Best Digital Camera for taking pics of the fireworks ...

[disneysteve]

How tall is your tripod? I have decided after taking about a hundred blurry fireworks shot last week that I really need to invest in a tripod. Anything you can tell me about your tripod would be greatly appreciated.

Check this item: http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-pocket-siz...549599996QQcategoryZ30096QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This is not the exact brand I have but it is identical.

 

[Kycha]

Check this item: http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-pocket-siz...549599996QQcategoryZ30096QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This is not the exact brand I have but it is identical.

Cool. Thank you!!

 

[kmp1191]

I have a Kodak Z740...is a 1gig card enough for a family of 4 for 7 days?
Approx 400 pics

I also have a Canon 20D that I use professionally, but I don't want to carry it around on vacation (also don't want it to get damaged)....but I still want the good photos....what to do....what to do...?

 

[MrsKingTriton]

THANKS for the info. i just went and bought a tripod. i love this site.

 

[Luv4Disney]

Am I the only one in the world that hates digital cameras? I feel like such an outsider using my good old get your film developed camera. LoL.

 

[disneysteve]

Am I the only one in the world that hates digital cameras?

Yep - LOL!

Seriously, I was a hard-core film devotee. I used to develop my own black and white film. I have had various photography side jobs over the years. I used to go on vacation with 2 35-mm cameras and all the extra lenses, flashes, filters, etc. As digital became popular, I refused to give in. When I finally did, about 2 years ago, I was an instant convert. The cameras are lightweight and pocket-size so I'm able to keep a good quality camera with me all the time without hauling all the 35mm equipment. I can see the results instantly and, if a picture doesn't come out well, I can immediately retake it. I can shoot dozens/hundreds of shots at no cost greatly increasing my chances of getting some really good images. On a 7-day vacation, I've taken upwards of 700 photos, something that would have been unaffordable with film. When I get home (or even back to my hotel room), I can view my pictures instantly by popping the card into my computer or laptop. I can edit the photos to improve them even more (crop, lighten/darken, fix red-eye, etc.). I can create slideshows that I can show friends and family and can burn to a CD or DVD and mail to people. Last year, we hosted a wedding shower for a friend. I took about 250 photos throughout the day. Before the guests left, I had created and burned photo CD's for the bride and the bridal party to take home with them. No going through negatives and figuring out which pictures to reprint. No paying for processing. No money wasted on pictures that didn't come out well. Never a lost roll of film. No worries going through airport x-ray machines.

Can you tell what I think about digital cameras?

 

[kizmac]

I have a Kodak Z740...is a 1gig card enough for a family of 4 for 7 days?
Approx 400 pics

I also have a Canon 20D that I use professionally, but I don't want to carry it around on vacation (also don't want it to get damaged)....but I still want the good photos....what to do....what to do...?

I would say no. I take a lot of pictures though and took over 3500 on this last trip. I filled my 1gb card completely on one day. Instead of buying more memory cards I got this Transcend Digital Album
It worked great! I just uploaded my memory card to it every night and could review my pics.

Taking the 20D could be risky especially since you use it professionally. Vacation was hard on my FZ20. It got banged around a couple times pretty good.

 

[disneysteve]

I have a Kodak Z740...is a 1gig card enough for a family of 4 for 7 days?
Approx 400 pics

I'd vote no. With a digital camera, I take way more pictures than with film just because I can and it doesn't cost me anything. As I said above, taking 700 or more shots in a week isn't unusual. I'd get more cards. They've gotten really cheap and they're small and easy to carry around.

 

[Luv4Disney]

I have no patience for figuring out a digital camera. I can never figure out how to get back to view the picture and blah blah blah. I don't believe myself to be a stupid person. Then, I don't have the patience to hook it up to my computer, upload, and blah blah blah. When I get my pictures developed, I get one of those CD thingys. They seem to work out fine. LoL.

