up from there.

The final part of my upgrade advice is lighting. While ideally (remembering my advice in Taking Perfect Pictures of Your Kids: 3 Simple Secrets That Will Radically Change Your Family Photographs), you will always choose natural light when you can - let's face it - sometimes our Kindergartner's graduation ceremony is in the ugly, fluorescently-lit basement hall of the parish church. In the cases where you have to just get the picture, for family history, not for the beauty of the picture - you will need a top-mounted flash. Using a flash like this, you will be able to bounce the light off the ceiling, creating a much more even and natural look - of course, never as beautiful as natural light. But you'll get the picture. The ceiling is 100 feet up you say? In this case you will need a little attachment to the top-mounted flash, that will "diffuse" the light, so that you don't get the deer-in-the-headlights look. I've listed my top choices at right, with the "generic" choice listed at the end. Remember, the brand choice of flash (Nikon or Canon) will always work with the automatic controls of your camera of choice. But if you absolutely can't afford another penny (your spouse must hate me by now), get the generic version, and read the instructions.

Whew! That was a lot more information than I thought it would be! But this is truly what I would recommend to the person who is serious about their family photos, is always the family member running around shooting pictures while the others chat, and wants something more than what a point-and-shoot can offer. In my next hub, I'll begin to explore some more choices for creativity and beauty - but in the meantime, shoot more pictures! Just the information and choices here could keep you learning for the next several years. Happy snapping!