Any parent of a newborn baby will tell you how quickly the first few years go by. It’s a challenge to capture those first moments before they’re gone forever. Newborn photography takes a fair bit of patience and trial and error to get right.
Without the right camera, baby pictures can be a nightmare to capture. Without a camera with features like image stabilization to increase your control, you might be disappointed by the end result.
So what’s the best camera for newborn photography? Read on to learn more.
Types of Camera for Newborn Photography
Depending on your budget, there are a few different types of camera that you might want to consider. Newborn photography doesn’t have to cost the earth, but if you can afford to invest in the right equipment, your photos will more consistently come out with the image quality you need.
DSLR Cameras
DSLR cameras are used by plenty of newborn photographers thanks to their versatility and responsiveness. The great thing about a DSLR is you can switch lenses on the fly to suit your needs. This flexibility increases your level of control when shooting.
You’re much more likely to produce high-quality newborn photography if your camera can handle a wide variety of tasks. The manual settings on a DSLR offer further control over your work.
DSLR Pros:
- Versatile cameras
- Usually have great image quality
- Plenty of choice available
- Used by professional photographers
DSLR Cons:
- They can be quite bulky, especially with certain lenses
- DSLR isn’t the cheapest option out there
Mirrorless Cameras
As you may have guessed, mirrorless cameras work without any mirrors. What this means for consumers is that mirrorless cameras are significantly lighter and less bulky than some DSLR options. If you want to capture newborn shots yourself, a lighter camera might be the wise move.
Brands like Sony produce some excellent mirrorless products that produce stunning photos with remarkable image quality. You have a choice between products with a dedicated lens that can’t be switched or you can choose a model with an interchangeable lens system instead.
Mirrorless Camera Pros:
- Easier to carry around with you
- Can produce beautiful photos
- A more modern format
- Can offer great manual control options
Mirrorless Camera Cons:
- Can be quite expensive
- Less choice available
Point-and-Shoot Cameras
Newborn photographers don’t usually use point-and-shoot cameras, but that doesn’t mean they can’t produce great newborn shots. In fact, if you’re looking to capture shots at home, a point-and-shoot might be perfect.
If your main goal is having a lasting memory of your newborn, these cameras can do a great job. Point-and-shoots are generally considered a jack-of-all-trades option that’s significantly cheaper than other cameras. They use one dedicated lens designed to handle most tasks reasonably well.
Point-and-Shoot Pros:
- More affordable
- Easy for beginners
- Designed for consumers rather than photographers
Point-and-Shoot Cons:
- Use smaller sensors and less powerful lenses
- Can struggle in low light conditions
- Fewer manual control options
Best Cameras for Newborn Photography
The list below contains some of our top picks for cameras well-suited to newborn photography.
1. Fujifilm X-T30
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This mirrorless option strikes a welcome balance between cheap and crazy-expensive. It comes with a suite of features that make baby photography much simpler.
The APS-C sensor on this camera is more than capable of capturing beautiful newborn shots. Fujifilm has included some great face-tracking, image stabilization and auto focus considerations with this camera. A newborn is far from a still subject. The best cameras can keep a wriggling newborn in focus!
To avoid disturbing your baby when shooting, the silent shutter mode on this model will keep things nice and quiet. The X-T30 also does a great job in both low light and bright conditions, giving you plenty of flexibility and control when shooting.
Pros
- Does well in low light conditions
- Great APS-C sensor
- Silent shutter mode
Cons
- The control buttons are a little fiddly for newbies
2. Canon EOS 5D Mark III
This full-frame DSLR is definitely not a budget option. However, the EOS 5D line is one of the strongest camera lines Canon has ever produced. These devices are trusted by photographers around the world – and for good reason.
The 5D Mark III can shoot continuously at 6fps, making it easier for you to get the perfect shot. The 61-point autofocus system locks on to subjects with ultra-sharp precision. Your baby will always be in focus.
Pros:
- One of the best camera lines on the market
- Full-frame camera
- Award-winning design
Cons:
- Quite expensive
- Fairly heavy
3. Nikon Coolpix B500
This is an option that will leave you plenty of money left over for nappies! The Nikon B500 is a very reasonably priced point-and-shoot with plenty of bang for your buck.
The Coolpix B500 was designed with usability in mind. Even a complete novice shouldn’t have too much trouble with this camera. The UI and control buttons are easy to use, and the 16-megapixel lens does a great job in well-lit conditions.
This camera comes with a battery life for up to 1240 shots, giving you plenty of time to get the great images you’re looking for. When you first start to take photos of babies, you soon learn that it’s a process of trial and error until you get the photo you want.
