Camera questions, what do you use? Memory maker ect?

NicholeB630

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Mar 6, 2014
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So I bought memory maker so my DH can be in pics with kids and not have to worry about getting our camera out every time. But now I am wondering if I should even bother bringing mine. I use my phone so much for pictures although its not the best with my 2 year old since he's so quick. I was thinking though I'd use it so much more being able to just whip it out real quick and what not and not having to lug around my big canon 70D which is awesome but to be honest I am not the best with it so I'll have to use it on Auto the whole time and then have to deal with flash ect when lighting isn't great. What does everyone do? Should I bring the good camera and just use a few days maybe in parks I think I'll want more pics, rely just on my phone? Will I get a good amount using memory maker? When at character meals they do take pics at tables or that is all on my to do that with each character? Thanks!
 
I'm a scrapbooker so I like A LOT of photos. We got the Memory Maker and I bought my camera. But it's not a big, clunky one. It's a point and shoot, Nikon Coolpix. Takes great pictures, has a lot of features but I'm like you, I just point and click. To get the most of the Memory Maker, just keep stopping at all the Disney Photographers. Morning, noon and night. We had plenty of pictures when we got home. I've read one thread that someone had over 700 photos! We don't do character meals, but I believe they're included with the Memory Maker. Hopefully someone will chime in about that. Don't forget the rides, some rides, like Splash Mountain, are included with MM. If I had a big camera, I just wouldn't bring in but that's never been me, I prefer the much smaller point and shoots which is so compact it's not a problem.
 
We've done a lot of character meals, and I've never seen a photographer going around to the tables. When the meals say "photo included," it's usually with one character and a backdrop before you enter the restaurant (at Chef Mickey's, it's a statue of Mickey Mouse). So I do think you'd want your own camera for those situations.

I take a lot of photos too, and I can't imagine ever being satisfied with the quality of photos from my phone (I'm speaking only of *my* phone and *my* photography skills using it... they're just not good enough to print). If you have a newer phone that takes awesome pics, or if you just want something to post to Facebook and email the grandparents, maybe that's good enough.

I don't mind lugging a camera if that means I'll get better action shots or low-light shots. However, if you don't think you'll actually use it, there's no point in bringing it. Camera photos are better than no photos, you know?
 
I was like you. I didn't want to take my big dslr with me due to weight and size. I brought a point and shoot (Nikon coolpix) and used my phone. The phone worked fine outdoors or in places with excellent lighting. The point and shoot came in handy at night. I would have been highly disappointed if I hadn't brought my point and shoot. The memory maker pics were great, but they are mainly posed pics. They weren't going to get the pic of my son the first time he saw the electric light parade, and my phone wasn't going to take a great pic of that either. The point and shoot did better with at the character meals too.
 

We do memory maker and I use my phone. I used to bring my big Nikon camera, but don't bother anymore. My phone takes decent pictures and I'm carrying it around anyway. I'm at Disney to enjoy the experience, not for the sake of photography. The photographic memories are a bonus. There are not photographers inside at the character meals. Only for the official picture as you're waiting to be seated.
 
When we go next September I'm going to bring my Panasonic Lumix. I bought it with Disney in mind. It is my back up point and shoot that is wide angle and shoots pretty good in low light. I refuse to bring my DSLR because it is too heavy and bulky on a trip like this with littles. I'd be afraid it would get damaged. The Lumix is small enough to fit in my pocket, which will be nice.
 
I'm in a similar situation and asking for a point and shoot for Christmas so I can bring it with us and easily store it in a pocket or diaper bag. I don't want to lug my DSLR around a themepark. There's already enough to lug around with a kid. Not to mention possible theft/damage concerns.
 
I have a DSLR and I took it to the parks with me. I honestly kept it in the bottom of my backpack for most of the trip, because it is heavy and a pain to lug around. HOWEVER, I did also come home with close to 1,500 pictures of the trip on it. Those were mostly from experiences such as PL makeovers, character meals, fireworks, etc. where photopass photographers are not present.

MM is a wonderful thing too, and you can get a TON of pictures with it depending on your willingness to stop for photograpers, the number of character meets you do, and the number of photo enabled rides you ride. I estimate we ended up with about 1600 - 1700 original photos on our MM from our trip (just a family of 8), which turned into around 2300 after making edits to them.

So, if you are satisfied with the quality of pictures that your phone takes, or don't feel the need to take photos where photographers are not present, then stick with your phone. If you want the higher quality random picture, or are planning on doing a lot of things where photographers are not present, I would bring the big camera along.
 
This would also be a great post on the photography board. There are a lot of people over there that wouldn't mind to help you with this. I would use memory maker for the posed shots that you would want as a greeting card or family photo or something like that. A phone would be great for candid shots on rides or spur of the moment things like children doing something cute as a phones picture quality is good enough for that. I would reserve a DSLR or other big camera for shots such as only the castle or only a ride façade. In other words, shots that don't have people in them or are not of extreme importance and you just want something that would look nice in a picture frame.
 
I've debated MM for months now and I'm down to the 35 day mark for our trip so i gotta figure out.
i use my phone for quick moments or selfies, then i have a nikon D3200 with standard lens, and then a really great additional 77mm-300mm zoom which i love because it also can have a fast shutter speeds for sports or moving like performances and when i use it right is good at freezing ppl instead of blurring them. i use the nikon for shows parades and scenery
MM im not completely sold on yet (anyone wanna give it a try to make me splurge on that?) i like photo pass and will have them in old times scan ticket now the magic band. and i hear you still get access to your ride photo and get to see your seven dwarfs mine train video. along with photo pass i hand off my Nikon on auto mode after asking if they would be ok also taking one with my camera.
i notice sadly they always take better photos with their cameras, so that kinda bums me out.

i want it i think but this trip will be at the park one day, but it will be a special trip with a good friend hopefully so really no idea

~sorry to jump on your thread but feel like ppl here can help~~
 
You guys who have DSLRs but don't like to lug them around remind me of myself a few years ago. I had a nice camera, but I would end up taking a tiny $50 Kodak video camera with me to theme parks because I didn't want to carry the heavy camera around all day. I kind of felt like ... what's the point of having this nice camera if I dread taking it with me?

So about 2 years ago, I sold my DSLR and bought a mirrorless Olympus micro four thirds (m4/3), which has all the benefits of a DSLR in a very compact and light body that I don't mind carrying around. Now, I have the best of both worlds! I got the Olympus OM-D EM-5, but they have since come out with the EM-10 which is more reasonably priced.

Do a Google image search on Olympus OMD vs Nikon or Canon and you'll see what I mean as far as size/weight are concerned. I LOVE my camera and the image quality is incredible!
 


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