Best Camera for Moms: DSLR Camera Guide For Moms
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I can’t tell you how many moms I’ve talked to in the past couple of years asking about what is the best camera for moms and what equipment they should buy to document their families. I really appreciate this, because I so highly value documenting every season of life. I’m here to help everyone out there that is looking for the best camera for moms.
There is for sure a place for beautiful family photos taken by professional photographers (like us! Check us out here if you’re interested in our photography work!!) but there is also something beautiful about the everyday, sometimes messier moments at home or on a family vacation that are worthy of being documented beyond what our iphones offer.
I’ve put together my suggestions for the best DSLR cameras for moms! Having a DSLR camera won’t magically make every photo you take of your kids amazing, but it will drastically increase the quality your photos are capable of attaining. If you’re looking to invest in a good DSLR camera and ready to stop being limited to only shooting in auto mode, I’ve created a DSLR camera guide with both cameras and lenses in multiple price points to help to get you started!
CAMERA RECOMENDATIONS
It can feel incredibly overwhelming when you begin the process of trying to figure out what “nice” camera you should buy. From point and shoot cameras to beginner DSLR to mirrorless cameras and then professional grade camera gear, there is a lot of information out there and many of it is technical and hard to understand.
If you're like me, as you begin your search for which DSLR camera you should buy, you'll see a lot of technical jargon that you may or may not understand. Things like shooting modes, aperture priority, image stabilization and focus points can be overwhelming when trying to choose the best camera.
I got my first DSLR camera in college and knew absolutely nothing about cameras at all. I had used a point and shoot for a couple years and decided that I wanted to ask my parents for a camera for Christmas but had no idea where to start.
Naturally, I ended up Googling “best nice camera” and left more confused than I started. I didn’t know what ISO or bokeh or exposure was. Absolutely no idea what the differences in a 50mm lens or an 85 mm lens was.
I honestly got lucky and ended up choosing the camera I saw recommended the most (Canon Rebel, which I recommend below!), but I wish that I could have found a straight-forward and easy to understand guide to help me choose the best camera for a beginner.
Now that I’m a mom and a professional photographer, I have the experience needed to help guide you in your search for the best camera! Moms are busy and we love efficiency, so I went for both in the article below!
Canon Rebel T7 - Most Affordable Beginner Camera
The Canon Rebel T7 camera is such a great starter DSLR camera for moms and the cheapest on our list. Canon’s rebel series make for great starter cameras because they allow you to learn how to adjust settings and manage a DSLR without a huge investment.
I think many people make the mistake of buying the nicest camera as their first investment and then feel overwhelmed by the process of learning to use it well.
My suggestion is to buy a camera a bit below your budget so you have some room left for an upgraded lens, which I will share more about in a bit!
One of the great features about this camera, is the ease of using the wifi-enabled feature. You can upload photos over wifi directly to your iphone, allowing you to share and edit photos immediately after taking them. All of these factors make this a great camera for moms or for any beginner.
Picture via BH Photo of Canon Rebel T7
Canon Rebel T7i- Best Beginner Camera for Budget + Features
The Canon Rebel T7i camera is very similar to the T7 but with some upgraded options. The biggest upgrades include:
Significantly more focal points (36) which mean you’re more likely to get in focus shots
4x higher ISO capability, which means a greater ability to shoot in low light situations
Has a flip out screen, which I wouldn’t consider make or break but is convenient
2x better recording quality
If you have a couple hundred dollars more to spend on the T7i, I would say it’s worth the price difference but even the T7 will be a huge upgrade from your iphone and both are budget friendly. This is a great option for an affordable and high quality DSRL camera.
Photo via BH Photo of Canon Rebel T7i
Canon 90d- Best Beginner Camera witg good Video Capability
The Canon 90D is one of canon’s more recent releases in their line of beginner cameras. The 90d is a more significant investment but does come with some really compelling features in addition to those on the rebel, like: 4K video, live view focus with eye detection, weather sealed camera body, good battery life and great image quality.
