Cameras...which to take or not take!?!

[disneyfamilyfive]

I am a photo lover...but not planning on purchasing a 300 dollar photo cd...that is a little steep for us. I am trying to decide which camera/cameras to bring.
I currently have a Nikon D5100 (DSLR), Olympus Tough 820 (which is waterproof) as well as a panasonic point and shoot (not waterproof) and my iphone 5s.

We are doing a 4 night Disney Dream cruise and a week and half of WDW after the cruise. It is our first cruise ever (DH, DS- 11,7,2 and DD9). Staying on the ship at Nassau, getting off at CC. DS2 has never been to WDW either.

I was thinking of bringing the Nikon DSLR and the Olympus waterproof camera (and if course I will have my iphone along anyway).

What did you take, did you wish you had more, less, what did you use most, was it too hot, too much to carry a DSLR with you, how did you manage it on rides?... any thoughts, advise would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Broker]

We bought a $1200 camera to take to Disney. Rebel Xt when it first came out. I had to lug that heavy camera on every ride. Now we take a very small camera, stick it in our pocket and go. No more camera bag and no more headache. Go small but go quality.

 

[Disneyhabs]

I always cary our D80 with us and the kids bring their waterproof cameras. A cell phone camera is not a good enough image quality for my taste so I seldome use them to take pics didn't matter was phone I was using at the time.

 

[2Tiggies]

I take my DSLR with me because I don't mind carrying it around. If I did, I'd leave it at home and take a point and shoot instead.

You need to take the camera that will give you pictures you are happy with and that you will not resent having to carry around / miss if you dont have it.

Why don't you take the DSLR and one of the smaller ones and designate certain days for taking the big camera and leave it in the room for the other days when you want to go light?

If you want lots of family snaps for memories, most P&S will be fine. If you want fireworks and dark ride photos for example, then you will need the more advanced camera with a decent lens on it.

There is always a trade off so figure out what is important to you and find your own happy balance

 

[katclicks]

I am a an avid photog. I bring my big dslr only in days I know I will want it. If we are doing a character meal or something similar. It is just too big and heavy to lug around. We are moving out of the stroller phase and I can't put the cancer and/or camera bag on the stroller any more. I don't like leaving the camera in the stroller when we are on a ride so the. I have to worry about it when we are on a ride, it is not enjoyable to stress about your camera being safe when you want to enjoy the ride. Lockers can be useful if you know you want it later in the day. For our next trip I will get a decent point and shoot or mirrorless to bring with us. We've got 18 months so that gives me a couple chances to get a really good deal on one. I am also a huge fan of pre purchasing photopass/memory maker. It is the only way I get photos of me too.

 

[mom2rtk]

Some people take a big camera and regret having to carry it around. Some people take a small camera and regret not having better photos when they get home.

Only you can balance those 2 potential outcomes and decide which you will be happiest with.

I take my Canon T2i everywhere I go at Disney, along with a couple extra lenses most of the time. I use a Black Rapid strap and love the way it distributes the weight.

When size and weight becomes an issue, I go with a small fast prime lens.

 

[All American]

Some people take a big camera and regret having to carry it around. Some people take a small camera and regret not having better photos when they get home.

Only you can balance those 2 potential outcomes and decide which you will be happiest with.

I take my Canon T2i everywhere I go at Disney, along with a couple extra lenses most of the time. I use a Black Rapid strap and love the way it distributes the weight.

When size and weight becomes an issue, I go with a small fast prime lens.

That's me on a trip to Disney. I've learned that the strap can make a big difference in comfort. Wearing my Canon s3IS around my neck is more annoying than wearing a DSLR with a large lens crossbody.

On our first cruise, I liked having the "big" camera for candid shots. It was nice to be on a lounge chair and zoom in, unnoticed, while my family played in the water. On the ship, I liked using my cell phone by the pool for quick videos that I could easily upload to Facebook. I think the kind of camera(s) you bring depends a lot on what kind of pictures you want to take. Have a fun trip!

 

[rwdavis2]

I took a Canon T2 DSLR with 2 lenses. Since I carry a backpack anyway I keep it there. Just put a hand towel in the bottom for some extra padding.

Also, the WDW Photographers will take a picture with your camera even if you haven't bought a photo package. Just get in the line where they are taking photos.

 

[JESSketeer]

I am a photo lover...but not planning on purchasing a 300 dollar photo cd...that is a little steep for us. I am trying to decide which camera/cameras to bring.
I currently have a Nikon D5100 (DSLR), Olympus Tough 820 (which is waterproof) as well as a panasonic point and shoot (not waterproof) and my iphone 5s.

