DON'T Read This TRIP REPORT If You're a Princess Hater!

[kwitcherkicken99]

Yeah.... my fps rate is the one thing that will get me to upgrade again at some point. At 3.7, it fills the buffer too fast sometimes. I have some class 6 cards. Would a class 10 help with this, or is 6 fast enough to maximize what my camera is capable of? This is a bigger issue than I anticipated since my shooting at XC and track all happens in a very small window.

You can shoot JPEG because you're more experienced with your settings. I have found RAW to be a lifesaver for covering my mistakes!

LOVE the football shot. Great capture!

The camera's ability to write to the card is what is slowing you down.

I've only filled my buffer 5-6 times since August, so let go of the shutter in between every once in a while. You only need ONE good string!

And thanks!


OHOHOHOHOH! Also remember you lose some of the photo quality when you have higher FPS. The camera can't fill ALL of the MP and shoot that fast.

I've not had trouble since my 300s is a 12MP. Anything over 8 and you shouldn't have trouble, but it's worth noting to keep in your back pocket (if you have to crop... a lot... which I don't know anything about from experience...)

 

[mom2rtk]

The camera's ability to write to the card is what is slowing you down.

I've only filled my buffer 5-6 times since August, so let go of the shutter in between every once in a while. You only need ONE good string!

And thanks!


OHOHOHOHOH! Also remember you lose some of the photo quality when you have higher FPS. The camera can't fill ALL of the MP and shoot that fast.

I've not had trouble since my 300s is a 12MP. Anything over 8 and you shouldn't have trouble, but it's worth noting to keep in your back pocket (if you have to crop... a lot... which I don't know anything about from experience...)

So do you mean that the camera is just doing what it's capable of and that a faster card would't help? I get mixed up on what the camera's affecting, and what the card is affecting.

The t2i jumped me to 18mp, which I considered a downside to the camera. I think because of the larger mp size, it fills the buffer faster. I'm considering changing to jpeg, maybe medium size, for track or xc sometimes. I'm thinking my burst will be longer. But I'd have to be really careful I don't have the wrong white balance setting. Since I mostly shoot RAW now, I don't every worry about that.

Mostly, I've just learned to pace myself. I got caught ONCE with him at the finish line with the buffer full. So not so many shoots down the stretch........ hesitate here and there............ I'm figuring it out. But man......... I still think more FPS would be good too!

 

[mom2rtk]

Lurker here popping in to say hello

Great trip report! Your dresses and pictures are awesome! I also didn't realize we lived so close - the picture of your son running xc? Well, let's just say I went to the "other" high school down the road and so will my kids! My oldest is in middle school right now and we (and her p.e. teacher!) are encouraging her to run xc next year.

Looking forward to more!

LOL! What are the odds! My husband graduated from that "other school" too! Odds are your oldest is at the same middle school my kids went to. 95% of the kids there head to that "other" high school (a pet peeve of mine, but an entirely different story.........) The have an awesome running program at that high school too, better than our own. My son knows them all from his middle school days and runs with many of them in the off season. Just one big happy family!

Thanks for popping out of lurkdom to say "hi" neighbor!

And here's your official..........



Just a word of warning though......... watch out for a certain 16 year old new driver on the streets.......... Just saying......... The town's not THAT big!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

So do you mean that the camera is just doing what it's capable of and that a faster card would't help? I get mixed up on what the camera's affecting, and what the card is affecting.

Digital cameras have processors just like a computer. They can sometimes get overwhelmed. Faster cards can help, but with several frames in a short amount of time, anything will become overwhelmed.

The t2i jumped me to 18mp, which I considered a downside to the camera. I think because of the larger mp size, it fills the buffer faster. I'm considering changing to jpeg, maybe medium size, for track or xc sometimes. I'm thinking my burst will be longer. But I'd have to be really careful I don't have the wrong white balance setting. Since I mostly shoot RAW now, I don't every worry about that.

You're right about filling up quicker. See if you can dial down the RAW file size. Unless you are consistantly printing Fatheads... you don't need anything bigger than 10-12MP...

