Camera or not?

[WantToGoNow]

Every trip I feel like I'm seeing my vacation through a viewfinder on a camera. I usually take 500+ pictures during the course of the trip. Last time, I downloaded them to the computer but never had them developed. We may look at the pictures once a year or so (usually right before a trip). I'm trying to convince myself to go cameraless this year. I would have my phone if there were a few I "had to have". Has anyone else ever gone without a camera?

 

[SheilaHeartsDisney]

The last couple of years we went camera less. We did have our phones but it was so nice to have one less thing to think about and we really did enjoy not having to see everything through a tiny screen. We go every year and the Epcot ball hasn't changed at all. You can only get the same picture so many times you know. Now a days unless you and your family are in the pic who knows if you took the pic or if you for it off the Internet. Trust me all you need is your phone.

 

[AuroraRora]

I still take my camera because I get "what if I miss something??" anxiety if I don't. But I agree with SheilaHeartsDisney that a lot of the things people photograph can be found online, usually in better quality. I don't take pictures of the standard stuff like the Epcot ball, any show/parade pictures etc and I don't film any of the fireworks or shows. I've noticed as I take more trips, I've started taking more unique photos, like things that catch my eye and not necessarily things you'd find online.

 

[lauradis]

Anti camera here. Love to live in the moment and don't what to be a pack mule.

Have Iphone camera if I really feel the need to take pic. also can buy photo pass if we desire the posed pics.

 

[JennyDrake]

I have gone w/o camera for a few years. Don't really miss it at all.

 

[kathy884]

I bring it on the trip, but not to the parks. I maybe two different days will take pictures of extended family at our resort, but that's it. So on a six day trip, I maybe just spend two different 1/2 hours taking some photos. Worth it though to get some great shots of the extended family from all over the country together.

 

[su_A_ve]

Camera - we started making photo books and finally made them for every trip taken back till 2000 (I wait for a free coupon or super discount one).

It's a great way to 'print' your memories. We did stop developing pictures about a year ago...

And the quality of the the photopass photographers have gone down...

 

[disneylove69]

Haven't brought camera in awhile for the reasons others have said. If I'm in the mood I go to youtube or somewhere else and look at others pics and videos.

 

[flywithhope]

Its a personal choice. If you want to go camera free, go camera free! Like others mentioned, your phone camera can be your back up as well as photo pass.

Do what makes you happy.

 

[PoohLover78]

I usually take a camera to the parks. However, I do divide my trip into camera days and camera free days. Usually about 2/3 of the time is planned camera free, meaning if I was to spend 10 days in the parks, I'd bring the camera on 3, max 4 days to capture everything and then leave the camera back in the hotel.

That said, I also have high end camera equipment because I love taking photos so not bringing the camera would not be an option for me. I went to DL Paris once without the camera, just had my smartphone with me to take pics and I was kicking myself all the way through for not bringing the camera because there were so many great moments I wanted to capture and the smartphone just didn't do it justice at all.

 

[seashoreCM]

Want to try this:

Leave the camera in the room safe. Bring a pen and notepad. When (or if) you see a scene you would like to photograph, write down the location and which way you are facing. Bring the camera the next day and go from location to location you wrote down and take your pictures.

Psst! I consider using the iPhone proliferously to take pictures as "camera" as opposed to "no camera."

 

[jsebsirois]

Psst! I consider using the iPhone proliferously to take pictures as "camera" as opposed to "no camera."

Agree with you! Even worse if you take it with you to use the Phone in iPhone!

Back to the thread, I would not imagine my trip without my camera. I don't feel like I'm looking at my trip through that little screen... I mean, it's only a few seconds...

 

[kayemgi]

We don't go to Disney a lot, so I will be bringing a camera on this trip, but stuff that I have photographed on previous trips won't get re-shot. I have found myself more and more lately, in everyday life, not using the camera. Sometimes I do regret it afterwards, that I didn't take any pictures of a fun day, but then I remember: it was because I was actually present and enjoying the fun day! And he would never say so, but I know my DH is happier when I'm not stopping all the time to frame a shot.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Its a personal choice. If you want to go camera free, go camera free! Like others mentioned, your phone camera can be your back up as well as photo pass.

Do what makes you happy.

I agree, whatever makes you happy, just do it . Me personally, I could do without bringing our camera and just use our FP+ to get our pictures. However, DH loves the camera, therefore he is the one that is always wearing it around his neck and snapping away. He has been known to take anywhere from 500-600 pictures and just download it on our computer. Then he takes the best pictures and puts them on a dvd with background music (it's his Disney hobby along with pin collecting ). Now, if you want to talk about video recorders???? We used to take ours all the time, now we don't even bring that because DH likes his camera too much. I'm not complaining either, because I was the one that carried that and took the video, which I am not the best at doing anyways .

 

[Raenstoirm]

I always have my camera and really kick myself when I dont have it (even in every day life), but I am a scrapbooker so I *do* stuff with my photos (but I will say I dont take the standard shots either. There are too many really good shots that can be downloaded off the internet. I only take the unusual shots and even so still get around 2000 pics a trip ). I'd say, bring the camera and leave it in the room. If you go a few days and the iPhone works for you, then lesson learned and it only cost you a little carry-on space. If you go a day and regret not having it in the parks, you can bring it the next day. Easy cheesy! .

 

[DisneyHardin]

I would really miss my camera, but then again, I look at my Disney pics on the computer all the time. Last year we just took our little pocket camera instead of the big one. We missed the quality pictures and will take it this year.

 

[wiigirl]

I always have a camera on me

 

[katt789]

Went down in June for an audition, with no plans to go into the parks at all, meaning my cell phone would have been good enough. Well, we ended up in the parks and I seriously regret not having my camera, even though it was just one day.

Having also gone bagless in the parks, and thus, without a camera, I do regret it. I like even just having a little point and shoot to grab some pictures with. Sometimes the photopass doesn't turn out great or something else.

That being said I totally get the "always behind the camera" vs living the vacation, and I'm trying a lot more to enjoy everything and not be worried about taking a million pictures.

I would definitely bring the camera with you, and maybe leave it in the hotel for the first day just to see how it feels?

 

[Dislover1991]

I took my camera last year and ended up taking over 700 photos. While that is ALOT, it was also our first trip to Disney in 12 years and it was during the Flower & Garden Festival so I went overboard with photos!

This year, I believe we're doing the Photopass+ option. I'm still bringing my camera, but that's because it'll be decorated for Christmas.

 

[Aljo]

I just finished going through 2,500 photos, narrowed them down to 790, made a slideshow and also added Disney music to it. Everyone that has seen it loves it. I do want to have some developed but will narrow that down even further.