Camcorders - worth it to lug around the parks?

[vellamint]

I LOVE our vacation videos and wish I had more footage.....darn if I am not still mad about our trip in 2000 when our camera went on the fritz for the first 3 days (turned out to be a bad TAPE and I didnt figure that out till day 3!).

But I will say- I wish I wasn't the one that did all the taping.....it IS very tedious at the time you are doing it - that said ..... I still carry it around.

 

[crazywig]

i just watched my video last week from our trip in jan. i am SO glad we took it.

i have the entire parade on film, unobstructed and we were right under a speaker! and my nephew was pulled out of the crowd to dance with the cm's.....priceless.

i also have ds getting his haircut, the safari in ak, the opening of the mk (train, dancing, etc), decent footage of illuminations..the list goes on.

ds was just 9m so we considered not bringing it, i am so glad we did. i will always take it now.

ours is quite small, it's a mini-dv

 

[JAP]

I am an only child, so my parents are those crazy kind of grandparents that want to see every moment.

On our last trip to WDW we did not take the video camera. At the time it was too bulky. Boy do we regret not taking it. We loved WDW and talked about it all the time. People would say do you have any videos can we watch it?!! DH and I would sigh and say "we didn't take the camera".

This Nov we will be taking both still and video. I can't wait.

 

[BuckyBadgerFan]

We bought a new digital for our trip at Christmas. It was so small that it wasn't a big deal. My family knew we were going so as a present we got a special fanny pack type bag for it. Hardly knew we had it and could easily put it in and out. Now all I have to do it make a DVD from the film on the PC sometime before our next trip!

 

[WiscMomof2]

We are definitely bringing our camcorder this year. We hemmed and hawed about it last year and decided not to bring it because we thought it would be a hassle. Boy, did we regret some of the things we missed out on. The biggest disappointment of all was that our girls were asked to be among the Grand Marshalls in the MNSSHP parade and we have nothing to show for it (besides the memories) but the one picture that turned out the certificates they gave out afterwards. I say bring it. I think you'll be glad you did! Enjoy your trip.

 

[sters]

Take it one day, maybe your last, for a "greatest hits" tape of all the hot spots. I saw this in a book somewhere. Having said that, I lugged mine around and have more film of the inside of my camera bag than on time spent in Disney! We do have some great stuff at the MK. But, most of the time it was so bulky we didn't bother taking it with us or it stayed in the bottom of our stroller. This time out I have an itty bitty one that might even fit in my fanny pack!

 

[Bethel]

Looking to replace our broken big camcorder with a Digital Camcorder that can also take decent stills (1000 K pixels).

Any suggestions, reviews, hints, websites to suggest. I've got less than a month to purchase. Thanks.

 

[stego]

at Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom-it just doesn't exist.
I have pictures, yes, but the memories of him running to see Mickey Mouse are fading at times.
The next year I borrowed my brother's camcorder-and have used one since then. Even this past weekend when I went to visit my
best friend for two days. Even though we JUST went to one park-and downtown disney, there were a few moments that I will never, ever be able to recreate. Like the one where he's got on his yellow mickey mouse poncho-it's pouring outside and we are
inside the France pavilion. Everyone back home laughed because he looks like an alien. Or the moment he found the brer frog at Once upon a toy that my wife had asked for. Or the little boy surrounded by 10 dinosaurs on the floor. Though not my child, it was just one of those moments. I won't say it doesn't get tiring-and of course, I don't take it into the water park, however, the rest of the year I can rest. I handle the videotaping/sore arm chores-and the camcorder can also take digital pictures that I can download to friends later. My wife and friend interchange with the point and shoot 35mm. I did see quite a few folks with camcorders, and cameras this weekend. Especially with the characters. Now my family and I can enjoy watching my weekend trip for some time-and plan our trip as well, in May.

 

[M&M's Daddy]

We're in the 'can't believe you would consider not bringing it' POV.

The one time I felt it was a nuisance lugging the camera around the park was our first trip to WDW with our DD #1, 4 years ago. The camcorder was already about 5 years old at the time, compact for the time it was made but not nearly as compact as today's digital camcorders.

Once we got home and played the footage of that trip, it was like magic. I have never, ever since regretted bringing our camcorder on any trips.

One thing I noticed on the first trip is that I like hanging the camera on my neck and will keep it there all day. Saves from pulling it out from a fanny pack or knap sack, and allows for more spontaneous taping. Having it on my neck doesn't bother me but that is personal preference.

We now have a digital camcorder that fits in your palm and has a fairly big screen. Lot more to convenient than the old one but even without the new camera, I'd never go on a trip without one. For whatever hassle it is to lug it along, the memories it saves are priceless.

 

[laurie31]

Originally posted by Bethel
Looking to replace our broken big camcorder with a Digital Camcorder that can also take decent stills (1000 K pixels).

Any suggestions, reviews, hints, websites to suggest. I've got less than a month to purchase. Thanks.

I bought a Hitachi Dz-MV 350A digital DVD camcorder in June. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! It is very small, very light, and it records to mini dvds that can be played on your computer or dvd player as well as the camcorder. It creates "chapters" for you, so you can instantly watch the part you want. Also, you can start taping again at any point during playback and it automatically goes to the end of the previously recorded material. It can also take nice digital photos You can use a memory card for the photos or put them on a mini dvd-ram disc with the video. You can also put video on mini dvd-r discs, but they won't record still pics. If you can afford a dvd camcorder instead of ones that use tapes (even the digital ones mostly use tape) the differences are...well, the same as between your vcr and a dvd player! Crisp true color, no rewinding/fastforwarding (VERY important with kids!) and digital storage that will last a lifetime (tapes degrade eventually ) You can record up to 2 hours of video or 2000(!) pics on a dvd-ram.

I am at work so I can't go check to see how many megapixels it has for the still pics. Sorry I don't remember.

I recommend spending some time in an electronics store looking at the different models so you can see what suits your needs best.

I bought a model that had been returned. They say it is common for people to purchase a camcorder for an "event," then return it. It came with full warranty, and all accessories and software were in new condition, but it was 25% off regular price. Extra batteries can be purchased MUCH cheaper from online stores or ebay.

Whatever you end up purchasing, PLEASE take it out and practice with it so you won't be fumbling around looking for the "fireworks" setting as Illuminations begins, or underestimating how long it takes to "warm up" after turning it on and it's not ready when your kid is hugging Mickey (mine has to "access the disc" at first and it doesn't really take THAT long, probably 3-5 seconds- but if the cute thing your kids are doing is already in progress, you could miss it, or at least part of it).

For unbiased opinions, I always check Consumer Reports Most public libraries have them if you can access the info you need online. And here's a link about the Hitachi camcorders.

http://www.hitachi.com/tv/browse/camcorders/dvd/dvd_index.shtml

Happy shopping!

Laurie

 

[Bethel]

Thanks Laurie. That helps a lot.

 

[MLbooks]

NJFabFour -

So did you bring the camcorder? How much did you use it?

Thanks -

Mary

 

[dizney dreamin']

Hi! I suggest bringing it and storing it in a locker when you grow tired of lugging it. The lockers are very safe and we also store jackets for chilly evenings. We cherish all our tapes from past years and I hope it's the same for you.

 

[conNH]

Ok I can totaly undestand where your coming from I hate taking ours between taking pictures an video...ugh.....we talk about leaving it at home every year!!!! But we alway deside to bring it because to watch it years later.... theres no words!! It also makes a great warm up for the kids befor the next trip...and my oldest must watch the videos at least once a month!!!!
We are planning to get a ditial for the next trip its smaller and will also take pictures!