Disney and cameras

[heatherg]

I shoot exclusively with an SLR camera. Those of you who take SLRs to Disney . . . .how do you carry them around? Your regular camera bag? Backpack? I got a new camera backpack, and dh just laughed when I pulled it out of the (humungus) box it shipped in.

 

[WillCAD]

A camera is a useless $1000 paperweight if it's in a bag.

I have been carrying an SLR (first film, lately digital) around the parks since 1999, and always used a long cotton web carrying strap (it was actually from an old sports bag) slung over my neck and one shoulder. This allowed me to get the camera to my eye fast, without fiddling around with a bag or a lens cap, and get the pics I want.

Last year I used a camera harness instead of a standard strap, and it worked even better because the harness holds the camera more securely when my hands are not on it - I can actually walk down the street without holding the camera and it doesn't bounce around on me. But the harness still has enough slack to allow me to get the camera to my eye quickly for both landscape and portrait oriented shots.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

Here is a link to what I will be using. It is a sling backpack. You don't have to take it off. Just swing it around to get the camera out and when your on rides just swing it around to sit on your lap. Another thing that it's good for is a arm rest. Swing it around and rest your arms on it to take a picture. Kinda like a tripod. Here's the link. I have the 200aw sling. http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Sling_Bags/All_Weather_Cover/
You can get great deals off of ebay thats where I got mine.

 

[heatherg]

I got the Lowepro Dry Zone backpack . . . I was a bit on the worried side about Splash Mountain. I know the kids are going to want to be on that! But the thing is HUGE. Plus, I was thinking keeping autographs dry and a place for a camcorder. But man, I might as well be carrying a hiking backpack.

Looked at the camera harness . . . . not sure how well it would work with (1) the dd that still wants to be picked up on a kinda regular basis (2) a woman's figure.

Thanks for the ideas. . . .anyone else?

 

[WillCAD]

I got the Lowepro Dry Zone backpack . . . I was a bit on the worried side about Splash Mountain. I know the kids are going to want to be on that! But the thing is HUGE. Plus, I was thinking keeping autographs dry and a place for a camcorder. But man, I might as well be carrying a hiking backpack.

Looked at the camera harness . . . . not sure how well it would work with (1) the dd that still wants to be picked up on a kinda regular basis (2) a woman's figure.

Thanks for the ideas. . . .anyone else?

My old method would still work fine for you - a long camera strap.

When carrying my camera on the old strap, I mostly had it slung like a shoulder bag, hanging at my waist to one side or the other. But the strap has enough slack in it to swing the camera up to my eye quickly and easily for a shot.

The hardest part about using any camera strap is that many of them are nylon, which can be itchy or abrasive on the neck. My old strap is a cotton webbing material, similar to canvas but much softer. It's about 20 years old. These days, neoprene seems to be the most common strap material for softer straps.

 

[heatherg]

My old method would still work fine for you - a long camera strap.

When carrying my camera on the old strap, I mostly had it slung like a shoulder bag, hanging at my waist to one side or the other. But the strap has enough slack in it to swing the camera up to my eye quickly and easily for a shot.
QUOTE]

Will look for something along those lines as well. I do frequently wear my camera like a purse (either by itself or in a regular flip-lip camera bag . . .easy access). Don't know why I'm paranoid about doing so at WDW.

 

[WillCAD]

Will look for something along those lines as well. I do frequently wear my camera like a purse (either by itself or in a regular flip-lip camera bag . . .easy access). Don't know why I'm paranoid about doing so at WDW.

It's natural to be a little paranoid about carrying your expensive SLR camera around the parks. I was terrified the first time I took my Rebel G to WDW; it felt like I was carrying around a huge bar of gold with a neon sign that said "Steal me! Steal me!"

But once I got down there, I realized that I was not the only one carrying such a camera. And in fact, digital SLR cameras these days are at least as common as the cheaper point and shoot cameras, so carrying one makes you fit right in.

As far as being afraid of damage, that's all in how you handle the camera yourself, how you treat it, and how you carry it. It really doesn't take much to keep the camera safe from knocks or spills, as long as you're aware of the cameras weight and position when hanging from the strap. By the end of the first day, you'll be completely at ease carrying it around with you.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

This is the bag that I just ordered:

caselogic.com/slr_camera_holster/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=57076

I wanted the smallest bag possible, especially since it will be hanging off a shoulder and I'll also have a mini backpack on. It will protect the camera (which is something I definitely need, no matter how careful I try to be) and I'll be able to just unzip the top and pull the camera out - perfect! Oh yeah - and I love the look of this one, too.

Oh - and the reason I'm not carrying the camera in my mini backpack is that it will be way too hard to get it out. I want quick and easy access to the camera so I can take photos when I want to. I don't want to stop, take the backpack off, rumage through the pack to find the camera, take the camera out of the case, and do the opposite to put it back after taking the picture. With this bag I got, it isn't any different from carrying my non-SLR, which I used to slip into my purse.

