Another "how do you take pics" thread...

[05ChristmasSurprise]

So, I'm loving a lot of these photos and I can't help but get nervous about our trip.

Last year we took 28 rolls and they were ALL blurry, grainy, and icky. (Okay, not like 110 awful, but not good at all). They were shot with the stupid 800 speed and I'll never make that mistake again.

So, I took a DISers advice and got the High Definition film this time, and I'm crossing my fingers that it will work.

I was thinking of bringing my digital, too (just a little Canon Powershot A75) but I don't get many pictures on it at a time before the card fills up.

Any advice on this particular camera? Is there a better way to shoot fireworks with it? Where/how do I get additional memory for it? Is it pricey? Can I upload pics to DH's laptop at the end of the day? (I just plug it in with it's USB cable into my mac and it automatically picks everything up and imports - I've never tried with DH's computer, which is a PC)

Thanks for any input. I want to really get good documentation this time.

 

[SnowWhite]

You can get bigger memory cards for your digital camera, it depends on the card type but most is very reasonable now. you can get usually now 512 megabytes for under $100.00. Check out what type of memory card yours is, then checkout Costco, Sams Club, or if you prefer online goto www.tigerdirect.com I have used tigerdirect a few times and they have excellent products and pricing. If you are in Canada (sorry didn't notice your location) than use www.tigerdirect.ca

I plan on purchasing a few more compact flash cards just before we leave in Oct. We will be taking our digital camera and 35 mm as well just for back up or if we decide to split up to do different things with the kids. Good luck!

 

[autochick]

just so you know in the Magic Kingdom they have a place where you can take you memory card and download the pictures to a disc. I believe it is in the photo shop on Main Street

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

So, I could theoretically save all to my memory card, then take it out and just store it on my card until I got home?

How much memory do I need for a two week vacation?
I take pretty many pics - but I'll also have my SLR.

I'll probably use the digi for fireworks, night shows, and beach stuff primarily.
Thanks

 

[Greg K.]

I'm about to take the digital plunge, and everything I've seen and read about the Canon cameras is excellent. I have my eye on the Powershot 95, a couple steps up from the 75. Whaddya think of your Canon??

BTW: Disney no longer processes film on property . So digital may be a good alternative.

I've also had mixed experiences having others take shots of my group, using my camera. Most cast members are okay, and even other guests can do a decent job. But too many times, people end up taking several pictures, without realizing it, or someone's head gets lopped off. I'm thinking I may pack a couple disposable P&S cameras to take into the parks for those times when I bump into a character and want someone else to take a picture.

 

[WaltD4Me]

My brother is a professional photographer and he just bought his wife a Canon digital camera. He uses Nikon for all his work, but he said Canons are the best for normal/not too complicated picture takers.

I'm not ready for digital yet and I just bought myself a new Canon 130U for our trip...on recommendation from my brother. The zoom on it is incredible for such a little camera!

 

[Skylarr29]

I have a canon (cant remember the exact one right now) and I just bought a 2 gig memory card from costco.com. It was 200.00 but I think it is worth it. At the lowest res it takes 10,000 pics and at the largest and highest quality setting it takes about 1,200 . I will be there two weeks and I don't think I will be able to take that many pics. I am also bring my reg camera just in case I need it for backup. ALso just some advice for digital. Read the manual lol!My canon has a feature were you can "lock" in pics so they dont get erased by mistake. Last year we accidentally hit delete all pics right before the end of our trip.We lost all of our pics . If you have a computer with you definatly try to up load them at night or save to a disk to avoid losing your memories.

 

[oogieboogie]

You'd be suprised at how many pictures you would take on a digital vs film camera. With a film camera I used to be so selective about what pics I took. Not with a digital. With the knowledge that I could easily delete, crop, & manipulate my pics, I now take pic after pic without care.

