Disney Picture of the Day Thread - February 1, 2010

[Evad]

Very Nice Jud!!! Well done!

 

[Evad]

 

[ColleenG]

 

[ejud]

Very Nice Jud!!! Well done!

Thank you Dave!



Jud

 

[StarGazer99]

Oh! You have time! I thought you were like there right now and needed to quickly buy a camera!

I use rechargeables and always carry a spare set. Usually make it through a day without swapping out and I shoot roughly 300 images per day per visit, plus video. But I do carry three cameras. (Though in general I shoot all my stills with my Olympus C740 and all vid with the A1000.)

How much do you want to spend? The things I was talking about were in the 100 or less range. The A1000 might be 129... if anyone has it in stock.

But if you have time, then check out what's available and know what it is you want for features. On general principles, I stay away from anything that is proprietary, including batteries. I want zoom, but megapixels can trump that. For instance, my 5X zoom on my 10 Megapixel camera is going to trump my 10X zoom on my 3 Megapixel. Only optical zoom counts: digital zoom is pointless other than ruining the original- it is the same as simply making the image larger on your puter so do it there.

Seems like size, ease of use and view screen are your items of concern and those are going to be pretty much okay on any of them, so the only real variable is zoom and personal preference. Unless you are willing to jump up to the 300-400 or higher range and then you get into the finer points of image quality and capabilities of the camera.



Jud

JEFF AND DAVE ALSO
Sorry please bear with me. I found this week and spent some time everyday on in and am on page 223.

You said all your cameras take double A's?
and you can get finer points of image quality in a range of $300-400.. Which camera's are those and are any of your pics from that range. I wouldn't have thought so. I leave for Disney in two weeks and was contemplating a new camera, though what I was wanting is more like 1200 which amounts to a lot of Disney fun missed. I have no real experience taking shots like you guys do but I would love to play with different shots and try. The biggest thing I'd love to do is night shots but I didn't think there is a point and shoot that you can control the shutter. I was hoping to get some decent pics with DH's(he's clueless. lol) Olympus Tough 6000 but I need to learn it first. I hope to be able to get a camera with several lenses some day.

Thanks for any advice you could give.
Jackie

 

[ejud]

Thanks for any advice you could give.
Jackie

Hi Jackie,

"You said all your cameras take double A's?"

Correct.

"and you can get finer points of image quality in a range of $300-400..."

My point being that the 100 dollar P&S isn't going to give you many options beyond auto.

"Which camera's are those and are any of your pics from that range."

My 'best' camera, a rather old Olympus C 740 Ultra Zoom was originally 600, I bought it at about 250, and you can get it now for 100-150 on eBay. The vast majority of the images I post, but not all, are from that. And the last month or two, I have also been doing post-processing so you would have to go back to the earlier days or to my albums to see the out of the camera images. But it is basically a P&S with a great optical zoom and a few botehrsome manual controls that are generally too mnay steps to get to. I can do manual focus, but cannot control how long an exposure is.

"I leave for Disney in two weeks and was contemplating a new camera, though what I was wanting is more like 1200 which amounts to a lot of Disney fun missed."

Well, that also amounts to a lot of camera and well into the DSLR range and a while new ball game. Anything you get at that price point is going to do anything you want. The cameras the PhotoPass guys use are in that range.

And you will need to go to that level to do anything really good in low light situations.

There is one high end P&S that will allow all the various manual settings, and has great sharp images, but it is priced above the low end of the DSLR range, ie 600, so makes it a Hobson's choice.



Jud

 

[Mayra]

DL

 

[StarGazer99]

I MADE IT... YEEEEEA!!! all 245 pages and I am exhausted. No I didn't read every line but was able to get to the end before they closed the thread. Now watch them close it tomorrow.

Jud thank you so much for the advise. The camera I was looking at..nervously was a pentax. I'm more nervous about it being I haven't seen anyone on the boards using a pentax. $1200 is the highest end one that is water and dust resistant. Pentax has the "cheapest" lenses, they say.

