Looking for a camera for kindergarten

Donbioh
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Looking for a camera for kindergarten

As a support association we should buy a new camera for the kindergarten.

What should be photographed:
- everyday life of children
- Birthdays
- Trips

So everyday day-to-day life at the daycare center should actually be documented. The children are always moving (often quickly) and it is always a little darker in the group rooms.

I don't have a fixed budget yet... but so far I've used a 50 EUR and a 100 EUR camera. Now the camera should be better.

I was actually thinking of a Sony RX100 or a cheap system camera.

But which camera has good autofocus for children's movements?

Oct 11, 2023 at 05:19 AM

jcolwell
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Looking for a camera for kindergarten

Hi Donbioh,

Welcome to FM.

The least expensive step is try to increase the lighting. I recently installed a couple of aluminum reflector lights (clamp lamps, see attached image) in my workshop, with big 150+W (equiv) LED bulbs. Point them up at the ceiling, and they produce a nice, evenly distributed increase in overall brightness. They are easily portable and clamp to the edge of a bookcase, desk, or etc.

I still have my RX100 (version 1) from when they were first released. I rarely use it though, as my phone covers most of the common applications. The RX100 does have real advantages for handling and operating the controls while shooting, but this becomes less important, as phones become better (and more intelligent). I don't do a lot of video, but phones are getting scary-good at this kind of stuff. If you can increase the general lighting level to where they work well, that would be a good start.

If I was going to use something like a RX100-series camera, I'd get one with an articulating rear screen, so you can shoot with the camera at waist level or overhead, and still see the screen. My RX100 v01 doesn't have this.

Cheers,
Jim

Clamp lamp, max. diameter of reflector is about 215mm.

Oct 12, 2023 at 06:42 AM

marbleyfun
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Looking for a camera for kindergarten

I wouldn't get an RX100 for that purpose unless you really need the portability of it and the zoom. You're paying a lot for the reach, size, video and to an extent the brand. A micro four thirds system will do much better in those conditions, still be relatively small and likely be cheaper and do better in low light than an RX100. Take a look at a gx85 paired with one of the Olympus f1.8 primes, probably the 17mm since you'll be indoors and likely need the wider angle. For the moving children stabilization in the body or lens or both will help keep your shutter speed up so you can capture movement. The Olympus stabilization in the OM-5 is supposed to be top notch. It was recently recommended to me and it the stabilization gets outstanding reviews.

If you do need portability the I would go with an LX10, it doesn't have the reach of the RX100 vi or vii but it starts at f1.4 so a decent amount of more light.

Once you know your budget it will be easier to put something together. I would concentrate on larger apertures vs. telephoto capabilities.

Nov 01, 2023 at 12:43 AM


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