On a normal 8-9 day trip, I take an average of 150-200 pictures per day. On special event days, like when we went to Flower & Garden Festival last year, I took more than 250 pictures on just one half-day between breakfast and lunch! I had to go back and download my pics to my laptop before I could continue the evening. There are days where I'll run more than 300 pics in one day - 158 day and 158 evening, usually during fireworks night.

I have a Canon S1 IS that at it's highest setting takes 54 pics per 256mb card, or 275 on the next setting below that. So to me 256mb is my gauge per day - 9 days will take me to more than 2GB of memory. I have to bring a laptop with me otherwise I'll be carting 10 cards or more.

 

[Greg K.]

What say you about the S-1? Too big? Too complicated? Is the tilt-able screen a help?

I have an SLR (also Canon), so I'm a step or two above beginner...but still a virgin when it comes to digital.

Would love to hear what you think.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

I really love my little digital. It shoots very clean - and I've been nothing but pleased with it (once I figured out some of the special modes, etc)

I love the fact that it has fireworks shots and rapid shooting - so you can't miss the BEST fireworks moment (like with some delays on SLRs)

My SLR is a canon as well.

I've heard great things about my little A75. I'm sure the "step up" would be spectacular

 

[edjbiologist]

I have a SLR canon too...however I was not impressed with canon digitals. I wanted a camera that had an awesome zoom, which all the canons have but I didn't like anything else. I settled on the Kodak DL with 10X zoom lens. I was floored with how wonderful it is. The zoom will take you to the top of Cinderella's castle like you're up there from almost the front gate.

I think you should look at pricegrabber.com. You can put in your criteria and your can get results, examples, and read owners and professional reviews on everything, plus they find you the best price.

You can download your memory card at all the parks now, however no more film development. To answer your previous question, yes you pop out your memory card and pop the new on in. A 256 at 4 MB is roughly 95 pix.

Good Luck

 

[mareed]

I was thinking of bringing my digital, too (just a little Canon Powershot A75) but I don't get many pictures on it at a time before the card fills up.

Any advice on this particular camera? Is there a better way to shoot fireworks with it? Where/how do I get additional memory for it? Is it pricey? Can I upload pics to DH's laptop at the end of the day? (I just plug it in with it's USB cable into my mac and it automatically picks everything up and imports - I've never tried with DH's computer, which is a PC)

My mother has the older version of this camera and used it on our XMAS WDW trip. She got great pictures! I'd recommend leaving the film camera at home, getting extra memory cards for your digital and just taking it. Fireworks & other night photos are always tricky to do, and you really need a tripod for great pics. It's so nice to to have to lug film around and to be able to see your pics right away.

 

[oogieboogie]

What say you about the S-1? Too big? Too complicated? Is the tilt-able screen a help?

I have an SLR (also Canon), so I'm a step or two above beginner...but still a virgin when it comes to digital.

Would love to hear what you think.

I just bought my S1 and I've been playing with it for about 2 weeks now. I'm really starting to like it. I haven't set any of the shortcut functions yet, but I'm sure I will before going to WDW in June.

I don't think it's too big. Mind you I'm a small person and I don't have big hands, but this feels comfortable in my hand. I haven't used the LCD much except for playback review. I actually like using viewfinder more than the LCD, so I don't use the tilting screen much (yet)

What I'm beginning to like a lot is the placement of the function button, the omni button and the set button. I'm at the point where I don't need to look back and forth to see which button I need to press.

The only thing that I'm having a hard time is focusing during low light. Yes, I knew this was a problem with the S1, but I've seen some great pics that were taken with the S1 and I think people have worked around it.

This is a great link to see what pics the S1 is capable of:
http://www.pbase.com/rhiggs1

 

[ukcatfan]

I can also speak highly of the S1. I replaced a Canon A70 with it and so far it has blown the A70 away (BTW, I still think the A70 was great). If you are considering a S1 and can wait a couple months, the S2 will be out. Improves on many features, but does switch to SD memory. I will not be upgrading b/c the S1 is all I need. I also considered the Panasonic ultra zooms in the price same range, but did not like the feel of them after handling them. The more expensive Panasonics are probably the best ultra zooms out, but they get pricey and are almost as large as a SLR. The S2 is not released yet, so it could be better than them.

