Nervous about bringing DSLR

[klm7926]

Hey everyone! We are taking our first family vacation to Disney in May. I am an amateur photographer and have a Nikon D50 and a D90 with various lenses. I am nervous about bringing my DSLR with us! I'm thinking if I do I will bring my less expensive, and older, D50 with or two less expensive lenses. I'm also planning on bringing a P&S.

What would you advise????

[ChiSoxKeith]

What's making you nervous?

I've never felt that way and bring my DSLR with me everywhere when on a trip.

[Gianna'sPapa]

I'm with ChiSoxKeith, what are you nervous about? Many (probably most or all) of us here, can't wait to get down there with the best equipment we have! We create shot lists, buy/rent equipment and do all kinds of goofy (no pun intended) stuff to photograph our vacations. Its a photo opportunity beyond belief. Everytime I look at my photos of Disney (and I have thousands), I re-live the vacation. Because of the challenging nature of some the photo ops, it has made me study and become a better photographer. I'm at a loss as to why you wouldn't want to bring and do your best.

If you haven't already, I would ensure that your equipment is insured. But that should be done anyway. If any of us can be of any help to you, please ask. This is one of the best user friendly forums around.

[mrcricket]

I agree with the other responders. I can't wait to get to WDW with my gear. I don't take a lot, usually just 2 lenses, a flash and a tripod, but those are my best. If you are worried about dropping your camera on a ride or something, then just don't take on to that ride. I take all of my stuff on the rides except for RR as it goes upside down.

[klm7926]

Well I guess b/c it's my first trip with my kids and dh (I haven't been there myself in about 20 years). I know I want lots of pics but have this tiny feeling that I'll be so caught in the moment of our first trip that I won't take as many as I would really like to. Plus I'm not sure I want to lug all of my equipment with me, take it on rides (I would NEVER leave it sitting out), etc. Maybe if it was just my DH and I then I wouldn't feel so nervous (for lack of a better word I guess) but since I will be running around with two little ones I have a tiny pang of nerves.

[Frantasmic]

split the difference. Take your d50 with your best lenses. Or take your d90 with your less expensive lenses.

[2Tiggies]

Well I guess b/c it's my first trip with my kids and dh (I haven't been there myself in about 20 years). I know I want lots of pics but have this tiny feeling that I'll be so caught in the moment of our first trip that I won't take as many as I would really like to. Plus I'm not sure I want to lug all of my equipment with me, take it on rides (I would NEVER leave it sitting out), etc. Maybe if it was just my DH and I then I wouldn't feel so nervous (for lack of a better word I guess) but since I will be running around with two little ones I have a tiny pang of nerves.

I got so much enjoyment from my DSLR on our last trip with my daughter. I also feel 'safer' carrying a solid camera. I know this may sound ridiculous but I have never liked carrying ultra compact cameras around with me so my compact has been in the form of a superzoom. Carrying a DSLR you have an adequate neck strap so it is more comfortable. Also, being bulkier than a P&S you are always very conscious of having it there and I felt mine, being larger than a compact, was less likely to sustain a careless knock because I was always aware that I had it. Compact cameras, by nature, are often quickly and easily slipped into a bag or pocket. With my DSLR it was more of a hassle to pack it away every time so it was always out and ready for the shot. I took mine on rides and when taking pics on the rides I had the neckstrap on and had it firmly in my hand, otherwise it was packed in it's case and put into my backpack with my legs through the backpack straps to secure it.

[Gianna'sPapa]

I bring two bodies, about 5-6 lenses, two external flashes, two tripods (a travel and gorillapod), and other accessories (sometimes the DW will also shoot). I DO NOT BRING THAT TO THE PARK EACH DAY, I bring what think I will need depending on the park and what I anticipate shooting. Early in our June, 2010, trip, I carried quite a bit, but because of the excessive heat, that was quickly reduced to about two lenses a day! If you supply your equipment list and what you think you want to shoot, the folks here can give you some recommendations on what to bring.

[ChiSoxKeith]

Well I guess b/c it's my first trip with my kids and dh (I haven't been there myself in about 20 years). I know I want lots of pics but have this tiny feeling that I'll be so caught in the moment of our first trip that I won't take as many as I would really like to. Plus I'm not sure I want to lug all of my equipment with me, take it on rides (I would NEVER leave it sitting out), etc. Maybe if it was just my DH and I then I wouldn't feel so nervous (for lack of a better word I guess) but since I will be running around with two little ones I have a tiny pang of nerves.

Well if you are worried about not taking as many as you'ld like to, you won't get any if you leave the DSLR at home.

