Camera AND camcorder?

[jpeka65844]

What is everyone's experience with taking both? I have a Canon S5 that takes short video (about 30 min on my memory card).

Anyone lug around both and actually use them?

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I don't bring both. I find it extremely hard to switch between the two. The mentality of shooting video and taking pictures is so totally different in my mind that I end up focusing on one and making a hash of the other.

I prefer taking a camera and saving the video for activities closer to home. What I found when reviewing old home videos was that the vacation ones were terribly boring. The video I shot of various attractions at Disney and elsewhere was just no interesting. The parts with family and friends were great. So now my focus is on recording video of the people and events that have the most meaning in my life, not trying to capture a parade that I'll never watch again.

So I guess my rambling point is that if you do bring a video camera, I suggest that you record a lot more of your family and friends and less of the Disney stuff than you would naturally be inclined towards.

 

[Master Mason]

I have used my video camera a grand total of 3 times in 7 years. I have never once watched the video I took.

 

[tomorrowland]

I think if you are going with children, it makes a little more sense to have video capabilities also. When we went in October, my sister took her Canon S3 and I took my DSLR. When it came time for my niece age 5 to meet the characters or particiapte in the lion king show, we were glad we had video capabilities.

 

[Merrywheather]

Here's my experience and 2 cents~

We took both the DSLR & video cameras on our last trip. I was in charge of the DSLR, & my husband was in charge of the video camera. Over the course of the trip, I took 1000+ pictures, and he only took 45 minutes of video. Half of that 45 minutes was taped during the safari ride. We watched that part once and everyone was nauseous afterwards!

With that being said, it IS priceless to have the footage of my children meeting & interacting with the characters.

Would I bring both again? Yes. Would I take the video camera with me every day into each park? No. I would selectively choose, based upon my itinerary for the day. It was too stressful to try to juggle both, and the video camera ended up staying in the bottom of the stroller after about day #2. The DSLR stayed on my wrist all the time!

 

[NostalgicDad]

I personally never use both and almost despise making videos as I generally get no enjoyment of holding it while recording for extended lengths of time at the parks. We even recently bought a new hard drive camcorder that is actually really nice and easy to use. However, we do bring it along on our trips. It's great for the kids to use and my 14 year old son really enjoys using it to get incriminating evidence on me. So, he's usually recording me doing something goofy and the whole family gets to laugh at my expense when we "finally" do get around to watching it.

It's also interesting to see footage from my younger kids' perspectives as well. They get a kick out using it and enjoy "being important".

So, as long as someone else is willing to put it to use then I'll pack it.

 

[fostrmom2mny]

I just bought a new hard drive camcorder . I also have a friend that makes wonderful family DVDs with photos, music and snipits of video. For this reason alone, I'll take it to get some video. This will be mu mother's first trip to WDW. She's 78 and I plan on getting a lot of character interaction with her and my girls. I know how priceless this will be one day.

 

[alan]

I normally cannot be bothered with video cameras - I much prefer still photos.

But I was searching the web trying to find out about a water park I ahve booked for sumer '08 and came across a YouTube video where someone had taken a camera down a ride... and I have to admit, it was pretty exciting

regards,
/alan

 

[boBQuincy]

I agree with Mark, it is difficult for me to quickly change my mind set from still to video. The only time I can remember successfully using both was shooting/filming the Italy Masquerade. The combination slide show with video clips for that one came out ok but it was just luck.