Camera for fast moving toddler?

[Triquetra]

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a camera to taking pictures of fridgety babies or fast moving toddlers? TIA!

 

[SkimMilk]

Suggestion will be entry level DSLRs if you don't mind the bulk.
Fast and sharp, should last you til the baby grows into a child.
Nikon: D5100, D3200
Canon: 550D, upcoming 650D (wait for reviews)
Pentax: K-r, K-x

If don't want bulk, then go for higher end compacts / mirror-less cameras.

It all boils down to your preference / budget.

 

[intrance]

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a camera to taking pictures of fridgety babies or fast moving toddlers? TIA!

what type of camera u looking at?
PNS, mirrorless or DSLR

Generally, with some technique, all cameras can take fast moving photos.. u just need a good light..

 

[davidktw]

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a camera to taking pictures of fridgety babies or fast moving toddlers? TIA!

A reasonable priced camera with external flash with do. In this case, use bounce flash to freeze your subject.

 

[Knightrider3K]

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a camera to taking pictures of fridgety babies or fast moving toddlers? TIA!

use 'sports' setting or faster shutter speed. not sure about using flash though since their eyes still developing. . .

& take photo in good light like what some mentioned, maybe near window or door.

Enjoy ur time with ur baby.

 

[davidktw]

use 'sports' setting or faster shutter speed. not sure about using flash though since their eyes still developing. . .

& take photo in good light like what some mentioned, maybe near window or door.

Enjoy ur time with ur baby.

The part about eyes developing is not a proven cause of worry. Besides, you don't need to point the flash directly at a person to use it properly. Point it at the ceiling and flash. Bounce light gives better image and totally serve the purpose too.

Of course, natural light is always the best option.

 

[Knightrider3K]

The part about eyes developing is not a proven cause of worry. Besides, you don't need to point the flash directly at a person to use it properly. Point it at the ceiling and flash. Bounce light gives better image and totally serve the purpose too.

Of course, natural light is always the best option.

Better safe than sorry mah~

 

[davidktw]

Better safe than sorry mah~

Well I can't say you are wrong, but it seems like a worry is created to convince oneself that it's harmful, and then one rather to settle for "better to be safe" in a unknown situation rather than knowing the truth ?

Perhaps we all shouldn't be using camera, because it's rumored that camera will suck your soul into it. Better to be safe than sorry right ?

 

[nemesisranger]

I suggest that you pick a few high end point and shoot cameras and a few entry-level DSLRs then head to dpreview.com and read the review on it.

For high-end point'n'shoot : Canon S100 (don't recommend CanonG1X because it has slow focusing speed)
entry-level DSLR (more costly): Nikon D3200/3100/5100, Canon 650D
Mirror-less (more costly): Sony NEX-5N

If your need is taking photo of fast moving object, then the best option is the mirror-less NEX-5N:
1/Focusing speed is close to DSLR
2/Bigger sensor allows faster shutter speed given the same lighting condition, with enough shutter speed => photo can be taken without blurring occurs (must use manual mode/aperture priority mode)
3/Light and compact means you can carry it with you all the time (good camera is the one you have with you at the time you need to take photo)
4/Cost : slightly more expensive than entry-level DSLR

 

[Knightrider3K]

Well I can't say you are wrong, but it seems like a worry is created to convince oneself that it's harmful, and then one rather to settle for "better to be safe" in a unknown situation rather than knowing the truth ?

Perhaps we all shouldn't be using camera, because it's rumored that camera will suck your soul into it. Better to be safe than sorry right ?

thanks for the sarcasm. Do u have a toddler i can use to test your theory?

 

[dickster]

I have been looking for such a mythical camera for a few years now to no avail. I have a Canon 5dmk2, Canon 600d, Olympus EP3, Canon S100, Fuji f31fd, Canon ixus. None of them are fast enough for my little girl when she's running toward me! Get them when they're watching tv - any camera will do then hehe

 

[davidktw]

thanks for the sarcasm. Do u have a toddler i can use to test your theory?

This is not a sarcasm, but the truth could be as plausible as it is. If you feel it is a sarcasm, so be it There is no need for anything to be proven. It's just what you wanna feel it is. Be safe and avoid the truth is a possible scenario. Be safe and it's correct is also a possible scenario. Both are just true and also false until you know which is more true using reasoning.

If you believe in hearsay and want to be fearsome that it might be true, then it's the same as how fearful it is to believe your soul can be suck it. Can you prove each open of the shuttle does not take away 0.1% of your soul ? Or do you believe that soul doesn't exist ? While I'm scientific, no science to date can prove soul and god does not exist, at most scientist can only tell you they can't be sure but the probability is low because of non-existent evidence to indicate so. If you believe in science, then you will also possible there is a possibility that should exist no matter how minor it can be.