Mostly, I've just learned to pace myself. I got caught ONCE with him at the finish line with the buffer full. So not so many shoots down the stretch........ hesitate here and there............ I'm figuring it out. But man......... I still think more FPS would be good too!

Shoot (pardon the pun... ) practice at practice maybe?? Sit up in the stands when they are running drills and mess around with your settings!

 

[jenbarnwell]

OMG!!! I love LOVE LOVED your trip report!! I just sat here for an hour and read it and looked at all the great pics!! You take some very nice photos!! I love the fireworks ones! I could not believe how chilly it was....The MVMCP pictures came out great, we did the P&P Party and MNSSHP and loved them both but we have not done the MVMCP yet. One day!
Your daughters dresses are AMAZING!1 You are so talented! She is beautiful and looks like she had a great time!! Do you sell them? I would love to buy some for my princesses!!

 

[mom2rtk]

Digital cameras have processors just like a computer. They can sometimes get overwhelmed. Faster cards can help, but with several frames in a short amount of time, anything will become overwhelmed.


You're right about filling up quicker. See if you can dial down the RAW file size. Unless you are consistantly printing Fatheads... you don't need anything bigger than 10-12MP...


Shoot (pardon the pun... ) practice at practice maybe?? Sit up in the stands when they are running drills and mess around with your settings!

LOL! Well, I typically do use some of that waiting time as camera play time. But I do think after using it through XC season last year that I do have a feel for it now.


I might be wrong, but I don't think I can dial down the size of the RAW file on my camera. On file size, the only RAW options are RAW plus large, or just RAW. I also consider this a weak point with this model. I know you don't have the same model, but is there something I might be missing?

 

[jenseib]

I'm behind again...and need to go back and read , but while this was on my mind, I thought I would ask here since so many camera savvy people are here.
I am having so much trouble with focus. I try to focus on the eyse, but DD's face is almost blurry. What can I do. I must be focusing wrong. I have a cannon 50D with the 9 point focus, but I usually click it to on focus point, like the middle or up top? How do you guys set your focus?

 

[jenseib]

You should have heard my DH when I called him and said a Goose just hit me! It felt like I was talkng to a parrot.
Him: a goose?
Me: a goose!
Him: A Goose?
Me: A GOOSE!
Him: how did you hit a goose?
Me: I didn't hit a goose, he hit me
Him: a goose?


Hopefully your snow is just a dusting, and melts on contact!

My son seems to hit a LOT of raccons...I don't beleive him.

 

[mom2rtk]

OMG!!! I love LOVE LOVED your trip report!! I just sat here for an hour and read it and looked at all the great pics!! You take some very nice photos!! I love the fireworks ones! I could not believe how chilly it was....The MVMCP pictures came out great, we did the P&P Party and MNSSHP and loved them both but we have not done the MVMCP yet. One day!
Your daughters dresses are AMAZING!1 You are so talented! She is beautiful and looks like she had a great time!! Do you sell them? I would love to buy some for my princesses!!

I'm glad you found us! Here's your official

Many thanks for the kind comments on the photos! We did the P&P Party 3 times and as you might guess.. we loved it! I was so sorry to see it discontinued. I love the hard ticketed parties for a chance to see and experience things a little out of the ordinary. You would love MVMCP too, but just be prepared that it's not quite as good as the others. There just aren't as many other special things to do. But I think the special parade and fireworks are worth the price of admission. Just go into it with the right expectations and you'll be fine!

I'll send you a PM on your last question. It's against DIS rules to discuss things we sell.

I'm behind again...and need to go back and read , but while this was on my mind, I thought I would ask here since so many camera savvy people are here.
I am having so much trouble with focus. I try to focus on the eyse, but DD's face is almost blurry. What can I do. I must be focusing wrong. I have a cannon 50D with the 9 point focus, but I usually click it to on focus point, like the middle or up top? How do you guys set your focus?

Jen, here's a recent thread on focus issues:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2678520

I mostly shoot with my center point selected, then focus and recompose the shot. If you shoot with a fairly wide open aperture, there is very little room for error here though because of the shallow depth of field. So in that case, you would need to choose the right focus point and not move the camera. That's covered in that thread as well. You're bringing the big camera on your trip, right???????

