Camera Question

[Jules54]

I have a question about which camera to carry. I have a nice Canon DSLR with great lenses. The problem is that it is HEAVY. However, it takes great pictures. I also have a nice pocket sized point and shoot. It will be my 6YO grandson's first trip and I want to capture it all, however I have some concerns about carrying that heavy camera around in the FL heat (late July) for a week. I was thinking about just taking the DSLR to the MK and using the point and shoot everywhere else.

Anyone carried their DSLR around the parks and what are your thoughts?

 

[Pooh2]

I would bring the dslr to MK and see how that goes. In the heat, you may not feel like lugging it along and might get more use out of the point and shoot. Some days, I just like going light with the light camera.

 

[darthbrazen]

You can also make use of the Photopass, but personally, I'd just bring a small camera that fits neatly in your pocket/purse/backpack, if you are going to bring one at all.

 

[ElizabethG]

I hate carrying things around with me in the parks. I would use the point-and-shoot.

You should also consider pre-purchasing the photopass cd or photopass+ (pp+ gives you the photopass cd plus ride and meal photo packages)
http://www.disneyphotopass.com/specialoffers/wdwppp.htm

I have purchased it on every trip (photopass+ is one-year old, so twice for that). I find it totally worth it!

 

[Snappy in OK]

I carry my dslr with each trip, as well as on most outings we go on. I found a comfortable strap and I carry it cross-body. Most of the time I find that I don't change lenses that often. However, I do have a Tamrac backpack that I carry - or get DH to carry once in a while. The bottom half is camera storage, and the top half is like a typical backpack where I can keep our room cards, ID, sunscreen, and quite a few other things in. I usually have my camera on, so the backpack is not that heavy. And it allows me to have an extra lens or 2 along in case I do want to change it out.

I think if you feel that the dslr takes better pics, I would try carrying that around with you. If that gets to be too much, you can always change to the point & shoot.

On a side note, the only park I have found where I want the zoom lens is at AK.

 

[Cynister]

I brought a point n shoot (2 actually) & my DSLR. If you've got a decent lens on your DSLR, thus making it heavy, I'd recommend you take the DSLR to AK & the point n shoot to MK. I ended up rotating days between both so my back wouldn't be sore lugging the DSLR around every day. But making sure the DSLR with the good lens came with me to AK was a smart choice because of the safari.

 

[StitchyCamera]

My family is going in 2 weeks and I'm having a rather similar debate with myself. As a photographer by trade, my natural instinct is to bring my entire kit and be prepared for whatever comes my way, but I'm leaning heavily towards packing light and using my iPhone camera for whatever happens. I think you could get away with some nice vacation memories with a decent point and shoot. Lord knows I've spent enough hot days lugging around my 5D during California summers in DLR to know that pain...not looking forward to doing it in the FL humidity... =] Have fun!!

 

[cobright]

DSLR all the way.

Fully charge your batt, leave the spares at home/resort
Pick one good lens, like a 30-90mm zoom, leave the rest at home/resort
Choose a comfortable strap and sling case.

The fact that you have a DSLR tells me you value quality photos, Your grandson will only be 6 yrs old in Disney World for a few days.

 

[pepe of ohio]

DSLR all the way.

Fully charge your batt, leave the spares at home/resort
Pick one good lens, like a 30-90mm zoom, leave the rest at home/resort
Choose a comfortable strap and sling case.

The fact that you have a DSLR tells me you value quality photos, Your grandson will only be 6 yrs old in Disney World for a few days.

I agree.... Take the DSLR... Pick an intermediate zoom lens and a good camera bag.... Just for the rides.... If the camera is carried in the bag, what's the point in bringing it....

Have it ready to shoot...!

Photo pass never interests us... I've seen too many awful out of focus pics....and to chase the few photo people around or wait in their lines for a photo... Nope, not for us... Too time consuming and posed shots.... Rather do it myself and a camera doesn't weight a ton !

 

[avarson]

I typically bring my Nikon DSLR to the parks. All my lenses and flash. However, one year, my flash dropped and broke so I changed my strategy.