We are doing a 4 night Disney Dream cruise and a week and half of WDW after the cruise. It is our first cruise ever (DH, DS- 11,7,2 and DD9). Staying on the ship at Nassau, getting off at CC. DS2 has never been to WDW either.

I was thinking of bringing the Nikon DSLR and the Olympus waterproof camera (and if course I will have my iphone along anyway).

What did you take, did you wish you had more, less, what did you use most, was it too hot, too much to carry a DSLR with you, how did you manage it on rides?... any thoughts, advise would be greatly appreciated!!

We take our Canon DSLR and an extra lens. I'm also snapping away so I usually have the Canon around my neck at all times. DF wears a backpack so I'll stick it in there if I ever get tired of carrying it.

I did wish we had a waterproof camera with us to take pictures while swimming at the resort and what not. So I would bring exactly what your thinking of, your DSLR and the waterproof camera!

 

[dachsie]

I know nothing about cameras but just bought memory maker for $140 - not $300.

I would carry a camera that is lightweight. After a long day that heavier one will feel like a ball and chain.

 

[wiigirl]

I took a Canon T2 DSLR with 2 lenses. Since I carry a backpack anyway I keep it there. Just put a hand towel in the bottom for some extra padding.

Also, the WDW Photographers will take a picture with your camera even if you haven't bought a photo package. Just get in the line where they are taking photos.

 

[AthenaBolina]

I'll be taking my Canon 60D with my nifty fifty lens, and my kit lens. DH will carry it, but I told him we don't have too because it is a beast. He's insisting though. I think he wants to take the wide angle with it as well. I also carry my Canon S100, which I LOVE using for quick photos, and then we have a small waterproof panasonic video camera that we will take with us and let the kids use, or take to typhoon lagoon.

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

Some people take a big camera and regret having to carry it around. Some people take a small camera and regret not having better photos when they get home.

Only you can balance those 2 potential outcomes and decide which you will be happiest with.

I take my Canon T2i everywhere I go at Disney, along with a couple extra lenses most of the time. I use a Black Rapid strap and love the way it distributes the weight.

When size and weight becomes an issue, I go with a small fast prime lens.

^This. The rapid strap is the best strap I've ever had. I carry my Canon 7D, usually with a vertical grip and a couple of extra lenses. To me quality > convenience.

 

[mom2rtk]

To me quality > convenience.

 

[Broker]

^This. The rapid strap is the best strap I've ever had. I carry my Canon 7D, usually with a vertical grip and a couple of extra lenses. To me quality > convenience.

I've been so many times maybe I just don't worry too much about the picture quality anymore. They all start looking the same with different clothes on.

 

[AthenaBolina]

^This. The rapid strap is the best strap I've ever had. I carry my Canon 7D, usually with a vertical grip and a couple of extra lenses. To me quality > convenience.

wow this thing looks amazing...however, what do you do on water rides?

 

[mom2rtk]

wow this thing looks amazing...however, what do you do on water rides?

I use this on Splash and out in threatening weather. I don't ride Kali so am not worried about having something watertight.

 

[Comeundone87]

I take my Nikon p&s that is great in low light and has a 18x zoom. I also take my Sony Alpha compact DSLR which takes great pics. Last year I carried both my lenses with my Sony but found the 18-55mm was best for at MK but at AK I used the zoom lens more. It all depends on which park we will be in which camera I take along and if DD7 will want to take pictures or not because there's no way I'm letting her use my Sony. Both cameras are small enough and light enough that they fit just fine in my purse.

I am also getting the pre-arrival photopass archive CD. It's only $120 and so worth it to get the magic shots and to be able to add boarders to the pics. I don't need any ride photos or character meals so I'm saving the $30 by not getting MM+. We got tons of ride pics last year and that was enough.

 

[imadisneygirl]

When you bring your cameras, do you bring your camera bag as well? I've been wanting to bring my camera, but I don't have a camera bag, think it will survive a baby bag?

 

[rwdavis2]

When you bring your cameras, do you bring your camera bag as well? I've been wanting to bring my camera, but I don't have a camera bag, think it will survive a baby bag?

No camera bag. We carry a medium sized backpack for various things and keep it there. I just put a folded up hand towel in the bottom for padding. So baby bag should be OK. Just put the camera in the bag with the lens facing up. I also keep the extra lens in a padded and fitted lens bag.