Disney Camera

[KEHCharleston]

I am looking for an inexpensive camera for use in Disney. From a thread on the Attractions & Strategies, there was a mention of cameras that have flash that does not stay off (resets after a certain time), thereby causing problems on rides etc. where flash is not to be used.
I would like to have a camera with a flash that will stay off, until I tell it otherwise.
I am looking at the overall cost, not just the cost of the camera itself, but how much to add a decent memory card and a device to upload pictures to my computer.
I am not very camera savy, and there are so many to choose from, that I feel a bit overwhelmed.
I need to keep it below $150, if at all possible

I am in your hands!
Thanking you in advance

 

[ukcatfan]

At that price, almost all are really about the same. Find one that you like the feel of and is the size you want. I would actually suggest that you lean towards the low side on MPs b/c even the low ones are around 6-8MP these days and that is more than enough. I have not seen a camera that does not have an option to turn the flash off. What you have heard is probably people not knowing how to control their cameras and leaving them on complete automatic mode. With this kind of camera, do not expect to get any decent shots on rides that are dark enough to need a flash though.

 

[KEHCharleston]

At that price, almost all are really about the same. Find one that you like the feel of and is the size you want. I would actually suggest that you lean towards the low side on MPs b/c even the low ones are around 6-8MP these days and that is more than enough. I have not seen a camera that does not have an option to turn the flash off. What you have heard is probably people not knowing how to control their cameras and leaving them on complete automatic mode. With this kind of camera, do not expect to get any decent shots on rides that are dark enough to need a flash though.

Thank you.
I think I will leave the ride shots to Disney and buy ones that I like at the end of the ride.
For the most part, I want to take pictures to capture the flavors of the parks and to capture the enjoyment of my sister and niece. Someone mentioned that it took so long for their camera to take the picture that the action had changed and they kept missing their shots. Yikes! Any suggestions on models/brands that do a better job of getting that shot done? That would be an extremely important feature for me. (Also need the feature that helps with hands that are not steady when pushing the buttons)

I keep reading about sensor size is more important than the pixels (articles saying size matters), but I am guessing at low end, that is probably pretty much the same - so I need not try to figure that one out.

Any thoughts?

Again thank you

 

[ukcatfan]

In all honesty, I think you should try to up your budget by at least another $100. You will not find IS at your level. Also, ignore anything that says digital stabilization. That is just a marketing gimmick and not real image stabilization.

 

[boBQuincy]

I can narrow down your list by at least one, Canon's SD1100 resets the flash to automatic each time the camera is turned on. My guess is all the Canon SD models do the same.

 

[KEHCharleston]

I can narrow down your list by at least one, Canon's SD1100 resets the flash to automatic each time the camera is turned on. My guess is all the Canon SD models do the same.

Thanks, will stay clear of those.

In all honesty, I think you should try to up your budget by at least another $100. You will not find IS at your level. Also, ignore anything that says digital stabilization. That is just a marketing gimmick and not real image stabilization.

If I increase another $100 dollars or so, and keeping in mind that my most wished for features are
1) A quick shutter response (so that the camera responds when I press the button, and I do not lose the shot)
2) Image stabilization (I have a difficult time keeping the camera steady when I press the button)
3) I can keep the darn flash off until I need it.
Any suggestions?

 

[ukcatfan]

I have always liked the Canon "A" series. They are cheaper than the "SD" and have many more manual features. The "SD" are meant to be small and do all the thinking for you. Pretty much any camera that has a Program mode (usu. just "P") will allow the flash to be turned off and it will stay off. The two "A" series I owned did not automatically come back on. You might find a model in the ~$200 range that has a little larger sensor such as 1/1.6"-1/1.8". Those are not much larger than the standard 1/2.5", but every little bit counts. The IS models will have IS in the name.

 

[rossb]

This is a nice P/S that will do what you want. It offers "manual" control, but be aware than manual control in a P/S is nothing like manual control in an SLR. It's barely manual.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/542272-REG/Canon_2462B001_PowerShot_A590_IS_Digital.html

 

[ukcatfan]

This is a nice P/S that will do what you want. It offers "manual" control, but be aware than manual control in a P/S is nothing like manual control in an SLR. It's barely manual.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/542272-REG/Canon_2462B001_PowerShot_A590_IS_Digital.html

That is a pretty good deal. It may not be the very newest, but p&s technology really has not changed so much over the past few generation changes. (BTW, p&s generations only seem to be about 6mo. these days) The only thing that seems to be changing much is increasing the ISO levels without making them actually usable and increasing MPs to levels they should not have gone to. The newest "A" models are the A1000 IS and A2000 IS.

Spending a little more would probably get you the larger sensor, but to be honest, that is not some sort of magic bullet. It should give a little better high ISO performance, but it is not going to get you good shots on HM or anything. Investing in a decent and portable tripod is likely going to be a better investment. You can get a usable tripod for less than $50, but they are often large and not easy to carry. Finding a camera that offers a remote shutter release is a nice feature if you use a tripod. Increasing your budget some does not always mean that it has to be on the camera itself.

 

[KEHCharleston]

1 but it is not going to get you good shots on HM or anything.

(Geeze I am so ignorant - but learning) What is HM?

This is a nice P/S that will do what you want. It offers "manual" control, but be aware than manual control in a P/S is nothing like manual control in an SLR. It's barely manual.

Also thanks for the BHphotovideo.com site!

