Any tips for a first time WDW digital camera user?

[WDWorBUST]

I am so jealous....although I absolutely love my digital camera it takes the new little XD cards and a 256mb one is $120 - and that's a GOOD price. Keep the hints coming though - as a new digital user I'm loving all this information.

 

[ShaneV]

A small portable tribod is available for less than $20.00.

small and easy to carry and a must have for nighttime pictures.

 

[WindowsJB]

Last August we took our Sony 2.1 MP Mavica CD camera. This camera is so cool, because it stores the pics on a 3 inch CD-R or CD-RW. At the highest resolution with the least compresion we can fit about 200 pics per disk. We also love the night-shot setting for this camera. It is rather difficult to hold the camera still enough, so we had tried the trash can/hand-rail thing. This year we will have a portable table-top tripod to use.

Jared

 

[ktglads]

Another thing to remember are your extra batteries! I have a digital camera/camcorder and that thing goes through its rechargable batteries in the heat like they are nothing! I don't know what kind of batteries your camera has, but that is something that you definitely have to remember. There is nothing worse than having to carry around a camera when you know you can't take any pictures because you killed the battery.

The slide show is also a really good idea. I did that at night as well. At the same time, I could delete all the pics that were REALLY bad and save some space for the next day

 

[Ratpack]

I have the mini tripod. Got it at Wal-mart for like $5 and it extends to like 8". My question is, when using this to take photos of the parade or fireworks, where do you set it up? On the ground in front of you or do you just find a good spot near a trash can? Any tips on using these small tripods from those that have them would be great as well.

Also, anyone ever carried a full tripod into the parks and used it? What was that like? I will have a stroller, so I can just throw it in the basket underneath.

 

[keithomas]

I used a Minolta DiMage7 last June. I took FIVE sets of AA NiMH rechargables (1800 maH type)...that's TWENTY batteries! Usually only used 2-3 SETS per day.

This year I'm only going to take 4 sets of four for the Canon A70. The battery life is much better and I only expect to use 1-2 sets per day.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I use an Ultrapod, which is about 17 bucks at a camera store. Not only does it fold, but it has a velcro strap so you can attach it and your camera to a small tree or light post.

 

[Trip2Dis]

Does anybod know of any other location in the World to get CDs of your dig pix other than EPCOT? I've been quietly worried that I'd run out of memory...

Thanks.

 

[lrodk]

I have the S230(3.2MP), which was the precursor to the S400. I have a 256mb CF card and was able to take 315 pics on the next to highest setting. The SimpleTech card cost me $89 last November after mail-in rebate. I just recently got a 516mb SimpleTech CF card from Dell.com for $112. They were offering a $30 rebate, which brought my cost down even more. You should shop these around, as rebates seem to come along every couple of months. Between these two cards I'm pretty much set. When the 1G cards drop in price I might be tempted to buy one, but for now these should be enough for my next trip to Disney.

 

[disrailfan]

I personally would recommend rechargable batteries if your Camera doesn't already have them. Batteries in the parks are so blinking expensive.

 

[Lurieh]

One thing to consider when you have one or two large capacity memory cards is the chance of card failure. I would suggest 3 or 4 smaller capacity cards. That way if one card goes bad you only lose a small portion of the photos you've taken. If you have 2 256mb cards and one goes bad, you've just lost 50% of your vacation photos(and that could be 100+ photos). If you can download the pictures to another medium(CD, portable hard drive), you'd be OK with the larger cards. Just a thought.

Good luck with the camera!

Lurieh

 

[safetymom]

I second have several cards and not the largest size. It takes longer to save on the larger cards also.

Just have fun with the camera. The great thing about digital is you don't have to worry if they don't all come out. You will find yourself taking pictures that you never would have with a film camera. I wouldn't go back to film if you paid me and I have a very expensive film camera.

Just think about telling a story when you take your pictures. Have fun.

 

[Geoff_M]

It takes longer to save on the larger cards also.

If by this you mean that it takes longer for the camera to write images to larger cards, that's not correct. There's no connection between card size and write speed as a rule. It's true that some larger cards may write slower than some smaller cards, and vice versa. But that's more likely a function of things like the chip set used in the card, the maker of the card, or your camera. Also, don't assume that the manufacturer's claim that their 40x card is faster than their 12x card. In many cameras, there is no difference, so why spend the extra $$$?

As for losing images... If you buy digital media from Lexar, they offer software called "Photo Rescue" that will recover lost images from the depths. It's pretty amazing what it can recover. It can even recover images from cards that have been re-formatted while in the camera. The software only works with their cards. Many pros swear by Lexar cards.

Here's a good review page for CF cards:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/mediacompare/

There are also some common things you can do to minimize problems with cards:

1) Never edit images from the card and re-save them to the card. Always transfer your images to a PC and then edit them.

2) Periodically re-format the card in your camera (after you have copied the images off the card).

 

[safetymom]

I am very familiar with digital cameras. There is a difference in save time with larger cards. I am not talking a huge difference but there is a difference.

I also would not depend on software to rescue "lost" prints. I know many pros that couldn't recover their images. There are several great programs for this. But it is better to use several cards in a days shooting so that you don't have that problem.

The best piece of advice is to save them to the hard drive, create a backup, then create and print your images. I also make sure that everything is ok before I delete them from the card.

Make sure that you format from the camera not from your computer. Save them at the highest resolution you can and remember that to be a backup you should have 2 copies of your images. I put one copy of the CD away so nothing happens to it. I would hate to lose my photos.

 

[Geoff_M]

safetymom,

I don't doubt that is what you have experienced, but the research doesn't support that notion. Here's the most extensive testing I've found on CF cards: http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007
Rob Galbraith is one of the most respected names in digital photography. The biggest factor in CF performance is the camera.

I don't suggest that people rely on Photo Rescue, but I know that it's saved a lot of people's skin when they've "lost" a good chunk of work due to a card that acts up at the worst possible moment.

I also take it one step further... I burn photos on CD ASAP. You can buy an external USB 2.0 CDRW for around $70 after rebate. I burn all my stuff the same evening. Hard drives aren't safe storage and can fail when it's most convenient.

 

[Snowlet24]

You are correct about saving them. I have a backup hard drive but when I download my images to my computer I burn 2 cd's immediately.

 

[safetymom]

You are correct about saving them. I have a backup hard drive but when I download my images to my computer I burn 2 cd's immediately.

Daughter was signed in on my computer.