Best Camera For New Parents

A new family member is a very good reason to pick up a new camera--little ones are constantly changing and nothing captures that quite like photos. But the best camera for new parents isn't, say, the best camera for travel. Little ones present some unique challenges to taking good pictures. New babies spend most of their time indoors, so lighting is typically limited. And before you know it, those new babies are fast moving toddlers that some cameras will simply turn into a blur. The best camera for new parents has a wide aperture (you'll see this in the specs as a low f-number, like f2.0) for decent indoor shots as well as a burst mode fast enough to keep up with a toddler. And since a good digital camera should last a few years, never underestimate the importance of durability for when that cute bundle of joy starts that lets-throw-things-into-the-toilet-and-see-what-happens stage. Here's the best cameras for new parents on the market right now at a variety of different price points.

Olympus TG-5

Olympus' single-digit TG Tough cameras have long been a popular choice because of a bright lens and excellent macro mode and the company is continuing the tradition with the new TG-5. Like earlier models, the TG-5 features a waterproof design,...

Grade: A Price: $429.00

Nikon D3400

Nikon’s 3300 is a solid beginner’s DSLR and now the manufacturer is expanding on that with the D3400. The latest entry-level DSLR from Nikon wraps up much of the same features as the 3300. So what’s new? Nikon has added Bluetooth...

Grade: A- Price: $377.00

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II

The Canon G7 X was the company's first advanced compact to use the 1 inch sensor, after the success of the 1.5" sensors in the pricer options. The Canon G7 X Mark II, as the name suggests, is an update to that original 1 inch sensor camer...

Grade: A- Price: $679.00

Olympus TG-4

Olympus's waterproof cameras have a long history of high rankings--and for good reason. It's not unheard of for even a professional to pick up the top camera in this line-up so they don't have to damaging risk their pricier gear for an...

Grade: A Price: $409.00

Fujifilm XQ2

The Fujifilm XQ1 impressed us last year with category-leading speed--with a brand new processor, the XQ2 pushes that even further.While you don't see a jump in burst speed in the tech specs, the Fujifilm XQ2 has an updated processor, the EXR P...

Grade: B+ Price: $299.00

Sony DSC-RX100M III

When Sony introduced the RX100 back in 2012, we were quite impressed with the little shooter and didn't see too many ways such an impressive camera could be improved on. Well, they blew us away with the RX100 II and now, they've introduced...

Grade: A- Price: $698.00

Sony A77II

Every time a DSLR snaps a picture, the mirror inside has to flip up and down--which is why smaller cameras tend to have faster burst speeds (until you get into the $3,000 DSLRs) and why the Sony a77II's 12 fps is such a big deal. Sony's hi...

Grade: A- Price: $1,198.00

Olympus TG-3

Olympus makes a minor upgrade to the already excellent TG-2 with the TG-3. The TG-3 keeps our favorite features about the TG-2, including a bright f2.0 lens and excellent macro mode for stunning close-ups, but adds wi-fi and four microscope modes ...

Grade: A Price: $480.00

Fujifilm FinePix S1

A 50x zoom is no longer unheard of, in fact, 50x is becoming the norm in the realm of super zoom cameras. But what's much harder to find is a camera that can take images at the long end of that big zoom that are quite similar in quality to the...

Grade: A- Price: $500.00

Sony DSC-RX10

There's no doubt that the Sony RX100 and RX100 II are the most talked about compacts on the market. And while the large 1” sensor and fast lens are worth all the talk, the RX100 lacks one thing—a good zoom. Sony's December 2013...

Grade: A- Price: $798.00

Olympus Stylus 1

A few years ago, the advanced compact wowed with large sensors and manual modes allowing for big images from tiny cameras. But there's been one thing sorely lacking from the advanced compact category—zoom.Well, it's not missing any l...

Grade: A- Price: $689.00

Nikon 1 AW1

The Nikon 1 AW1 is essentially the well-received 1 J3--except it's wrapped up in a waterproof package. As the first digital interchangeable lens camera to be not just sealed against rain, but approved to take underwater up to 49 feet without e...

Grade: B Price: $797.00

Nikon 1 J3

The Nikon 1 line has always been the more compact of the mirrorless options, but the camera giant is now claiming the smallest interchangeable lens camera on the market with the 2013 introduction of the 1 J3. With a body as tall and wide as a poin...

Grade: B+ Price: $396.00

Sony DSC-RX100

There's no denying the advantage of a DSLR, but there's also a distinct benefit to having a camera that can fit in a pocket. Enter the Sony DSC-RX100, a camera that attempts to bridge the gap between compact and SLR. The size of the RX100 ...

Grade: A- Price: $448.00