| Children and a Camera - probably the most | | | | in no way, be compared to the pictures taken by |
| difficult, but creatively satisfying way of archiving | | | | the slightly more expensive SLR cameras. |
| your life's wonderful moments. | | | | An SLR camera comes with the ability to switch |
| Shooting pictures of children can be more difficult | | | | lenses, so that you can choose the right lens for |
| than getting a shot of that awesome dunk or the | | | | that super-close up picture of that bee pollinating |
| spectacular home-run hit, because a sports | | | | a flower, or the perfect wide-angle lens to |
| moment is probably more predictable than the | | | | capture the entire view of the Grand Canyon |
| expression of a child. It's almost like trying to hit a | | | | from where you stand. |
| moving target, except you don't know when your | | | | Other features that make a SLR a much better |
| target will show up, and which way it will move! | | | | choice for taking great pictures that last a lifetime, |
| But rest easy - amazing advancements in digital | | | | are: |
| photography, both in terms of technology and | | | | * Built for speed - Super fast start-up speed so |
| lower prices, have made it possible for your | | | | that you never have to miss that perfect |
| special moments to be captured with far better | | | | moment because it took your camera 20 |
| accuracy and detail than ever before. Newer | | | | seconds to get to ready-to-shoot state. |
| cameras with improved photo resolution and | | | | * Accurate "what you see is what you get" |
| shutter speed, with the help of spectacular | | | | picture when you compose your shots through |
| low-cost lenses, help to make it easier for both | | | | the view finder instead of the LCD display. In fact, |
| professional and novice photographers to take | | | | the LCD display on an SLR will not show you a |
| excellent pictures. When these features alone | | | | preview of your current composition, but will only |
| cannot help take the picture you want, fancy | | | | show you the photo after you've shot it. |
| software that comes for free with the digital | | | | * A wide choices of lenses: You're not stuck with |
| cameras lets your alter the pictures to do full | | | | just one lens like you would with a point-and-click |
| justice to the moments they capture. | | | | camera. You have the option of buying and using |
| Many believe that great cameras take great | | | | a variety of lenses to match just what you are |
| pictures. Well, there's both good and bad news for | | | | about to shoot. |
| you - the good news is that you don't need a | | | | * Better pictures in low light - Due to the ability to |
| $2000 camera and a $3000 lens in order to take | | | | vary aperture, a SLR lens can open the aperture |
| an amazing picture; the bad news is that you - | | | | long enough to let in more light in low-light |
| the photographer - are the one who can | | | | situations, or click faster in a very-bright situation |
| single-handedly make or break an amazing photo - | | | | (like a bright overhead sun). |
| all by yourself, just with your "eye" for | | | | When you are ready to buy your digital camera, |
| photography (or the lack of it). | | | | you need to take the price into consideration, but |
| Any photographer worth her salt will tell you that | | | | it is more important to think about the features |
| when it comes to taking good photos, timing is | | | | of the camera that you buy. It is the features |
| everything. There is a very small window of | | | | that will help you to make the most of your |
| opportunity to capture a truly great shot, and | | | | pictures. You will not need an feature filled camera |
| whether you're after that exhilarating sunset, or | | | | if you are only using it for recreational purposes. |
| trying to capture that all fleeting expression on | | | | However if you plan to do a lot with your photos, |
| your child's face, your fingers must have precision, | | | | you will want a camera that offers the right |
| timing and an intuitive sense of when to click. It is | | | | features for you. |
| tougher than it looks, and that's why photography | | | | Even though I own a Canon Rebel XTi myself and |
| is an art. | | | | cannot recommend it highly enough, here are |
| Similar to the famous saying, beautiful pictures lie | | | | some digital SLR cameras to consider: |
| in the eye of the photographer, and not in the | | | | Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi: |
| camera. | | | | This is what I own - a 10.1 MP (Mega-pixel) |
| Famous photographers charge thousands of | | | | camera that takes phenomenal pictures, and |
| dollars to take a picture. It is not because they | | | | offers a great combination of performance, |
| have better cameras or expensive lenses (even | | | | ease-of-use and value. It comes with a 2.5-inch |
| though that does matter, but not as much as you | | | | LCD monitor, a integrated cleaning system |
| probably think), but because they know what to | | | | featuring a self-cleaning sensor that vibrates the |
| focus on, and when to click. | | | | sensor to shake-off dust, all of this in a very light, |
| Most of us only come close to getting the ideal | | | | ergonomic body. |
| shot, never fully realizing it in the end. More often | | | | Nikon D80: |
| than not, our pictures have most of the | | | | This is a 10.2 Megapixel camera with instant 0.18 |
