Being a Primo Papa means taking good pictures and video. That’s right, a new baby is a free pass to spend more time wandering the aisles of your favorite electronics outlet. When questioned, your reply is simply “We have to get great shots of the baby, Honey.”
So where do we start? Begin with the manual and the camera you already have! A free online tutorial is a great place to go after that. Also, many manufacturers give free seminars at camera shops. Once you have taken some type of class you will realize that you don’t need to spend a ton of money on equipment. To use a sports metaphor, if we are picking teams on any court we will pick Jordan in a pair of Chuck Taylor All-Stars over anyone else any day of the week. So contrary to what Mars Blackmon had to say it’s not the shoes, but the man in the shoes. The same applies with cameras.
If an upgrade is necessary try an entry level digital SLR. They are more flexible and will be indispensable when baby goes mobile. It is very important to have a fast camera that will give you clear pictures when kids are moving. Most importantly, you can get one for not much more than a high-end point and shoot. There are basically two major camps – Nikon and Canon. The entry level models are the D40 and the Rebel XT respectively. Don’t let anyone talk you into anything more unless you have money to burn or plan on getting serious.
I made the leap because I got tired of shots like the one above taken with my point and shoot. Also, I wanted to get a system that could grow as my kids get faster. After reading a bunch, asking questions, and playing with both in the store the Nikon D40x was the one for me. The main reasons were that it felt good in my hand despite the small size. Nikon uses SD memory cards which I already had (still bought a high speed, 2GB card anyway). The kit lens that came with it got better reviews for picture quality than the Canon kit lens. Above all else these two cameras have an automatic mode and are cheap enough to get a second ”cute” point and shoot camera for the wife.
Moving Pictures
Do you have a clunker of a camcorder? Its been 7 years since I got my last camcorder and it hasn’t seen much action. You know the drill. Is it charged up? What is on the tape that’s in here now? Where is a blank tape? All of those built-in effects functions that go unused. The high end camcorders will come in hand when there is a special recitals or when you are putting together the highlight reel for the college scouts.
In the beginning main goal is to capture funny and momentous occasions to embarrass your kids at graduations and on their wedding day. After that, we are trying to appease the out of town relatives. To get this done check out the Flip or the ATC2k .
Flip: First off I have been using this camera for several months. The main draw is the simplicity. Only four buttons and a direction doughnut around the record button. This means I am quick on the draw and can start shooting when my son does something. Second, my wife loves it because of the size and ease of use. If anything interesting happens while I am at work, it will be there for me when I get home. The camera runs on two AA batteries, records up to an hour depending on the unit, and goes from off to recording in a flash. To keep the out of town relatives happy “flip” out the unit’s built in USB arm and download it with the on-board software. From there you can post to your favorite video sharing site, attach in an email, or add some effects with your Windows PC or Mac software.
ATC2k: This one I haven’t used myself but I have seen it in action. The big deal is that it is made for action. It goes under water and can be attached to your child’s bike or helmet. You put in a SD card to store video, up to at 2gig card. Sounds like fun, but what does this have to do with babies you ask? My son has done some of the most amazing things and given me some of the greatest laughs while in the bath or on the changing table. Those are times when you CANNOT run and grab the camera. I would have loved to have a camera strapped to my head with a headband or shoulder in these priceless moments. ATC2k gets you there.
I haven’t gotten too technical here because you can get the specs and other user reviews from Amazon, Cnet, etc. At the end of the day get a camera that is fast and easy to use. Shoot often so you remember all of the controls that are useful to you. Most importantly, have fun with your kids and the gadgets. The memories are all in your hands, but I am sure you can handle the pressure.