As for the screen, I love it. I like to tilt it straight up and hold the camera lower. I find I am able to stabilize the camera more and get an interesting perspective that I would normally have had to get down on my knees to get. It will also help to get above the crowd at WDW, but I have not had a chance to try this out. We decided not to get our seasonal passes until Fall this year

 

[lal32]

I have a couple of questions regarding digital cameras...

Firstly, I know you can get photos downloaded from your camera to a CD at Disney World, but is there anywhere on site or in the parks where you can buy an extra memory card if need be?

Secondly, I have been told not to pack undeveloped film in a bag you intend to fly with because the airport x-ray machines could wipe the photos. Since we are a strictly digital couple now we don't need to worry, but does anyone know if the same applies to photos stored in a camera or on different memory cards?

Thanks.

 

[Forevryoung]

Buy additional memory cards BEFORE you go- I bet they are two times the price at the parks. I am planning on borrowing a few friends cards (yes just their extra cards) so that I dont have to buy any just for my trip. Having two or three extra 256mb cards will be nice.

I have the Cannon A70 and I love it! The A80 is the same one but updated- still great

Anyone know a good way to mark my camera? The family I am going with has the same one and at first glance I want to know which one is mine

 

[Tiger Fan]

I have the Canon A75 and love it. I have enough cards to take 1100 pictures at the best resolution. I always take my laptop to Disney anyway and often download, but have still had plenty of room. We'll be gone this trip for 21 days so I'm figuring that we'll use up most of my cards. I love that with digital I only print the great pictures now. With my SLR camera I would take 11-15 rolls on a good trip and only about half the pictures were good enough to actually scrapbook. I take way more pictures now with my digital (why not, right) and find that I get so many more great pictures. My DD also loves to take pictures and with the digital I don't mind letting her snap away. I am an avid scrapbooker so my pictures have to be really good to get into my album and with this camera I have no problem. Good luck and have fun.
Lisa
Tiger Fan

 

[YEKCIM]

A couple of reliable online retailers, from whom you can get memory cards at very good prices are:

www.newegg.com

www.zipzoomfly.com

We also have the Canon A75, which does a good job, as well as a "hybrid" Canon Optura 30 digital camcorder that takes remarkably good stills with its 2MP "still" imager.

YEKCIM

 

[eeyoreforever]

I just recently decided to go digital so I bought the Canon Powershot A-95. I'm still playing around with it, trying to learn how to use it properly before my trip. I took it to my dd's band concert the other night and was so disappointed when I got home and uploaded my pics. I had used the auto setting on most of the pics and they came out horrible-really dark. Even when I lighten them, they are just not good. I changed the setting to the "night" setting on a couple of the pics before I took them and they were a little bit better, but still not the quality I would expect. I guess I really need to use all of the manual settings to get better shots, but at this point I don't have a clue what shutter speed and apperture and all of that stuff does.

I think the most important thing when you buy one is just playing around with it and taking shots using different settings to determine what works the best. I just wish I had some fireworks to practice on before I get to Disney.

Good luck in making your choice.

 

[tzuhouse]

Were you using the flash? I have a Nikon 5700 and LOVE it. One thing I discovered early is that I get much better pics with the flash off. I took pics of my son at a competition and was using the flash. All were very dark and weren't any better when altered to make lighter. It was because the flash wasn't strong enough to do any difference that far from the subject, but the camera was not adjusting for the light because the flash was on. Very rarely do I use the flash any more. I keep it off unless I'm shooting something close up that is in a very dark setting. You can see some of my pics at www.pumpkinsandpets.com If a flash was used on any of these, it would only be one or two. If you had the flash on, try turning it off and taking some pics in a similar situation and see if they are better. HTH

Mary