Invest in a comfy backback. I didn't get as many shots as I would like I'm chasing around DD4 in the parks. I would LOVE to be like some of the people on the board that bring their tripods and set up these incredible shots (like WDWFigment's where he stays til everybody is gone at night). But I'll get there eventually.

Here's what I suggest. Bring your gear with you and take it the first day to the parks - one of the bodies and a good walking around lens so you can get lots of family shots. If you hate it the first day, then just leave the camera in a secure spot at your hotel.

[oogieboogieman]

I bring two bodies, about 5-6 lenses, two external flashes, two tripods (a travel and gorillapod), and other accessories (sometimes the DW will also shoot). I DO NOT BRING THAT TO THE PARK EACH DAY, I bring what think I will need depending on the park and what I anticipate shooting. Early in our June, 2010, trip, I carried quite a bit, but because of the excessive heat, that was quickly reduced to about two lenses a day! If you supply your equipment list and what you think you want to shoot, the folks here can give you some recommendations on what to bring.

You made me laugh!!! In early June 2010 we were down there for 2 weeks. Like you I would carry a bag, some lenses, etc. By the end of our trip I narrowed it down to 1 body, 1 lens, a flash if going at night, and gallon sized Ziploc bag for the evening rains. It seems as I age the heat wears me out faster!

[Gianna'sPapa]

You made me laugh!!! In early June 2010 we were down there for 2 weeks. Like you I would carry a bag, some lenses, etc. By the end of our trip I narrowed it down to 1 body, 1 lens, a flash if going at night, and gallon sized Ziploc bag for the evening rains. It seems as I age the heat wears me out faster!

We were there from the 9th to the 18th and it was unbelievably hot. The only rain was on our last afternoon in the parks. I had previously lived in Florida, and never experienced a June like that. Like you, by the end, I was down to the lightest lens in my repertoirre and the tripod in a locker!

[photo_chick]

I wouldn't dream of taking my old Rebel XT rather than my Canon 50D. I carried it all over last summer, keeping it on the strap around my neck (invest in a comfortable strap if you do this) with a Lenscoat body bag on it. I kept my favorite walkaround lens on with a fast prime and sometimes a tele zoom stashed in my hip pack. When it rained or on rides where i was worried about water the camera went into a ziplock, then all of that went into a plastic shopping bag.

Now I did have my large bag in the hotel room with my Rebel body, 2 35mm bodies and various lenses. But I never got any of them out.

[handicap18]

I would never travel without my SLR. Wouldn't think of it. If I go, it goes with me. This goes back to my early 20's when I was traveling around the world, Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Asia and more. I love taking pictures when I'm on vacation. For me, that is an important part of my vacation.

Heck, when I turned 25 I went to Cancun for the weekend for my birthday and even took my camera out with me when we went drinking at the bars. Just had 1 lens and fit it in a fanny pack, but I got some great pictures.

[klm7926]

Well you are making me feel a bit more comfortable bringing it with me to the parks. Since this is my first trip I think I'll bring one body and one or two lenses. Do you think I will need my external flash????

Here's my gear.....what do you recommend???

Nikon D50
Nikon D90
SB600
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Nikkor 50mm f/1.8
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR
And of course the lovely kit lens....lol

Right now I use a Crumpler but it's big and bulky and not comfortable to carry stuff around. What's a good small, lightweight, fairly inexpensive bag you like to use????

[photo_chick]

If you have the 28-75 f/2.8 and the 50mm f/1.8 on you, you probably won't need the flash much, if at all. But a lot of that depends on how you shoot.

[handicap18]

You'll use the tamron for your walk around lens. The 50mm for indoor rides and the 50-200mm for the shows and at Animal Kingdom. I would bring the flash if you plan on doing any character meals.

Just because you bring a lens on the trip doesn't mean you have to bring it with you to the park every day.

[klm7926]

So sounds like I need it all...lol!

Give me some good, comfy, small'ish' bag recs.....

[boBQuincy]

Do you think I will need my external flash????

I carry Canon's smallest flash when I am expecting to take indoor photos of children with characters. The extra power is not the issue, it's the rapid recycle time that really helps to prevent missing a priceless expression!

Right now I use a Crumpler but it's big and bulky and not comfortable to carry stuff around. What's a good small, lightweight, fairly inexpensive bag you like to use????

I carry a $4M home everywhere (and in every climate) so I can't help you with this one.

[klm7926]

I've checked out some of your pictures...GORGEOUS! My question is this....do you go with little kids?

[aggielawyer]

I know nothing compared with the other people that have posted on this thread. But since you asked about bags I thought I'd share. I'm about to buy this one for my trip next month: http://www.etsy.com/listing/64232152/xcessrize-designs-hobo-camera-purse-xtra

I bought a laptop bag from her and was very pleased with the construction, and I like that I can pick my fabric to show some style.

