“We take pictures to record our personal vision of the world.” – Nikon slogan… I’m such a photo junkie. I’ve always been known as the photographer in the family – I create new family “Year in Review” photo books for Christmas each year, I love photo gifts, and I’m always the one snapping a million pics at every outing, occasion, holiday, and event. But – as obnoxious as I might be at times, you know that everyone appreciates that someone captures all of those special memories, right? Well, to get the photos that I need, the photos that I want, the photos that everyone will cherish as the years pass on – I need more than one camera. Yes, there is a HUGE difference in all of those models that you see for sale at your local Best Buy, or online. Let me tell ya why, and give you a little guidance on choosing the right camera.

Why price matters when shopping for a camera

Ok ladies – I’m a frugal momma. I do my best to make sure that the limited budget that we have stretches as far as possible. I use survey sites, clip coupons, and other ways of earning income from home – even outside of my online work. So, when I throw down my hard-earned dollars on a major purchase {and for me, major is anything over $75-$100 bucks} – I want to make sure that I’m getting the best quality for my dollars. Well, expensive doesn’t always mean better – but quality doesn’t always come cheap. Here are a few things to keep in mind, for why some cameras perform better than others:

With a basic point-and-shoot camera, there’s just one lens built into the camera. And it’s usually a smaller lens, which doesn’t always allow a lot of light through to hit the image sensor. This is why the biggest complaint about most point-and-shoots is that they don’t perform as well as in low-light conditions. And since most point-and-shoots don’t have the option of adding more lenses, you’re limited by what that one point-and-shoot lens can do.

So, if you’re a pretty beginner photographer, this is NOT an issue for you. If you’re just a snapshot kind of gal, no biggie at all. The main reason that these lenses matter is when you get into more professional levels of photography – whether as a hobby to take serious family photos, or for your business – whether it’s blogging, an Etsy shop, cooking and baking, whatever. If you are a pro, then a more expensive camera is going to have those additional lenses, and have some additional functionality. But here’s the thing – even the most serious photographer still needs some smaller cameras – the kind to tote around in a back pocket or a purse, to catch those fun moments at times when lugging around a giant DSLR type camera is going to be hassle. If you’re looking for something like that – I have an amazingly cool new recommendation for you!

The Nikon CoolPix S01 is Smaller than a Salt Shaker

Ok, the coolest thing – the thing that sets this camera apart from every other camera on the market – is it’s super tiny size. The
Nikon – Coolpix S01 101-Megapixel Digital Camera is smaller than my salt shaker! But, super surprisingly, it’s tiny frame is still packed with serious power. Here are a few of my fave features:

• HD movie mode means that you can captures your family videos, from a super small gadget able to fit into your shirt pocket.
• Vibration Reduction mode helps prevent blurry photos and promotes sharp, clear pictures and videos, even when you’ve got a bunch of craziness going on around you.
• In-camera image editing options that iclude color options, filter effects, fisheye, miniature effect and toy camera. Super fun to play with.

There is a ton more cool stuff going on with this tiny camera too – To learn more, visit the Nikon – Coolpix page on BestBuy.com, or visit Grinning Cheek to Cheek for another really smart review of this camera. {She’s clearly more tech-savvy than I am, and offers some seriously great input on this.} Or, if you really just want to see the goods – see what type of photos this camera takes – check them out below…

Awesome special effects are possible with the Coolpix

I love, love, love this photo. This is a shot of my amazingly cool rockstar little brother during one of his recent shows. {Shameless promotion: See them here on Reverb Nation: Desert Valley Stranglehold.} The way the camera was able to perform in low light – even though it’s a smaller camera, and doesn’t have the big lenses to maximize the light available – was super cool.

Another sweet shot with the Nikon Coolpix

Do you love the way this camera takes really vibrant pictures? And – this is such a cool example of how great this teeny tiny camera can capture action shots without getting super blurry. {And yes, this is the rockstar brother again. He’s just epic levels of coolness all of the time, so he had to be my model for this review…

So – what’s the final word?

Like I said earlier – the biggest challenge with a point-and-shoot is the single lens, and it’s trouble taking great photos in low light, or capturing good action shots. That’s a big reason why people invest in more pricey cameras, like a DSLR {which can cost you $500+ and is a pretty major investment.} But – when you’re looking for a camera that’s small enough to be super portable, and ready to grab cool shots at a moment’s notice – this camera is a fantastic option! It’s small enough to fit into a front pocket, while still having the features you need. One word to some it up? Awesomesauce.

{Disclaimer: As a member of the Best Buy WOLF Blogging Ambassador team, I get access to cool products like this to try out, and share my super honest opinion with you guys. I love being able to offer you a real mom view, to help you determine whether this is right for you or not. All opinions are 100% my own.}