I appreciate everyone who shared their pictures on this thread and Thank you. There were several people who seamed to come in, drop of a couple photos and then *poof* they were gone.
SrisonS, Dave, Jud, Jeff you are all Amazing. I love you heart and soul in your picture. Your passion shows. Thank you for sharing your talent and joy.

 

[ejud]

I MADE IT... YEEEEEA!!! all 245 pages and I am exhausted. No I didn't read every line but was able to get to the end before they closed the thread. Now watch them close it tomorrow.

Egads! I think you have the bug! Thread will close at page 250 I believe and then a new one will be started.

"Jud thank you so much for the advise. The camera I was looking at... nervously was a pentax. I'm more nervous about it being I haven't seen anyone on the boards using a pentax. $1200 is the highest end one that is water and dust resistant. Pentax has the "cheapest" lenses, they say."

Ah... going to put my neck out here a bit... Do you really need that much camera? How much shooting have you done? How much research on cameras have you done? The fanciest camera in the world is NOT going to give you good shots- that is your eye and your eye only that will do that. To desire a 1200 dollar camera and then qualify it as it has the cheapest lenses... contradictory points- like buying a Rolls Royce and asking about fuel economy. I know exactly what I want in a camera because I have shot thousands of images at WDW, maybe even tens of thousands, and I see that I can take a great image, but that there have been, and are, very specific issues that I need a better camera to resolve, primarily image sharpness. What exactly do you want in a camera? If it is mainly night shooting, then look for those that satisfy you on that point. I am/was a woodcarver, and I would see many woodcarvers buy every new tool and gadget that came out, spending hundreds and thousands of dollars hoping to buy ability when what they needed to do was practice. Old time woodcarvers were required to complete the same carving using ONLY one tool- and had to repeat that carving with every tool they had, using it exclusively.

The other thing I would say, and I have NOT done a lot of research on the DSLR's because I do NOT want to deal with them- lenses and stuff- but in all the many reviews read and sites visited, the only DSLR's that are ever seriously talked about are the Nikon and the Canon- to the extent it was clear to me that those were the only legit players at that level. Or maybe the Pentax is simply at a higher level than that? I don't know.

Oh! The other thing I would say, and this is most important!!! No camera is going to do you a bit of good if it isn't with you and ready to go in an instant! That is one of the reasons I stick with the P&S- I can go from whatever I am doing to getting the shot within seconds- even with the horror of digital shutter lag! I am NEVER without a camera ready to go. That includes- well, any time. Trips to Walmart! You never know when the shot is going to be there!

"I appreciate everyone who shared their pictures on this thread and Thank you. There were several people who seamed to come in, drop of a couple photos and then *poof* they were gone. SrisonS, Dave, Jud, Jeff you are all Amazing. I love you heart and soul in your picture. Your passion shows. Thank you for sharing your talent and joy."

I know it is hard to remember all the names, but I would add a bunch of others in that list, Jamian, Colleen, Mayra, Prelude, Figment, Steamboat, and many more whose postings have challenged me to up my game on this thread!

Well done on doing the whole thing! Wow.



Jud

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

 

[JoShan1719]

Now that's cool

 

[Dcanoli]

Egads! I think you have the bug! Thread will close at page 250 I believe and then a new one will be started.

"Jud thank you so much for the advise. The camera I was looking at... nervously was a pentax. I'm more nervous about it being I haven't seen anyone on the boards using a pentax. $1200 is the highest end one that is water and dust resistant. Pentax has the "cheapest" lenses, they say."

