Camera Question

[ArielLoverNH]

HI all,

First trip to Universal in October for me and the wife. Question about bringing a camera.

I have a full SLR set-up, multiple lenses and accessories, would love to get some quality pictures for memories but after reading , I feel like there are pros and cons.

Pros
-Great quality pics for memories
-Seems like limited universal photographers so the phot pass option just doesn't seem to justify the cost
-Going to the Luau so would love to get some great shots
Cons
-Lug the camera around all day
-Hassle of having the bag to deal with causing use of more lockers for rides
-Additional items for the plane flight

Do you think we can get away with just our iPhones?

 

[mom2rtk]

How do you intend to use the photos? I scrapbook so print a wide range of photo sizes. And while an occasional phone pic works ok, in general the quality just isn't as good when you're printing. If you're just looking at digital copies, or sharing online, the phone will probably be fine.

 

[_19disnA]

I think it partly depends on how you plan to use those pictures. Do you want something to post online or print smaller pictures to put in a scrapbook? Any type of cellphone is fine for small snapshot type photos. Or are you planning to enlarge them to poster size to hang on the wall in your home? SLR cameras will tend to yield higher resolution images that can be enlarged with greater clarity.

However, carrying around your photo gear is a pain and takes away from your Universal time. How much of your park time do you want to spend scouting out that perfect picture spot vs. enjoying rides/shows? Do you really want to carry all of that stuff around to take a few pictures? Maybe take your SLR to dinner or later in the day after you done at the park.

 

[ArielLoverNH]

We do both, mostly digital but have been known to print and enlarge to hang up with family photos.

 

[ArielLoverNH]

We do both, mostly digital but have been known to print and enlarge to hang up with family photos.

 

[mom2rtk]

I took my DSLR on all 3 of our trips the last few years. I hate being in such a visually interesting place and not being able to take the best photos I can. It can be a pain to stow the camera in lockers for rides, but we usually had something we were stowing anyway.

Just as an aside, if you want to take photos with the DSLR in the ride queues, it is possible to take it in with you then back out and put it in a locker. Just tell the attendant and let them know you don't intend to ride. I had fun doing that at Forbidden Journey and Gringott's. Of course it helped that I had EP so I was entering a faster moving line to do that.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I've brought my DSLR, usually for only one or 2 excursions into the parks. It goes into the lockers fine so it's no big deal. To be fair, I really only brought it on the trip because we went to Discovery Cove & SeaWorld and it was invaluable there.

I got a little Sony RX100 specifically to bring to Universal. Clips unobtrusively on my belt loop & can fit in my pockets, which means it can go on rides & through queues w/ no hassle. Most ride CMs don't even care about it just hanging on the belt loop, since it's secure w/ a carabiner, but some ask for it to go in a pocket.

 

[fla4fun]

I don’t bring my DSLR to the parks often since I have been to the parks so many times, but when I do, I have a couple of prime pancake lenses that are very light and compact. Yes, sometimes a prime lens isn’t as convenient as a zoom, but I can either “zoom with my feet” or do a little cropping to get the image I want with the quality I want.

I also still have my old superzoom camera I used before I bought my DSLR, which takes better photos than a phone, but is not quite as good in low light as my DSLR. Sometimes I choose to take it to the parks instead of the DSLR because it is better at video capture than the DSLR.

Most of the time these days, I do rely solely on my phone for theme park photos. I may bring my DSLR and a couple of lenses on the trip, and then only take it into the parks for a day or two, using the phone the rest of the time. You didn’t mention which iPhone you have, but if it’s one of the newer ones, you should be able to get good photos with it.

As another poster said, a lot depends on whether you want to print the photos, and the size of the prints. My use case is primarily viewing on devices, like digital picture frames or sharing online, not printing, and for that, a phone is fine.

 

[ArielLoverNH]

I have an 11 Pro Max and wife has a 13 Pro. I am eligible for an upgrade so that is also an option to go with the 14 pro max

 

[fla4fun]

I have an 11 Pro Max and wife has a 13 Pro. I am eligible for an upgrade so that is also an option to go with the 14 pro max

My sister has the 13 Pro and no other camera. She gets good photos. I have the 14 Pro Max, and it is very good. I do shoot in their version of RAW to maximize the editing capabilities (planned for that by getting the 1TB storage).

 

[tony67]

This is one of those things I always struggle with and always end up lugging my camera and a lens or two (I like the prime ones).

I really like the freedom of just carrying the phone.
My Phone is 100s of times better than my first digital camera (mid 90s), but pretty close to my first digital SLR (early 2000s).

With the DSLR I try to limit myself to one lens - but I usually end up with two.

I also have a small Panasonic pocket camera that is several years old and has a large 1" sensor which works quite well and has a decent Lucia zoom lens and f 2.8. Most of these compact cameras now seem to have an f3.5 lens. I feel that does make a big difference. This thing is from 2016 and it still sells for more than I paid for it. Ive really not found a good pocket size replacement for that

I got a canon m200 which as the ASPC lens and was a great deal from canon refurbished - still with the lens and all its not that much smaller than my SLR style camera which I prefer.

With todays phones you can get some amazing photos - and my phone has one of the top camera - but I still find they are slow when it comes to motion\candid shots. Also low light is poor with motion in my experience - and since I take a lot of pictures at HHN that is always a concern. The night shots seem to require you to stand still.
I'm also not as quick with a phone and IMO its not a ergonomic as a proper camera. If you are used to it than probably not an issue.

That said as the old saying goes the camera you have with you is the best camera and I am glad to have the phone with me all the time.

Many phones have tons of built in software to do things that are pretty amazing as well.
Also all your photos are backed up to the cloud if you have that set up and I really like that.

The freedom of not carrying a camera bag is great.

As for the photo pass, although I like it, Universal does a terrible job with this. In talking with someone there who does VIP tours part of the problem is its an outside contractor.

All the ride photos are included - as long as you manually add them.
There are almost always photographers at the character meet and greats as well as the park entrances.
There are several self service photo ops.
There are also photo ops at ET that are well done and included.
Also - if its reopened - there are the photo ops with a green screen - and those are always fun in my experience.

One example of the problems I have with it is there have been several photo ops at HHN, but no universal photographer. There are few ,if any, roaming around the park. (not sure I have ever seen one)

So I feel I got value with it - but I also had a great deal on the 18 month pass - but it could have been much better.

This is something I would really like to see Universal take over and improve.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

There are few ,if any, roaming around the park. (not sure I have ever seen one)

When I first went in 2018, they had photographers outside both entrances, right inside at both entrances, in the Lost Continent area, on the bridge to Hogsmeade, at the Seuss Landing bridge, and at most of the meet & greets. So more in Islands than US. I think they're pretty much constantly at the "right inside the entrances" spots. There wasn't always one at the other locations but we saw them there multiple times at each.

Not sure how many are out and about nowadays. I've always seen the "right inside the entrance" ones on every trip since, except in downpours.

My major disappointment was that our Raptor Encounter photos came out blurry. There's really no excuse for that from a professional photographer at a location with a consistent set distance.

 

[tony67]

My major disappointment was that our Raptor Encounter photos came out blurry. There's really no excuse for that from a professional photographer at a location with a consistent set distance.

Yes I would be quite angry about that - with the latest cameras that is next to impossible - they use the eyes as a focal point and I am amazed with the accuracy.

Not sure I would call them professional photographers - I mean yes they do get paid to take pictures - but they are really just camera operators IMO.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I consider them to be professional in that taking photos is their job that they do all day, and they have professional camera equipment (professional enough, at least).