 

[heatherg]

I already have 4 (ugh!) camera bags. . . . you wouldn't think I'd have such issues. I have one similar to the Case logic one posted above. Always has been an easy reach and grab. I was trying to avoid carrying 2 bags and sometimes having 2 bags and a camera on my shoulder as well. I carry the darned thing everywhere and you'd thing I wouldn't have such issues. I think it's because it's the first time I've done the amusement park type thing without a stroller, so I know there's a lot more carrying than there has been in the past. Maybe I should just drag a stroller along and not worry about how many bags I have.

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

I'll put my vote in for the Lowepro Slingshot series. I use the 100 and love it for my Nikon D100. I also carry the extra flash, and pins, plus misc stuff I need in the parks. I find this bag REALLY easy to get the camera both out of and back into quickly.

I've owned at least 10 different camera bags, sold many on Ebay and kept about 3...this one is a keeper. Used it in WDW 4 times last year, and have 5 more trips planned for this year.

Bonus - it has a raincover that tucks away when not needed, but makes it great for water rides and/or the rain showers that might come up.

 

[Rustysmom]

I bought the Case Logic holster for mine and I've never used it at Disney, but I love it. I'm going to wear it around my waist so I can whip the camera out, but I'm also bringing a stroller so if I get tired of that, I'll hang it on there.

By the way, ebags had it and they have $10 off with Google checkout. If you go through ebates (http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?id=25959540), you'll also get 6% cash back.

 

[joellyn23]

I'll put my vote in for the Lowepro Slingshot series. I use the 100 and love it for my Nikon D100. I also carry the extra flash, and pins, plus misc stuff I need in the parks. I find this bag REALLY easy to get the camera both out of and back into quickly.

I've owned at least 10 different camera bags, sold many on Ebay and kept about 3...this one is a keeper. Used it in WDW 4 times last year, and have 5 more trips planned for this year.

Bonus - it has a raincover that tucks away when not needed, but makes it great for water rides and/or the rain showers that might come up.

I have a Nikon D80 that usually has a Tamaron 70-300mm lens attached (mostly take photos at soccer games). Would I be able to use this bag with that lens attached? (I think the lens itself is about 4.5")?

Thanks!

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

I bought the Case Logic holster for mine and I've never used it at Disney, but I love it. I'm going to wear it around my waist so I can whip the camera out, but I'm also bringing a stroller so if I get tired of that, I'll hang it on there.

Oh yeah, I forgot you could put it on your waist. I may try doing that, although I don't know how well it will stay there. Have you worn it on your waist yet? Do you use the strap that comes with it or slide a belt through the back? Does it stay there and is it comfortable?

 

[DisneyJimbo]

I would also like to know how well the Case Logic pack works if it is worn around the waist. I bought one recently and plan to use it to hold my camcorder for a trip next month. Wearing it around the waist will definitely make it easy to get the camera when needed...even though wearing it around my waist will probably make me look like a dork!

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

I have a Nikon D80 that usually has a Tamaron 70-300mm lens attached (mostly take photos at soccer games). Would I be able to use this bag with that lens attached? (I think the lens itself is about 4.5")?

Thanks!

If the 100 doesn't work, they have a 200 and a 300 in the same series. I love the way it slides to the front and gives easy access to the camera with the way it opens.

Worth looking into...my D100 has a 28-200 lens on it all the time and fits just fine with room to spare for the lens length.

 

[deletedpenguin]

I have the Lowepro Slingshot 100 ( http://www.cameraworld.co.uk/images/products/large/Lowepro SS100 296.jpg) and the Tamrac Adventure 9 (http://www.onecall.com/ImageCache/tamrac_5549G_300x250_s.jpg), and use one or the either depending on how much equipment I'm carrying or if I need the extra bag space.

 

[heatherg]

After all this, I think I may just end up using one of the bags I already have. My desire for a new bag was so that I'd have space for the camera, plus the camcorder and some backpack space. The result was my dryzone backpack! I think I'm going to have to just suck it up and do the 2 bag thing .. . a camera bag and a backpack.

 

[A_NY_Outlaw]

Last time we went down we used a backpack and kept our camera (in case) and camcorder in it. It sure made it alot easier and we switched on and off every few hours. That worked out best for us.

 

[Rustysmom]

I wore it (the holster case) around my waist with a belt through it when we went to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and it wasn't bad. It stuck out a little more than a fanny pack, but I was able to get at the camera right away and at least I didn't have to carry it on my shoulder. I hate carrying bags.

 

[Millie12591]

I'm looking for a digital camera to buy for my WDW trip in May. I don't want to spend a lot of money, 200-300 would be OK, I need something that I can do close ups and not have them come out grainy, also would like to have one that does short little movie clips. Any suggestions? Battery, and memory sticks are something else I need to find out about, any help would be wonderful. Thanks.