| elements, but fall short in a few key areas: | | | | sec. start-up, and fast 80ms shutter response. |
| Perhaps you frame your subject well, but the | | | | Allows continuous shooting at up to 3 frames per |
| lighting is just a little bit off; or perhaps the lighting | | | | second and up to 100 consecutive JPEG images. |
| is good but you forgot to include a flash or use | | | | Takes about 2,700 images per battery charge as |
| red-eye reduction. | | | | per Nikon. Has a similar 2.5" LCD color monitor |
| This is where modern digital photography | | | | with 170-degree, wide-angle viewing. A little more |
| becomes a necessary component in taking the | | | | expensive than the Canon Rebel XTi. |
| perfect photo. Within minutes, just about any | | | | Sony A100: |
| picture can be edited to reach its full potential | | | | A 10 Megapixel CCD, that has quite similar |
| when it is created with a digital camera. Automatic | | | | features to the Canon and Nikon, like Anti-Dust |
| color enhancement, red-eye reduction, and zoom | | | | system, 2.5" LCD amd 9-point autofocus. The |
| and crop features that go along with taking digital | | | | distinguishing feature of the Sony A100 is the |
| photos are just a few of the many awesome | | | | Super SteadyShot image stabilization feature that |
| features that digital photos have to offer. With | | | | moves the CCD to compensate for camera |
| these tools in easy reach, taking beautiful pictures | | | | shake. This will come in handy especially when |
| has become easier than ever. | | | | shooting in low-light situations, where the aperture |
| It is then a no-brainer that you should be buying a | | | | opens more to let in more light, which means it |
| digital camera, and not a film-based camera, for | | | | could take a lot longer for the "click" than in |
| obvious reasons: you can shoot as many pictures | | | | normal-light conditions, and both the photographer |
| as you want, repeatedly, till you get that perfect | | | | (you) and the targets (your kids, friends or |
| picture, without having to worry about burning | | | | family) have a greater tendency to not stay still |
| through tens if not hundreds of dollars worth of | | | | for that few precious seconds. |
| film rolls, development and printing costs. Plus | | | | Canon and Nikon overcome this by incorporating |
| when shot using popular formats like RAW, the | | | | image stabilization features into the lens, instead |
| things you can do to your pictures before you | | | | of into the camera itself like Sony does. This leads |
| print or publish them, are mind boggling. | | | | to slightly more expensive lenses, but some |
| All you need is to find the right camera. You want | | | | believe that lenses do a better job of handling |
| a camera that offers great pictures as well as | | | | "shake" rather than the cameras themselves. So, |
| easy options for downloading to your printer or | | | | this is one more thing for you to consider while |
| computer. You can edit your pictures as you like | | | | making the choice between say, a Canon and a |
| with commercial programs like Photoshop or | | | | Sony. |
| Corel, or with software that comes with the | | | | Finally, the bottom line is cameras can only |
| camera, like Canon's EasyBrowser. | | | | enhance a great picture - they cannot create it |
| Technology has advanced so much and there is | | | | from scratch. You are the one who has the ability |
| so much competition amongst camera makers, | | | | to elevate an ordinary shot into an extraordinary |
| that the prices are now so attractive which | | | | one with your sense of timing, angle, and |
| makes it very hard to mention money as an | | | | composition. So, depending on your own internal |
| excuse. | | | | "brand" preference, any of the above cameras |
| The hardest choice then becomes what 'type' of | | | | would make a great choice. |
| camera to buy: | | | | To see how others have shot pictures of their |
| - a Point-and-click (that has a built-in, permanent | | | | little ones, check out the world's cutest baby |
| lens), or | | | | pictures at After that, head over to Amazon.com, |
| - a SLR (Single Lens Reflex - whose lenses can | | | | read the reviews, do your research, and take |
| be removed and changed). | | | | your time in deciding which digital SLR is right for |
| Point-and-click cameras are meant for the | | | | you. |
| average person, who doesn't want to be | | | | If you are thinking that deciding which camera to |
| bothered with too many options or choices - | | | | buy is a difficult task, wait till you have that |
| someone who wants to just point at the target, | | | | beautiful camera in your hand, and you wait for |
| and click, and be done with it. The average | | | | your little one to come up with that same |
| auto-focus camera comes with an in-built zoom | | | | expression that he had on his/her face last week, |
| lens, has a little flash bulb, has a little screen behind | | | | when you missed taking a photo because you had |
| the camera where you can see the full frame of | | | | a slow and tedious point-and-shoot camera in |
| what you are about to shoot, as well as a | | | | hand! |
| preview of the photo after you've shot it. | | | | Take amazing pictures that last a life time. Get a |
| They take great pictures, no doubt. But they can, | | | | digital SLR. |