 

[dclfun]

I resisted a digital camera for ages. After nearly an entire day of online research I purchased the Canon S2 IS. After one vacation I don't know how I lived without it. It's really easy to go from picture taking to the view mode and the 12X zoom allows me to take the close-ups I'd been dreaming of. I could never figure anything out either, but this camera is simple. Two days ago I purchased the PictureMate photo printer ( $179 at Circuit City and most other places but only $129 when purchased online through the Circuit City website and then I picked it up locally, or they had free shipping). I'd read good reviews of this product also. Initially I'd wanted a printer that also did stickers, CD labels, etc. but settled on this one for it's low cost and nice photos. Since I'm a scrapbooker it'll be easy to print out multiple photos. I feel like a grown up now! ---Kathy

 

[PJV57]

Am I the only one in the world that hates digital cameras?

To Luv4Disney. Nope. My husband still prefers a film camera.

 

[annie1995]

Just subscribing!

 

[mhf]

If you have the time in the evening, go thru the pix you have taken during the day and delete the really horrible ones (everyone's eyes are closed, etc). That will free some space. But take some extra batteries because viewing does seem to eat them up. Or take your re-charger with you and re-charge your batteries each nite.

Another idea is to take several smaller size cards. You can use one each day and then leave it in your safe. Then, if anything happens during the day such as accidentally erasing pix or a stolen camera, you have your old photos.

My brother takes his laptop with him and downloads the photos to it each nite.

I luv my Canon A 95!
MHF

 

[pxlbarrel]

The most important thing to do when you're taking photos of the fireworks is...don't forget to watch the fireworks. Don't get so into taking the perfect photo that you forget to watch and listen to the music.

Everybody has mentioned that you should get a tripod or learn how be very, very steady without one. On occasion, I use a monopod. The last time, I had my monopod and my LCD screen positioned in such a way that all I had to do was snap the camera whenever I thought there would be a "explosion" of light. You have to sort of anticipate when it might occur because the camera will be slightly delayed when you take the photo. So...I watched and enjoyed the fireworks while my trigger finger kept hitting the shutter.

The first time I ever took fireworks photos (and videos of Fantasmic), I made the mistake of putting the camera on auto-focus. Take that off if you can and set the camera to focus on infinity.

The photo below is actually from Disneyland and was taken while sitting very, very still in front of the castle. I didn't have my monopod with me. I like my monopod but I'm actually in the market right now for a smallish tripod for December's trip.

 

[kizmac]

Wow.....great shot pxlbarrel! You are so right about making sure to watch the fireworks. I get so caught up in taking the shots sometimes that I miss the whole thing and to top it off get only one or two good shots most of the time. Great point on taking off the auto focus. I'll have to try that next time.

 

[DisneyObsessive]

wow. that is an amazing picture. with the crowd all focused on the fireworks... very emotional and magical.

 

[annie1995]

The most important thing to do when you're taking photos of the fireworks is...don't forget to watch the fireworks. Don't get so into taking the perfect photo that you forget to watch and listen to the music.

Everybody has mentioned that you should get a tripod or learn how be very, very steady without one. On occasion, I use a monopod. The last time, I had my monopod and my LCD screen positioned in such a way that all I had to do was snap the camera whenever I thought there would be a "explosion" of light. You have to sort of anticipate when it might occur because the camera will be slightly delayed when you take the photo. So...I watched and enjoyed the fireworks while my trigger finger kept hitting the shutter.

The first time I ever took fireworks photos (and videos of Fantasmic), I made the mistake of putting the camera on auto-focus. Take that off if you can and set the camera to focus on infinity.

The photo below is actually from Disneyland and was taken while sitting very, very still in front of the castle. I didn't have my monopod with me. I like my monopod but I'm actually in the market right now for a smallish tripod for December's trip.

Wow! What a beautiful Pic. What camera are you using??!!

 

[pxlbarrel]

I use a Canon Powershot G5. Still small enough that I can and will carry it around but has enough controls on it so it doesn't have to be on automatic all the time. And bonus factor...I don't need a PhD to figure out how it works. LOL

 

[2diamonds&a~gem]

Thanks for the tips! I have a Canon, I will try these tips when I get home. Thanks!

 

[stenogoddess]

These are some really great tips. I've been wanting to know how to take firework pictures. I wish you all would go over and post some of these great shots in the Picture of Day thread. They are really, really awsome!