[Chikabowa]

I've checked out some of your pictures...GORGEOUS! My question is this....do you go with little kids?

I take all my gear + little kids. I have a 4 year old and a 1 year old.

While walking around I hang my camera bag off the back handles of the stroller. That helps a lot in terms of carrying stuff around all day. Plus I can just grab it quick off the handle bars and take it with me into a shop or a ride (for the record, we have a BOB stroller, so it can handle the extra weight like a champ). DH and I will also take turns carrying the bag if necessary.

I take a good portion of my kit with me to Florida, but I pack and re-pack my bag daily depending on what we are doing/seeing.

Let me know if you have any questions, I'm sure I can give you some other advice about little kids plus lots of camera stuff. I've always traveled with a large kit so it would be weird for me to NOT have it with me. It would feel like I'm walking around without pants or something like that! One thing that I do have is a very patient and understanding DH. He realizes that his wife is insane and no amount of complaining or eye rolling will turn me sane. ;) So now he just rolls with it and actually enjoys it!

[2Tiggies]

Regarding the kids, I see from your signature that they are 6 and 4. They would probably enjoy taking some photos themselves, if you are worried that they may begrudge you for stopping. When my DD was 6 she was already showing signs of getting as bad as me to stop and take photos. In fact, by the last trip a few months ago (she is now 8) she was worse than me - I'm sure of it. Children take some really interesting photos, particularly as their eye level is different to ours.

[Groucho]

I take all my gear + little kids. I have a 4 year old and a 1 year old.

While walking around I hang my camera bag off the back handles of the stroller. That helps a lot in terms of carrying stuff around all day. Plus I can just grab it quick off the handle bars and take it with me into a shop or a ride (for the record, we have a BOB stroller, so it can handle the extra weight like a champ). DH and I will also take turns carrying the bag if necessary.
Ditto - except that I don't get to pawn my bag off on my wife. :) (Except for rare times when we need to leave the stroller and I'm off doing something like changing a diaper.) Hanging the bag off the stroller is very handy. When I am solo and carrying the bag the whole time, it gets a lot heavier! I've got a 5-year-old and 1-year-old, for reference.

Straps help, too. I have an Op/Tech SOS Strap on my camera bag, which is wider and stretchier than the original one. If you (the OP) are still using the strap that came with the camera, you may want to invest $20 or so into an Op/Tech Pro strap - this is a big improvement over the OEM strap. You'll see the Photopass guys using them sometimes. I often see DSLR (and regular camera) users at Disney carrying their cameras by holding them by the neck strap - almost certainly because those straps are killing them! The BlackRapid R-Straps are picking up popularity but are very expensive (almost $60!)

In terms of gear - I'd say, bring your best stuff. Your fast-focusing DSLR body, your sharpest lenses - you don't want to be missing shots because the D50 can't keep up with the D90 (or have the low-light ability) or to think that your photos are worse than they could be if you used another lens that you left behind.

Some people carry around the external flash a lot... but I haven't used mine a single time on my current trip (which is on day 11 now.) There's only been once or twice that I would have wanted it (for fill light or off-camera use), and that's mainly for off-camera stuff. Your D90 should do well enough in low light to not need it too much.

One other thing I do is use a lens pouch that attaches to my belt to hold one or two (small) of my often-used lenses. This helps distribute the weight. I have two but I don't think my wife will be seen with me if I wear both, so I usually just have one. ;) Of course, women don't always have such an option - I frequently lament that my wife has limited carrying ability since women's pants so often don't have pockets or get worn with a belt.

[boBQuincy]

We don't have children but about once a year we travel with some friends and their two girls (they call us their "FairyGodParents"). These are not the "photo trips" as much as our adult or solo trips but even on children trips we still get some photo time, we just have to be fairly quick at it before the family gets too far ahead. ;)

We tend to pack light while in the parks and limit it to what will fit in the $4M home, usually one lens and maybe a small flash or sometimes two lenses (I don't have anything larger than 70-200 f/4). If I miss a photo opportunity because I don't have the right lens with me, well that's what tomorrow or the next trip is for. Plus DW is usually there with her Xsi and a medium range zoom so we miss very little.

Overall we would rather carry less than lug something around in the heat all day that we might use 1% of the time. One of the most interesting things about photography is that there are so many different philosophies on how to do it.

[Kphoto]

LOL, my family has a rule - I can only bring point & shoot cameras on family trips. Now that I live close to WDW I can spend as much time as I like wandering through the parks with my good camera.;)

Karen