My son seems to hit a LOT of raccons...I don't beleive him.

LOL!!!!!

 

[jenseib]

I'm glad you found us! Here's your official

Many thanks for the kind comments on the photos! We did the P&P Party 3 times and as you might guess.. we loved it! I was so sorry to see it discontinued. I love the hard ticketed parties for a chance to see and experience things a little out of the ordinary. You would love MVMCP too, but just be prepared that it's not quite as good as the others. There just aren't as many other special things to do. But I think the special parade and fireworks are worth the price of admission. Just go into it with the right expectations and you'll be fine!

I'll send you a PM on your last question. It's against DIS rules to discuss things we sell.



Jen, here's a recent thread on focus issues:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2678520

I mostly shoot with my center point selected, then focus and recompose the shot. If you shoot with a fairly wide open aperture, there is very little room for error here though because of the shallow depth of field. So in that case, you would need to choose the right focus point and not move the camera. That's covered in that thread as well. You're bringing the big camera on your trip, right???????



LOL!!!!!

Yes, the big boy is coming!

I will check that thread out. It seems lately I just can't get the face focused and I do shoot with a wide open aperture 99% of the time.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

i'lll take a peek in the next day or so. I drove and shot and shot and drove from 1:15p on today. I'm wiped.

 

[Caretames1]

My son seems to hit a LOT of raccons...I don't beleive him.

My DH had deer vs car accidents 2 years in a row, both times being in the month of November. The next November he called and said, um I had another accident, this time it was a monster dog! I so did not believe him. turns out he did hit a dog. It was a St. Bernard mixed with a Mastif. It wasn't hurt, and later when my DH showed me where he hit it, there the dog was, biggest, ugliest dog I've ever seen Funny part....the dog accident cost me more to fix then the other 2 repairs due to the deer!

 

[Tinkermom76]

Just finished reading your TR and You take wonderful pictures!!! I also love all the costumes your daughter has!!!

We were at the same party as you and were in the same Dwarf line and probably in the princess tent at the same time. You would almost think we had the same schedule. We sat in front of the Plaza for the fireworks and parade with some other DISers!

Can't wait to read more and see more costumes!!!

 

[francis6306]

Okay... I was worried I had missed a ton of stuff... but it was all camera talk. And I need to keep the jealousy down, so I just skipped most of that talk. I'd LOVE to have the time and money to really learn to take good pictures. One day!

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes, the big boy is coming!

I will check that thread out. It seems lately I just can't get the face focused and I do shoot with a wide open aperture 99% of the time.

Did you have to buy the big boy his own seat on the airplane?

I can't wait to see what you come home with!

I've been watching the focus thread and reading everything over there. I still think you need to stop the lens down just a little. Even the best lenses don't perform at their best wide open.

Also, I think Disneyboy2003's post about where you are focusing was very good. If you're going for the cheek, there isn't any contrast there to catch the focus, and then the camera will decide. And you say it happens more with people than objects. So go for the eye and I bet it will improve.

As for which focus mode to use..... Single shot is just as it sounds. It's great for a static object. And it's what I normally keep it on. I believe the AI in AI Servo stands for "Artificial Intelligence". It is designed for a moving object. Once you prefocus on an object (usually a person here) in this mode, it will lock onto that object or person and constantly refocus until you take the photo. I use this for sports. AI Focus I'm not as familiar with, but I think it's sort of in between. But for posed people and character shots, you should be fine with single shot focus.

My DH had deer vs car accidents 2 years in a row, both times being in the month of November. The next November he called and said, um I had another accident, this time it was a monster dog! I so did not believe him. turns out he did hit a dog. It was a St. Bernard mixed with a Mastif. It wasn't hurt, and later when my DH showed me where he hit it, there the dog was, biggest, ugliest dog I've ever seen Funny part....the dog accident cost me more to fix then the other 2 repairs due to the deer!

That's unbelievable!

Just finished reading your TR and You take wonderful pictures!!! I also love all the costumes your daughter has!!!

We were at the same party as you and were in the same Dwarf line and probably in the princess tent at the same time. You would almost think we had the same schedule. We sat in front of the Plaza for the fireworks and parade with some other DISers!