Ah... going to put my neck out here a bit... Do you really need that much camera? How much shooting have you done? How much research on cameras have you done? The fanciest camera in the world is NOT going to give you good shots- that is your eye and your eye only that will do that. To desire a 1200 dollar camera and then qualify it as it has the cheapest lenses... contradictory points- like buying a Rolls Royce and asking about fuel economy. I know exactly what I want in a camera because I have shot thousands of images at WDW, maybe even tens of thousands, and I see that I can take a great image, but that there have been, and are, very specific issues that I need a better camera to resolve, primarily image sharpness. What exactly do you want in a camera? If it is mainly night shooting, then look for those that satisfy you on that point. I am/was a woodcarver, and I would see many woodcarvers buy every new tool and gadget that came out, spending hundreds and thousands of dollars hoping to buy ability when what they needed to do was practice. Old time woodcarvers were required to complete the same carving using ONLY one tool- and had to repeat that carving with every tool they had, using it exclusively.

The other thing I would say, and I have NOT done a lot of research on the DSLR's because I do NOT want to deal with them- lenses and stuff- but in all the many reviews read and sites visited, the only DSLR's that are ever seriously talked about are the Nikon and the Canon- to the extent it was clear to me that those were the only legit players at that level. Or maybe the Pentax is simply at a higher level than that? I don't know.

Oh! The other thing I would say, and this is most important!!! No camera is going to do you a bit of good if it isn't with you and ready to go in an instant! That is one of the reasons I stick with the P&S- I can go from whatever I am doing to getting the shot within seconds- even with the horror of digital shutter lag! I am NEVER without a camera ready to go. That includes- well, any time. Trips to Walmart! You never know when the shot is going to be there!

"I appreciate everyone who shared their pictures on this thread and Thank you. There were several people who seamed to come in, drop of a couple photos and then *poof* they were gone. SrisonS, Dave, Jud, Jeff you are all Amazing. I love you heart and soul in your picture. Your passion shows. Thank you for sharing your talent and joy."

I know it is hard to remember all the names, but I would add a bunch of others in that list, Jamian, Colleen, Mayra, Prelude, Figment, Steamboat, and many more whose postings have challenged me to up my game on this thread!

Well done on doing the whole thing! Wow.



Jud

Okay, guys...I am going to jump in here, since you used the "P" word! (Pentax, that is!)

I have been off the Disboards for a while because I've been busy elsewhere, but I decided to check it out this morning, and I'm glad I did!

Let me add my 2 cents here....first of all, if you want/need camera advice, the very best place to find it is on the DISboards' photography boards, not so much on this thread, as we are actually hijacking the thread.

This thread is basically just for posting pictures, and the other threads on the photo. boards are more for discussion. In fact, when I was researching my very first DSLR, the guys over there (Jeff, Jeff, Ed, etc.) were EXTREMELY helpful!

Groucho was great, and he actually steered me toward my Pentax. I LOVE my Pentax and am extremely protective of it!

You won't see as many of us Pentax users, but there are plenty of them here on the DISboards. One reason you don't see a lot of Pentax users is because Pentax rarely, if ever, advertises, and thus, a lot of people don't buy it.

HOWEVER, because of that one fact, they are able to offer competitive cameras at a much lower price, and if you talk to Groucho and some of the other Pentax users, you will see they are very defensive about Pentax glass.

Pentax has a reputation for having some of the best glass on the market today.

But, don't take any of our words for it. Do you own research. The guys were able to point me to camera review sites where I could see side-by-side examples of Pentax vs. Nikon and Canon.

In the end, you will have to make your own decision, but I went to a DSLR strictly for Disney. I wanted to be able to take night pictures and firework pictures better than what I could with my P&S cameras.

As for being at-the-ready, you can take pictures just as quickly with your DSLR as with your P&S. I am NEVER, EVER w/o my camera wherever I go. I think that once you get over the mindset of "dealing with an SLR and all its lenses," you will see how addicted it can become.

I would say, "Don't rule out the Pentax." Check out the photography boards, and then, make a wise decision!!!!

Good luck!!!!

 

[Evad]

Thank you so much Jackie (StarGazer99)!!!!