A clarification if you please, regarding shutter speed. I think I may be confusing two different functions.
- Shutter speed has to do with how long the shutter stays open (how much light it lets in)- ???
- Shutter lag (response time between pressing the button and the camera actually taking the picture)????
I plan to leave low level light pictures to the professionals - I am after that quick shot of my niece when she first sees Pooh Bear. - So I am thinking it is the second one I am talking about - should I call that shutter lag or shutter response when I am asking about it?

Regarding image stabilization. My problem has always been when I press the button, the camera moves. (Keep in mind these were cameras with which I was unfamiliar - I was taking a picture for someone else - So I was not particularly comfortable with the camera)
I am thinking that the following factors would have an effect on blur from camera movement
1)Familiarity with the camera (where the buttons are, comfortable with the weight etc)
2)Shutter lag (response) The quicker the picture is snapped the less amount of wobble.
3)Image stabilization that comes with the camera.
Do I have this right?
Though a tripod will be helpful when I am taking pics around my very picturesque home city (Charleston), I think I want to go lighter for Disney and be able to get that quick spontaneous shot.

I will be making a list of cameras that I find while researching (using the info that you all have so kindly shared with me). I will post it here for your recommendations when I complete it. Any more suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[ukcatfan]

(Geeze I am so ignorant - but learning) What is HM?

Haunted Mansion

 

[KEHCharleston]

Haunted Mansion

I just spilled my coffee on that one! And I was thinking camera lingo, and forgot the obvious! Duh...
Thanks UkCatFan
What part of the UK?

 

[sherry7]

This might be obvious, but I'll point it out anyway. When you take a photo, how are you pushing the shutter button? You should be pushing it half way, waiting a moment for the shutter to focus, and then "squeezing" (not pushing) it the rest of the way. Even without built-in image stabilization, this will go a long way toward giving you clearer shots.

 

[KEHCharleston]

This might be obvious, but I'll point it out anyway. When you take a photo, how are you pushing the shutter button? You should be pushing it half way, waiting a moment for the shutter to focus, and then "squeezing" (not pushing) it the rest of the way. Even without built-in image stabilization, this will go a long way toward giving you clearer shots.

Actually, it was not obvious to me at all. - Sometimes folks would say hold it half way down first, (I figured it had to do with that camera) If they did not say it, they I did not do it.

Again, thanks for pointing out the obvious. Sometimes it is the little things that one does not know, that are the most important!

 

[rossb]

That is a pretty good deal. It may not be the very newest, but p&s technology really has not changed so much over the past few generation changes. (BTW, p&s generations only seem to be about 6mo. these days) The only thing that seems to be changing much is increasing the ISO levels without making them actually usable and increasing MPs to levels they should not have gone to. The newest "A" models are the A1000 IS and A2000 IS.

I was trying to stay withing the OP's budget. I don't think the newer model has a bigger sensor, it does have more MP but that is fairly meaningless with cams like this. The newer model is a bit smaller, the OP should go to a local camera store to see which fits best in his/her hands.

 

[KEHCharleston]

Before I buy, I will definetly check it out in terms of comfort - Is it too heavy for me. Do my fingers wrap around to the buttons easily etc.

I do have another stupid question (I know some folks say there are no stupid questions, hmm... not sure if I agree). Any way, I have noticed on some of the specs I am looking at that not all cameras have view finders. Does that mean, you just use the display to see what you are taking a picture of? For quick impromptu shots, I guess that would be alright. Maybe it is an age thing, not being used to a display, but it seems like a view finder would be a good thing to have. Am I just being old fashioned?

 

[annnewjerz]

Before I buy, I will definetly check it out in terms of comfort - Is it too heavy for me. Do my fingers wrap around to the buttons easily etc.

I do have another stupid question (I know some folks say there are no stupid questions, hmm... not sure if I agree). Any way, I have noticed on some of the specs I am looking at that not all cameras have view finders. Does that mean, you just use the display to see what you are taking a picture of? For quick impromptu shots, I guess that would be alright. Maybe it is an age thing, not being used to a display, but it seems like a view finder would be a good thing to have. Am I just being old fashioned?

You are correct, a lot of small p&s cameras these days only have the LCD screen, no viewfinder. For some, that's not a big deal...for others, it is.

I recently purchased my first p&s without a viewfinder, and don't really like only having the LCD. While there isn't much of a problem most times, there are times when I would like to review a picture to make sure everyone's eyes were open, etc. that I can't without hiding the camera under a coat or something to reduce the glare on the screen. Compared to my older p&S, as well as my Nikon D60 I MUCH prefer having the option of a viewfinder and would make sure if possible, to get a model that has one from now on.

 

[ukcatfan]

I just spilled my coffee on that one! And I was thinking camera lingo, and forgot the obvious! Duh...
Thanks UkCatFan
What part of the UK?

You might spill a little more. It is UK Cat as in Kentucky Wildcats. I graduated from UK and lived most of mt life in KY. I live in FL now.

 

[KEHCharleston]

You might spill a little more. It is UK Cat as in Kentucky Wildcats. I graduated from UK and lived most of mt life in KY. I live in FL now.

Good thing I have moved on from coffee to water.
Umm... go Wildcats!

I am surprised at how many cameras do not have view finders. I suppose some displays handle glare better than others ??

 

[ukcatfan]

Good thing I have moved on from coffee to water.
Umm... go Wildcats!

I am surprised at how many cameras do not have view finders. I suppose some displays handle glare better than others ??

Some are better, but IMO it is a very bad trend. The method of holding it using a viewfinder will give you better results. It causes less shake.