Cameras and tripods at WDW

[sapiendut]

Hello all, I'm a newbie here but will have my 4th trip to WDW anywhere between October to November 2005 (not determined yet) so maybe these questions have been answered before.

I've never brought a 'big' camera to WDW before and this time I'm planning to bring the following:

1. Canon 300D with battery grip with 18-125mm lens
2. Manfrotto tripod with ball-head
3. Sony HDV not-so-mini DV cam (about 14" long)

Will the above pose a problem at the entrance with security?

Thank you.

 

[noladave]

I saw several people there with tripods, setting up at night. THe only problem is with all of the people trying to step around you. Most people don't realize how wide tripod legs are, and they bump them.

Security didn't appear to be a problem.

I brought my Canon digital rebel on our last day, and it worked great. I would have gotten tired dragging it around the park all day, though.

Good luck!

 

[sapiendut]

I brought my Canon digital rebel on our last day, and it worked great.

Good luck!

Have you tried taking pics of Spectromagic using your dReb? Can you take the pics without flash using ISO 800 or 1600?

The last time I went there I only brought a camera with 400 maximum ISO and the shutter speed is much too slow to get all the lights (all I see were streaks of lights due to the 1/20 shutter speed)

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I packed my Canon G2 with adapter and lenses, plus my flash and a mini tripod. Trashcans in WDW make great camera stands - and with a tabletop tripod, you get good height without seeing the trashcan in the shot!

D4D

 

[markºoº]

You should not have a problem getting into the park with the equipment.

Do remember that WDW can be very crowded and people really get packed in around parades and fireworks. Big tripods and packed people do not get along to well. You will need to setup out of the way and minimize the spread on the tripod so people don't trip over one of the legs.

I personally go with a table top tripod and use trash cans/tables/whatever. These items are usually off to the side and out of peoples way. While not always the best position for a picture, they usually are very close. Besides, you really can't setup a tripod in the middle of Main Street with all the people walking around (well, you could, but it would be rude IMHO).

Depending on what you plan on using the tripod for, you might consider a monopod instead. It still adds stability but is less weight, easier to carry, and you can set it up anywhere and people will not trip over it. Obviously this will not help with really long exposures.

 

[BVC4us]

i have a question for those of you with the digital rebel. What "Mode" do you usually keep it on...P, AV, TV, M I'm trying to figure out what gives the best pictures. When I keep it on the automatic green rectangle some of my pictures come out dark. I don't know, I've got to figure out this camera!!

 

[sapiendut]

For camera setting I use it in P mode, ISO400, AutoWB. Parameter settings: everything at zero (in the middle) except for sharpness, I use "1". AF point: I just use the "centre focus point"

Av means aperture priority, Tv means shutter priority. I don't use these unless I'm in a controlled situation where I can spend time taking pictures.

For fireworks I use M mode (manual) shutter: 2 sec, f8 if I want weeping-willow-like shots, 1 sec, f5.6 if I want more sparkly-like shots.

uhmmm what else?... oh, I use A-DEP mode if there is a group of people I want to take and want all of them to be in focus. In this mode the camera will find the best f-stop to have everybody be in focus.

Green setting will be your best bet