I agree with Dcanoli you should ask all your questions on the photo board. There are great group of people over that love to help. You might also want to look into a bridge camera which is cross between a p/s and a dslr. All my shots from 08 were taken with that type of camera.


Now to get us back on track here is a potd for today....



From 08 using a Fuji S700 p/s

PS. Welcome back Debbie!!!!

 

[StarGazer99]

Oh Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!
OK here's my story of why I am. I want to remind you I am NOT experienced!!

I grew up the youngest of six. Oldest brother shot his own photography and we had a dark room in the house(Hobby). He was/is the "artist type". Mom always wanted photo's, brother got married and moved out when I was 5. Growing up I was the one willing to take the photos and our camera's were a Canon and a Minolta SLR. I never held a P&S until I was in my 20's and let me say I didn't like it.

12-15 yrs ago my niece bought a Cannon Rebel SLR and I fell in love with it so I bought one with a zoom lens (She now is a professional), but they are big and bulky so I only got it out for special occasions. Holidays and Vacations. One holiday I went to get it and it wasn't there. Haven't seen it since. I am dumbfounded!!!

I looked at getting a canon DSLR just because my zoom lens and my fathers old lenses would all fit it but man the Nikon is so much lighter and much more comfortable as a camera and at the time, suppose to be better. But I've talked to several photo people who have used them "all" and they say that the Pentax is a "nice piece of equipment". I'm not a professional and don't need a lot. If I want to experiment with lenses, Pentax lenses are the cheapest. OH and it's WATER RESISTANT (I think the only DSLR that is). Big plus for me(Klutz!!!). Pentax has a nice DSLR for $600 but I really wanted the water resistant one-$1200 with zoom lens and carrying case.

I think the problem is that you actually need more talent/experience in controlling shots with a digital camera. I'm excited to know that the P&S today can take such great pictures.

I was determined to have a new camera before this "Once in a Life Time" trip for us. The normal pre-trip incidents such as ALL 3 of my vehicles braking down has robbed me of about $3000 so I don't think I will be getting my DSLR before the trip. The cameras keep getting better and better , maybe next year. I've been saying that for 10 yrs now

Sorry to take up so much space. I know now DH is going to be agitated in Disney because I will be playing with the Olympus Tough I just bought him(he does ebay)

Thank you and Jud, thanks for acknowledging all the other great posters I left out.

 

[StarGazer99]

Now that's cool

Agreed

 

[ejud]

Hey Canoli! Thanks for the 411 on the Pentax! 'Reputation for great glass' is a whole lot different than 'cheap lenses'!

Evad! Bridge camera? What did you use?

Jud

 

[Evad]

Evad! Bridge camera? What did you use?




Jud

Another great pic today Jud!!

I used the Fuji S700. A great camera, I still use it from time to time. Any of the Fuji as well as the Sony bridge cameras are well worth the money. Though if I had to do it agian I would have gone with the Nikon P90. But I love my DSLR!!!

Also in your list of great potd photographers don't forget Loribeth and her outstanding character pics!!

 

[ejud]

Another great pic today Jud!!

I used the Fuji S700. A great camera, I still use it from time to time. Any of the Fuji as well as the Sony bridge cameras are well worth the money. Though if I had to do it agian I would have gone with the Nikon P90. But I love my DSLR!!!

Also in your list of great potd photographers don't forget Loribeth and her outstanding character pics!!

Thanks!

The 'bridge' I guess is exactly what I have been fretting over for the last year or so- what I would call the high end P&S's. And then they went and came out with the PEN types... arg! And every time I read a review on a chosen model, there always seems to be that last comment such as 'yes, this is good, but this other one is better for left-handed shots on even numbered days.' Gets overwhelming!

Yes, Loribeth! And add Canoli to the list! As I said, hard to remember all the names here!



Jud

 

[PreludeVTEC01]

Main Street Train Station

(click for its Flickr page)

 

[Anne's Family]