I went to Target and got a cheaper, generic flash that does well enough and won't break my heart if it falls.

This past year, I broke down and got a "walkaround" 18-250mm lens. Best thing I ever did. Now I only have to bring one lens with me to the parks. It's a slower lens, but does fine during the day. I have the p&s for video and the restaurants.

I also get the photopass simply because my wife loves posed shots.

This next trip I may bring only the P&S because I feel like I took all the pictures of rides and such that I wanted to with my nice camera and don't want to be burdened with my camera bag. I may change my mind before then, who knows!

 

[TJSkinner]

In 1988 our first trip had 5 pictures of my kids at DW because the 35MM was too much trouble. In 1990 took disposable cameras that were waterproof, great photos of my kids including the only one of my children at Star Tours when it first opened. Son was a huge Star Wars fan, and we lost him 2 years ago, so when we went on his memorial trip we redid the photo in honor of him, this time with my digital point and shoot. Just do not do what one family one the paddle boat did. The gentleman sat down and left his very expensive SLR camera, but being the honest person I was I made sure they got it back. Never know when these pictures will be the only ones you have.

 

[cobright]

I like the photopass mainly so I am in some of the pics.

 

[jess1662]

If you have and use your DSLR at home, you will never be happy with a point and shoot in the parks. There is too much of a delay and you will miss all the pics you wanted to get! I've brought mine every year and the pics are priceless.

(On a side note, I bring a memory card for each day and switch out even if it is not full. Too much of a risk to accidentally delete pictures!)

 

[winkytink]

I'm a professional photographer and I have simply gotten used to carrying my DSLR all over. If you have more than one lens I would suggest bringing the one you use most. PhotoPass photographers will happily take pictures for you with your camera for free so you aren't left out of pictures. Maybe invest in a cushy strap? I also organize my backpack so my DSLR is in the compartment closest to my back and on top, easily accessible there and less likelihood for damage. This way you can carry it without having it around your neck all the time! Hope this helps.

 

[hannahmachell]

If you have and use your DSLR at home, you will never be happy with a point and shoot in the parks. There is too much of a delay and you will miss all the pics you wanted to get! I've brought mine every year and the pics are priceless.

(On a side note, I bring a memory card for each day and switch out even if it is not full. Too much of a risk to accidentally delete pictures!)

Such a good idea to bring extra memory cards...something I would not have thought of!

 

[kraut539]

What do you do with your DSLR cameras on the wet rides?

 

[pepe of ohio]

What do you do with your DSLR cameras on the wet rides?

Camera bag.... They make terrific, water repellant bags, compact .... And you're not going scuba diving....only attraction I wouldn't even dare, bag or not... Kali Rapids.....

 

[Flamingomo]

On our last few trips I brought my nice point and shoot digital, but this time if we do go, I want to bring my DSLR (Canon Rebel T2i), my dream camera. I got it a year and a half ago. So far I just have the basic lens that came with it, but I love the pictures it takes! I have a "camera graveyard" as my husband calls it, so I will let each of my older two kids use one of the other digital cameras so I can get their perspective on things too.

I can't wait to see how the character pics look with my DSLR, plus it is fast and I don't have to wait for it to try and focus. I will also still get Photopass as I love the extras you get to add to the pics and it is really nice to have all of us in the pictures.

 

[HorseLvr83]

I have a DSLR but decided not to lug it around this year with lenses and can't take it on some rides so I bought a high quality point and shoot. I was going to get an underwater housing for it as we are also cruising with the Disney dream as well but didn't want to spend $$$ after purchase of P&S. I found a neat little affordable alternative. Dicapac makes heavy duty waterproof cases for virtually every type of camera from P&S to DSLR and phone. I did its of research on them and couldn't find any negative reviews or instances of it leaking. People were even diving with their DSLR!

 

[msouza]

I use my iPhone with a life proof case so your not worried about the wet rides and like most others have said take advantage of Disney's photo pass, but believe it or not you can get great shots with your phone.