With Mother's Day fast approaching, it's time to start thinking about what to get Mom besides the usual round of cards and flowers.
Here's an interesting twist: digital cameras are now beating out the more traditional Mother's Day gifts, according to a recent survey conducted by Circuit City.
After polling several thousand individuals, they discovered that 20% of Moms would like to get a new digital camera in their hands. This is due to the fact that a whopping 58% of Moms are the so-called "family historians" and are actively capturing memories of every sporting event and family vacation.
Some key elements Moms are looking for in a new camera include:
- More megapixels
- Faster shutter speed (to capture those kids romping all over)
- Better lenses
- Small, compact design
With all this in mind, I've put together a recommendation for two digital SLR cameras that should make Mom's day complete.
First, it's important to note that ANY digital SLR camera will meet Mom's criteria for a new camera. They are faster than compact digital cameras, have the capacity to CHANGE lenses (which means you can get any lens you like) and have exceptional autofocus systems.
Another key element of every digital SLR camera is that they excel at taking photos in low light. Since I am the family historian, I've found that I take a lot of photos of my son indoors. Compact digital cameras have a heck of a time capturing decent photos with limited light, but it's a snap for an SLR.
The only drawback to most SLR cameras is their bulk - there is absolutely NO WAY an SLR is going to fit into your pocket. On the plus side, manufacturers are making more compact SLRs, and the two that I recommend below are exceptionally small and light.
The first camera that I recommend is the Canon EOS Rebel xTi.
What does this model have going for it?
- A dust control system that keeps the sensor clean
- 10 megapixels and exceptional image quality
- A small compact frame
- A highly accurate 9-point autofocus system
- The ability to change color settings depending on the subject matter
- Easy and intuitive controls - changing settings is a breeze
- Compatible with all of Canon's EOS lenses
- Low noise at high ISO - great for low-light photography
Simply put, the xTi is an exceptional camera for any family photographer and its ease of use should make it appealing to Moms who don't want to spend hours reading the camera manual.
The good news price-wise is that the xTi is VERY competitively priced relative to the other 10 megapixel cameras on the market, and you get a lot of SLR for what you pay for. The xTi currently retails for about $780 with a kit lens, but I recommend that you just buy the camera body and find a better lens to go with it.
Find out more about the Rebel xTi with my complete Rebel xTi Guide.
The second camera that I suggest you take a good close look at is the Nikon D40.
Here's the feature rundown on this camera:
- 6 megapixels for exceptional 11x14 inch prints
- A large 2.5 inch LCD screen
- 3 autofocus points
- 2.5 photos per second
- Smallest and lightest Nikon digital SLR
- The first "photo tutorial" LCD screen on a digital SLR
This last feature is the key selling point for the Nikon D40, and it's what makes this camera a real standout. Without going into great depth about it, the LCD screen of the D40 shows you VISUALLY how the camera settings you're changing are going to affect your photo.
Instead of having to guess about what the ISO setting is used for, you can actually SEE it.
That's why I recommend this digital SLR camera for Moms who want to learn more about the manual controls of a digital SLR camera, including aperture, shutter speed, ISO and white balance.
The key to taking better photos with ANY digital camera is learning more about the manual controls, and the Nikon D40's helpful LCD display makes this exceptionally easy.
The D40 is also a better bet if you're on a budget and don't feel quite like spending $800 for a Mother's Day gift (that would amount to a LOT of flowers). Since the D40 is simpler in many ways than the Canon xTi, the current street price is about $540 with a lens.
If you want to spend a bit more, Nikon has recently released a 10 megapixel upgrade to the D40 called the D40x.
If you'd like to learn more about the D40 and see the LCD screen in action, read my Nikon D40 Guide.
So there you have it - two digital SLR cameras that will help Mom take as many photos as she wants of birthdays, soccer games, and every other important family event.
Both cameras are as compact as digital SLRs can be, which makes them significantly easier to carry around so that important photo opportunities are never missed.
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