Here you feel it is a sarcasm that why I use such a claim is not probable. That's because you choose to believe soul cannot be taken into a camera, and you choose to believe the probability is low. Then it makes no sense to believe a hearsay that flash light will damage a baby's eyes despite there is no reported cases that can be authenticated to date.

On the other hand, I can find numerous articles that says it's safe.

Is the camera flash light save for newborn baby?? - Yahoo! Answers
Could a camera flash damage a new borne baby's eyes at all ? - Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers
Flickr: Discussing Could use flash light for baby? in Strobist.com
https://www.healthtap.com/#user_questions/125560-can-a-camera-flash-really-damage-a-baby-s-eyes

I can find more, but there is sufficient to get my point across. We know Internet sources are not completely trustable in this context. You can also find articles that says it's harmful.

The question therefore is, does play safe has anything to do with truth. You can definitely shoot your kind of question "Do u have a toddler i can use to test your theory?". That doesn't answer at part of the question, except posing a threat of "would you do harm to your baby". But the important suffix to the threat should be the following "would you do harm to your baby, knowing the the fact .... " However do you know the fact to perform an informed decision.

Thus, there is no sarcasm at all, it's just how you want to take it. No need to get agitated with your shooting back of that question. I have long anticipated it when I wrote that earlier post, just that it took you so long to response only. lolx.

 

[davidktw]

I have been looking for such a mythical camera for a few years now to no avail. I have a Canon 5dmk2, Canon 600d, Olympus EP3, Canon S100, Fuji f31fd, Canon ixus. None of them are fast enough for my little girl when she's running toward me! Get them when they're watching tv - any camera will do then hehe

There is really no camera to date that can freeze a fast moving toddle under dim lighting. If it's a bright day, it's fine.

I would still say that same thing, use a flash, but for precaution sake, it's is advisable to use bounce flash. When the same amount of light shooting out of the flash is spread over a large area of wall, it's normally not harmful. Besides the kid is looking at the camera lens, that's probably what you want and the flash is bounce via the wall which is largely not directly aiming at the kid's eyes.

The flash will lit up the body of the baby, and not much is going to enter the eyes since you are not aiming at the kid's eyes in the first place.

 

[tarui04]

there is still 1 crucial factor that has yet to be mentioned,

TS need to find compact cameras that has a big aperture(fast) lens, low shutter lag and short interval between shots( good burst mode)

if u are getting a DSLR, u need the same features and it allows you to choose any compatible lens that has a big aperture but the bigger the aperture the more expensive it gets.

 

[davidktw]

there is still 1 crucial factor that has yet to be mentioned,

TS need to find compact cameras that has a big aperture(fast) lens, low shutter lag and short interval between shots( good burst mode)

if u are getting a DSLR, u need the same features and it allows you to choose any compatible lens that has a big aperture but the bigger the aperture the more expensive it gets.

With a big aperture, TS will most likely end up with a blur shot due to the shallow DOF. I have tried with a Nikon D3S @ f/1.4. IMO, For a moving kid, it will be beneficial to use aperture size of 2.8~3.5, focus near and use large angle. That would give a good DOF for movement.

 

[tarui04]

With a big aperture, TS will most likely end up with a blur shot due to the shallow DOF. I have tried with a Nikon D3S @ f/1.4. IMO, For a moving kid, it will be beneficial to use aperture size of 2.8~3.5, focus near and use large angle. That would give a good DOF for movement.

i dont mean f 1.0 lah

f2.8 is fast liao lo...

 

[davidktw]

i dont mean f 1.0 lah

f2.8 is fast liao lo...

Okay sure

 

[greenhse]

I have been looking for such a mythical camera for a few years now to no avail. I have a Canon 5dmk2, Canon 600d, Olympus EP3, Canon S100, Fuji f31fd, Canon ixus. None of them are fast enough for my little girl when she's running toward me! Get them when they're watching tv - any camera will do then hehe

have u tried Nikon J1? This camera is fast.

 

[Yo2020]

flash may not do damage to babies' eyes but it will scare them n make them feel uncomfortable.
that's y i use canon s100 without using flash n still manage to use shuttle speed around 1/100s (many camera can only do around 1/30s) when indoor. i used s90 n now s100. i always use shuttle speed priority n continuous shoot when indoor. 1 great improvement s100 over s90 is the continuous shoot of 2 shoots per second.

 

[chengsun]

Sorry to dig out this thread. I have been using my I4s to take photos over my baby. Recently he has grown up a lot and becomes faster.

I have a LX3 lying around at home. Is it better if I use that? Or shall I buy a new S110?