High Resolution: Features a 32.5 MP APS-C sensor, providing sharp, detailed images perfect for photography and videography enthusiasts.
Fast Shooting Speed: Capable of 10 frames per second continuous shooting, great for capturing fast-moving subjects like kids, wildlife, or sports.
4K Video: Offers uncropped 4K video recording, ensuring high-quality videos for vloggers or travel filmmakers.
Impressive Autofocus: Dual Pixel AF with 45 cross-type autofocus points ensures fast and accurate focusing, even in challenging lighting conditions.
Great Battery Life: Long-lasting battery that allows you to shoot for extended periods, ideal for long travel days or events without frequent recharging.
Photo via BH Photo of Canon 90d
Canon 6d mark ii
The Canon 6D Mark ii camera used to be my personal camera and makes sense for a mom ready to get more serious about photography but it’s one of my favorite cameras that canon offers. It’s a Canon EOS full frame camera with updated technology that provides seriously quality images on a still very reasonable budget.
My favorite feature that the 6d mark ii offers is the touch screen, which allows you to view your camera settings real time and touch the screen to focus and snap a photo. I completely underestimated how often I would use this feature.
When you’re learning about focus, this feature is huge. It allows you to nail the focus exactly where you want it every singe time. This camera also offers an impressive ISO capability, allowing you to shoot in low light situations.
Full-Frame Sensor: Features a 26.2 MP full-frame sensor, offering superior image quality, especially in low light, with great detail and depth.
Compact and Lightweight: Smaller and lighter than many other full-frame cameras, making it easier to carry during travel or on long adventures.
Vari-Angle Touchscreen: The fully articulated touchscreen makes it convenient for shooting from various angles, ideal for vlogging, selfies, or tricky perspectives.
Fast and Accurate Autofocus: Equipped with a 45-point all-cross-type autofocus system, providing reliable focusing performance, even with moving subjects.
Built-in GPS and Wi-Fi: Comes with built-in GPS for geotagging photos and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth for easy sharing and remote camera control, perfect for on-the-go travelers.
Photo via BH Photo of Canon 6D Mark ii
The older version of this is the Canon 6d, which I used until last year. You can find 6d’s now for under $500 which is a great deal. It’s older technology than all of the above cameras, but is a full frame and able to provide high quality photos. This would be a great starting point for moms looking to try out a great camera in a great budget range.
Canon Mirrorless EOS R5
The Canon Mirrorless EOS R5 camera is by far the most expensive one on the list and the camera for moms that want the best. The Canon camera mirrorless R5 is a great choice for moms who want to capture the moments of motherhood in stunning detail. It is a lightweight, compact, and easy-to-use camera with a 45MP full-frame sensor, Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 5-axis in-body image stabilization, and 8K video recording. It also has a touchscreen display that makes it easy to compose and shoot photos and videos.
The Canon camera mirrorless R5 is a great way to capture the first steps, first words, and other milestones of your child's life. It is also a great way to capture the everyday moments of motherhood, such as playing with your child, reading to them, and cuddling them.
If you are looking for a camera that can help you capture the moments of motherhood in stunning detail, the Canon camera mirrorless R5 is a great option.
Exceptional Image Quality: Boasts a 45 MP full-frame sensor, delivering incredibly sharp, detailed images with excellent color accuracy—ideal for both professional and travel photography.
8K Video Recording: Supports 8K RAW video, making it a powerhouse for videographers who want the highest possible video resolution and quality.
Advanced Autofocus System: Features Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with 1,053 AF points and eye, face, and animal detection, ensuring precise focus even with fast-moving subjects.
High-Speed Performance: Capable of shooting at 20 frames per second with the electronic shutter, making it perfect for action shots, wildlife, or capturing fast-moving moments during family adventures.
In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS): 5-axis in-body image stabilization helps achieve smooth, shake-free images and videos, even when shooting handheld or in challenging conditions.
credit: B&H: canon mirrors eos R5 camera for moms
LENSES
Ok, I promised to touch on lenses and here are my thoughts: lenses make a huge difference in the quality of your images. Most camera bundles come with low quality lenses that will hold you back. I suggest buying the camera by itself and investing in one of the lenses below.