Can't wait to read more and see more costumes!!!

Small world! Very "COOL" that you were there the same night! I hope you managed to have fun despite the cold weather!

Thanks for the nice comments, and here's your official..............

Okay... I was worried I had missed a ton of stuff... but it was all camera talk. And I need to keep the jealousy down, so I just skipped most of that talk. I'd LOVE to have the time and money to really learn to take good pictures. One day!

Sorry about the detour into camera talk! I'm working on the next batch of photos right now and should have a new update tonight or tomorrow!

 

[mom2rtk]

My son had his track meet Friday night. What a long night that was! He wasn't sure what time his event would run, so we got there around 5. He didn't end up running until around 9......... and it was 40 degrees out! He had been there since before 4. I got to take the camera out for a spin. I did OK, but I had gloves on and my fingers were still frozen!

It was a great night though, since he shaved a full minute off his best time. He was quite happy with himself, and so were we!

 

[mom2rtk]

12/15/10: Perfectly Princess Tea Party & Fantasmic

Wednesday started out as an off day. We've done 2 parties in a trip a couple times before and I knew it would be hard to get up and going after the first party the night before. But as these things go.......... there's so much to do....... so little time to do it. The honest truth is that I just can't be at Disney and NOT have lots I want to do. So our down day really just turned into a late start day.

We had been to the Perfectly Princess Tea Party in 08 when we were at Disney with our friends. It was awesome for the girls to do the tea party together. As we planned this trip, Katie kept asking if we could go again. Eventually I caved, knowing we were on borrowed time with this sort of thing already. It didn’t start until 10:30, so that still gave us a chance for a later start. That was vastly better than in 08, when we did it on departure day, and we ran late with checkout and came racing into the Grand Floridian in the last possible moment. This was a much more leisurely start, and I really enjoyed that.

Because we got to the Grand Floridian with time to spare, we had a chance to check out the Gingerbread House and Christmas decorations:

We also had time to check out the bath store. My friend had sent some money for me to bring some bath balls home for her. What a gorgeous place! Katie also enjoyed picking out a few bath balls for us.

 

[mom2rtk]

12/15/10: Perfectly Princess Tea Party & Fantasmic (Continued)

I don’t think Katie enjoyed the Tea Party this time like she did in 2008. Partly because her friend was along in 08, and partly because all the other girls there this time were VERY young. I think she sort of felt out of place. Still, I think we both enjoyed the chance to sit down together for tea and sandwiches in a gorgeous surrounding.

On our way out, I told Rose Petal how much we enjoyed her voice and were happy to see her there again 2 years later. I told her we had been there in 2008 with my daughter and her friend dressed as pink and blue Auroras. She said she remembered, because they don't see many pairs like that. It's likely she was just being nice, but who knows.

If you have never done this with the little girl in your life, I highly recommend it. Rose Petal has a gorgeous voice and recounts the story of Sleeping Beauty set to music. Add in the gorgeous setting, the tasty sandwiches and fruit......not to mention that amazing cake they serve....... and it's a beautiful and memorable experience.

Alas, I'm quite sure that was our last trip to the Perfectly Princess Tea Party, but I think we'll both enjoy doing high tea at the Grand Floridian one day. It won't be the same without Rose Petal, but maybe I'll find a way to put the music on an ipod or something......

I had initially planned on heading directly to DHS after the tea party, but Katie had been begging all week for some swimming time. So was there a big warm up or something? Nah...... It was still really cold. It was just the sheer determination of my daughter to get in that pool. I think they said the water in the Hippy Dippy pool was around 83...... We had seen the steam rising from it quite a bit already. And our room WAS just yards from the edge of the pool. So I told her I didn't want to swim, but if she wanted to, we had time.

 

[Caretames1]

I just got sooo excited, I'm going to see your Tea Party pictures. I just booked it with Kadence!
I am debating on if I should get Kadence a Sleeping Beauty gown or not. I can't ask her, maybe I should just look for one and if I find one that wows me, I dicuss it with DH. We'll see

ps. is the doll that is included, a nice one? Like an American Girl kind of?

 

[disnee4life]

Those were some great night shot pictures. What kinda of camera did you use?