Pros:
- An excellent budget camera
- Easy to use
- Decent battery life
Cons:
- Nikon’s wireless “Snapbridge” app for transferring shots needs some work
4. Sony Alpha A7 III
This is a full-frame, mirrorless camera that delivers astonishing results. If you’re looking for the best possible photos of your baby, this is an excellent choice. The color accuracy, dynamic range and manual control settings on the A7 III make it one of the best mirrorless options on the market for the price.
You may have noticed that babies don’t always love sudden noises. The silent mode on this camera does a great job of capturing stealthy shots quickly. Other factors like image stabilization, continuous shooting and shutter speed are all up-to-par.
This option isn’t cheap, but it’s hard to deny quality like this.
Pros:
- Full-frame camera
- Superb, consistent results
- Relatively lightweight
Cons:
- Complicated controls
- Expensive
5. Olympus OM-D E-M10
At number five, we’re back in the land of the reasonably-priced. The onboard image processing capabilities of the OM-D E-M10 are remarkable considering the price point. This is particularly noticeable when it comes to reducing image noise. Even a novice can take fantastic shots with this camera.
This ease of use is boosted by the adjustable tilt-LCD that’s designed with convenience in mind.
Once you’ve got the images you need, it’s super-easy to share them with loved ones via the built-in Wi-fi feature. No matter where you are with your baby, the lightweight and compact body of this model should make it much easier to take shots on the go.
Pros:
- Great connectivity features
- Reasonably priced
- The housing is well-designed to protect from dust
Cons:
- The body could be more durable
6. Canon EOS R
The lens adapter on this mirrorless camera means it plays well with Canon’s wide range of phenomenal DSLR lenses. In many contexts, this can give you a wonderful blend of mirrorless convenience with DSLR flexibility.
If you’re looking for a versatile camera that can tackle any newborn photography scenario you throw at it, this is a great choice. The electronic shutter on this model will leave even the most sensitive newborn undisturbed.
Other features that make the EOS R well worth considering include the powerful sensor, fantastic autofocus system and rock-solid low light performance.
Pros:
- Works with Canon’s DSLR lenses
- Silent shutter
- Excellent image quality
Cons:
7. Pentax KP DSLR
The APS-C, CMOS sensor on this offering from Pentax makes it a great contender for best camera for newborn photography. This device produces images with a great level of color accuracy and dynamic range considering the price.
Pentax’s “pixel shift resolution system” does a decent job of correcting for things like motion blur, something you might find useful when shooting images of your little one. The relatively compact body of the KP makes it easy to reposition to get the shot just right.
The ISO sensitivity on this camera is much higher than average, giving you extra control in a broad range of lighting conditions.
Pros:
- High ISO Sensitivity
- Great at reducing motion blur
- Compact build
Cons:
- This camera isn’t compatible with most IR remotes
8. Panasonic LUMIX LX10
If this was a list dedicated to point-and-shoot cameras, this one would be near the top of our list. This is a brilliant option for beginners and has a large enough sensor for intermediate photographers too. The great thing about cameras like this is they’re designed to be intuitive.
With virtually no experience, you’ll be capturing stunning 4K video and high-resolution images of your newborn in no time. The manual shooting mode on the LX10 gives you a surprising amount of control when working.
The included Wi-Fi connectivity features make it trivial to share your baby pictures online quickly. If you want to capture memories with both you and your baby, the tilting selfie LCD works very well and is easy to operate.
Pros:
- Good for beginners and intermediate photographers
- Stunning 4K video
- Built-in Wi-Fi
Cons:
- For this price, you’re not far off an entry-level DSLR
9. Nikon D5600
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Last, but certainly not least, on our list in the Nikon D5600. Baby photography comes in all shapes and sizes. Each photographer’s situation is likely to vary. The built-in auto and scene modes on the d5600 do a fantastic job of adapting on the fly.
Users are free to choose between natural, color-accurate shots, vivid images or something in between. If you want extra control over your newborn pictures, the manual settings let you tweak everything in fine detail.
Good cameras for newborn images make it easy to capture beautiful moments lightning-fast. Babies have a habit of doing something adorable right up until you try to take a photo. The continuous shooting mode on the D5600 captures tons of images every second.
Pros:
- Effective scene modes
- Fine manual controls
- Never miss a moment with continuous shooting
Cons:
- The app Nikon uses for their connectivity features doesn’t work very well
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Conclusion
The best camera for newborn photography is one that fits your budget and expectations. Have a think about the calibre of images you’re hoping to achieve. If you’re considering cameras for newborn images that are studio-quality, you can probably afford some of the more premium options on our list.
Remember that this isn’t necessarily the right way to go. Reasonably-priced compact cameras can still capture gorgeous shots of your little one. It’s all about figuring out what works for your family.
Whichever camera you choose, we hope you get the photos you’re looking for!