50mm f/1.8
The Canon 50mm f/1.8mm lens is the most budget friendly (at under $125), practical lens and I can’t recommend it enough. A 50mm is a fixed lens (doesn’t zoom in or out) that is comparable to the view you see with your eye. It will allow you to fit a lot into the frame while still being able to focus on details. I use a 50mm 90% of the time, it hardly ever leaves my camera.
The 1.8 is the cheapest option. Essentially, the lower your f/stop goes (1.8, 1.4, 1.2 etc) the more bokeh (blurry background) the camera has the ability to produce. The cost also goes up as your f stop goes down.
Photo via BH Photo of Canon Lens 50mm 1.8
50mm 1.4
If you have a bit more in the budget, go with the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens. It will be even higher quality than the f/1.8 and I promise you’ll be impressed with the images you can produce. This lens works really well under low-light conditions, which as moms we all know we often have little control over our children, much less our lighting, right? This lens will produce that beautiful blurred background with the sharpness you’re looking for!
Canon Lens 50mm 1.4
85mm 1.8
This Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens is a great lens if you’re wanting to focus on portraits of your kids. It’s more zoomed in than the 50mm, so it’s great for creating beautiful images of your kids.
This lens is zoomed in, meaning you don’t need to be as close to get detailed images. Some of my favorite portraits have come from an 85mm lens!
Photo via BH Photo of Canon 85mm Lens 1.8
35mm 1.8
The Canon R35mm f/1.8 lens is the widest angle zoom, which means it’s the most zoomed out. This lens is for mirrorless cameras, or you can use an EF adapter (scroll down to see) and use it with a DSLR camera. This is a great lens for capturing landscape, architectural or just being able to fit more into the frame. It’s going to generally be better at capturing an entire environment than solely one person or detail. This is also a great lens for shooting indoors because it gives you a wider angle in a smaller space.
Photo via BH Photo of Canon lens 35mm 1.8
Canon RF50mm F 1.2L USM Lens
The Canon RF50mm f/1.2L lens is a great lens for moms who want to take sharp photos of their kids in low-light conditions. It has a fast aperture of f/1.2, which allows you to take in more light and capture sharp photos even in dimly lit rooms. It also has a long focal length of 50mm, which is perfect for capturing close-up portraits of your children. The lens is also well-built and durable, making it perfect for use with kids.
If you're a mom who wants to take great photos of your kids, the Canon RF50mm F 1.2L USM Lens is a great option. It's fast, sharp, and durable, making it perfect for use with kids.
Photo via B&H: Canon Lens RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM
Canon Mount Adapter EF - EOS R
The Canon Mount Adapter EF - EOS R is a great accessories to have. Finding the best camera for moms is important but so if finding the right lenses! This is great for those who want to use their existing Canon EF or EF-S lenses with their EOS R camera. It is affordable, easy to use, and won't compromise image quality. The adapter is very easy to use. Simply attach it to your EOS R camera and then attach your Canon EF or EF-S lens.
The adapter will automatically detect the lens and adjust the settings accordingly. The adapter is also very affordable. It is a great option for moms who don't want to invest in a new set of lenses just for their mirrorless camera. If you're a mom who wants to use your existing Canon lenses with your EOS R camera, the Canon Mount Adapter EF - EOS R is a great option.
Photo via B&H: Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R
MY OVERALL SUGGESTION
SO, hopefully that wasn’t an overwhelming amount of information. I hope this is helpful and encourages moms to take the jump and invest in a good quality DSLR (or encourages dad’s with a great gift idea ;)
If I was going to make a final recommendation for the best camera for moms, taking into consideration quality and budget, I would suggest going with the Canon Rebel T7i and a 50mm f/1.4 lens, but I really don’t think you can go wrong with any of the above options!
Best camera for moms guide
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