camera question

[paige1014]

My family (me, DH, DSD19 & DD10) will be going down in June. My DS13 is staying home because he would rather go to church camp. My question is this - I normally take my digital SLR camera with me on trips but I really dread taking to WDW because of the size & weight with the extra zoom lense. I have a very nice pocket size digital that I take places that it would not be the end of the world to me if something happened to it. I also let the 2 younger kids take it with them on trips with grandparents, church trips, etc and my son will be taking it with him while we are at WDW. My question is should I suck it up and haul the SLR around at WDW, leave it in the room or should I suck it up and go buy an additional nice digital camera to take with us to the parks? This will be my first trip to WDW since DD10 was 1 yr old - she has been several times with her dad & grandparents. I will take the SLR with us for the character breakfast to make sure we have great quality photos but I'm not sure what I should do the rest of the time. DSD19 does have a nice digital camera but I'm not sure I want to rely on her to get those must have pics if that makes sense. What do you think???????

 

[jenb1023]

I have a Canon Rebel XT and took it to the parks. I have one lens that is a 28 or 35 to about 100. That is all the zoom I needed. I had no trouble with it in the parks and my pictures are much nicer than a friend of mine who took a point and shoot. It is up to you but I would never go without my camera.

 

[xipetotec]

I have a Rebel XTi. I do own two lenses, a 28-75 and an 85-300. Honestly, i used the 85-300 only when I went to Animal Kingdom. I wouldn't bother unless you have one of those neat backpacks designed for SLRs and extra lenses.

Edit: I meant i wouldn't bother with the extra lense

 

[paige1014]

My SLR is the Canon Rebel and I do have one of those backpacks for the camera and the extra lense but it is so cumbersome! I can squeeze the camera with the regular lense and the big lense into a smaller camera bag but there is no room for anything else except maybe chapstick - but then again I may not need anything else besides that. What do you do with your camera while on rides where they may get wet?

 

[xipetotec]

What do you do with your camera while on rides where they may get wet?

Well I just had it in a standard backpack with our sweaters and autograph books and stuff and whenever I went on a wet ride, I'd just put it in my backpack. Heck, on splash I took pictures RIGHT BEFORE the drop then just tucked it under my shirt ... Kali River Rapids is really where you need to make sure you put it inside the middle cover thingie. But my whole backpack fit in there.

 

[cjstarr]

Well I just had it in a standard backpack with our sweaters and autograph books and stuff and whenever I went on a wet ride, I'd just put it in my backpack. Heck, on splash I took pictures RIGHT BEFORE the drop then just tucked it under my shirt ... Kali River Rapids is really where you need to make sure you put it inside the middle cover thingie. But my whole backpack fit in there.

Or in a gallon size zip-loc bag just before the water gets to you.

 

[dopeyfanatic]

I say get a spare camera. I bought mine from a dealer on Ebay. I've bought three from them now. It's not my "good" camera, it's cameras for the kids and spares to take if I don't want to take my larger one. I've got mine for cheap, and they come with memory cards. Sometimes they are refurbished and sometimes they're brand new. If you want the dealers name let me know. I have the camera about a week after paying for it, but it has to come from NY to CA.

 

[Gretchen]

Buy your son an inexpensive dig. cam to take with him and take your point & shoot with you to WDW. Leave the big camera at home. I have a film SLR, a 10 mpx cannon point/shoot and a 3mpx cannon dig elph. Before we took our last trip I shot a bunch of stuff in different light, etc with each to decide. The elph won. It's about as big as a deck of card, fits in a pocket and takes really nice photos. I love the way film looks, love my SLR and can't wait to get the new dig body, but man, for WDW? The little one wins!
G

 

[tanyaandallie]

I've taken our XTi with us on 2 trips. It's actually been fine. I don't take my camera bag or zoom lens. I put the camera in our backpack or wear it around my neck. If I actually had a decent point and shoot, I might consider taking it. As much as I LOVE our XTI and adore the picture quality, it is a big camera and a pain to carry around.