DSLR(camera) users

[vwlizard]

I'm not the kind to take my camera everywhere, but I can't imagine not taking it on our first WDW trip. If you own one, do you take it or use a smaller point and shoot while in the park?

Although I"m not too happy about lugging the weight around (Cannon T2), I can't imagine going back to a point and shoot (although how handy to just throw it in your pocket).

I only have the standard kit lense, and although I would love a bigger one, it's yet another thing I don't want to lug around.

Also, how do you protect it on water rides?

thanks for any input.

 

[humboldthny]

Having taken both types (I've got a Nikon D40 and a Canon PowerShot) I will say that on our next trip I'm going to be pretty much exclusively using my Nikon. I used the Canon more on the last trip and while the preview screen looked great they weren't near the same quality at full size.

In the past I've carried the SLR in a separate zipper case, but it was very time consuming to keep hauling it out of the backpack and the case. This time I'm going to carry a small messenger bag and put the camera in a neoprene cover. Reviews say it does a decent job protecting the camera, but I'll still probably take an extra plastic bag to slip it into the day we ride Kali River Rapids!

 

[pinkiesue]

I took my moms Nikon D40 with me last time
I have a camera bag like a fanny pack I put the camera in (just body and reg. lens) around my waist. it has a zippered pocket for my point & shoot I had with me also.
for quick pics I used p&s, easier to get
then when I wanted to take good pics I used the Nikon
I wear the bag on the rides, if a bar is in the way I loosin the strap to make it bigger so it fits under or over the bar.

For water rides- I'm the one wearing the poncho with the backpack I put everything in, under the poncho on the front of me.

I hope this helps
I'm taking my own Nikon this time to Disneyland
also my p&s

 

[Swmhc]

I GOT my DSLR just for Disney. I got tired of missing the really great shots with a less than stellar camera. Yes, I lug it everywhere. I got a sling-pro cross body bag and there is plenty of room for my camera, an extra lense, and all the other crap I have to carry in the park for the whole family (I used to have to carry a backpack). It is pretty water resistant, though in a down pour I do make sure it is under my poncho to be safe. Haven't had a problem with it and would feel lost without it !

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I took my D100 in April 2009, and my d300s in September 2010. We did borrow my mom's P&S, it sucked.

I use a 24-85mm lens. And it's the only one I take. I carry a hip pack camera bag and I ALWAYS have a gallon ziplock bag on hand for rain.

 

[klmall]

Your question is asked fairly frequently on the Photography Board so you might want to take a look over there.

And to make a point, I have taken my DSLR hiking 6+ hours around Mt. Rainier, fallen and broken my ankle and my brand new Canon XSi fared far better than I did!

 

[fairestoneofall]

i have a Nikon D700. i didn't take it on our last trip and regretted not having it (although, my neck/back thanked me). normally, i take it along with a P&S and rotate which ones i carry.

after that June trip, i bought a much better P&S--the Canon G12. for a P&S, the picture quality is nice, the shutter is fast (no usual delay) and the videos are crisp.

 

[mikegood2]

I would suggest bringing both. That way you don't have to bring the dSLR to the park every day, but you still have it in case you want to take "better" photos or use specific events like fireworks or indoor shooting.

I'm going in June, my last visit was 21 years ago, and I plan on bringing both my dSLR and PnS and plan on doing what I wrote above. Also, I have an older dSLR that does not have video on it, so I plan on shooting a lot of video on the PnS.

If I remember correctly the T2 comes with a 18-55mm IS lens, so you may want to look into getting a different lens that will allow you to zoom in more. You could always get a 70-200 or 70-300, but that would mean you would have to carry 2 lenses. I would also look into an 18-200 lens. With the 1.6 crop sensor on that camera you should get a nice range with it, and it gives you the added benifit of not having to carry around multiple lenses. Also, I would suggest buying a 50mm 1.8 lens even if you don't use it on your trip. It is the best quality fast lens for the price, under $100.

As far as protecting it on a water ride goes you could try a few things. Get a waterproof bag, a poncho is a good idea, put in a large ziplock bag, or rent a locker and put you camera in it before any water ride.

 

[2Tiggies]

Having taken both types (I've got a Nikon D40 and a Canon PowerShot) I will say that on our next trip I'm going to be pretty much exclusively using my Nikon. I used the Canon more on the last trip and while the preview screen looked great they weren't near the same quality at full size.

When I read this the first thing I thought was that I could have written it myself. I also have a D40 and took my bridge camera and Canon Powershot and like you say, it wasn't obvious on the LCD but on the prints or laptop screen the difference was phenomenal. As far as carrying things around, I honestly don't find carrying a large camera around a problem. I have it out and ready most of the time anyway.

If you think about it this way: While at WDW you are likely to take more pictures in the time you are there than almost anywhere else. You really want to be happy with your photos so the deciding factor for me if I could or would only take one camera would be the answer to the question "Which camera is going to yield the best results?"

 

[audraolson]

I've been trying to decide the same thing - whether to carry my Nikon D40 to the parks. We are leaving this morning for our trip!!! I finally decided last night that yes, I DO want fantastic pictures so I'm taking the big camera to the parks. I agree that the point and shoot doesn't take nearly the same quality and I don't want to be disappointed with these priceless photos!

 

[scarlet_ibis]

Yes, we take our Nikon D40 and, while you think it would be a burden/pain, it's really not. The difference in our pictures is amazing.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

I also have the Canon T2i but I use a lense that is EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens. This worked great for close up shots and distance and I didn't have to carry another lens. My sister had ths slock lens 18-55 and she had to switch out with her 70-300 lens plus lug it around all day. Like on of the other posters I also carry my Power Shot just in case, works nice in restaurants.

 

[hkeller27]

I have had a DSLR exclusively for about 3.5 years, and it's made every trip with me to the parks (and my neck will attest to that!). This past Christmas, I bought my husband a little point and shoot, a Powershot. So January was our first trip with both. I like having both with me. I still took my DSLR with me - along with 3 lenses and an external flash. I kept the pieces that I wasn't using in a backpack, and I wore the camera around my neck. When I wasn't using it, it was in a neoprene cover (Zing, and it is wonderful).

Having the point and shoot was good for a few things. One night, I opted to leave my DLSR back at our room, just to give my neck and back a break! So for times like that, or when the weather is a little rainy, it was nice to have the point and shoot so we didn't miss any moments we might want on camera (my DSLR goes away at the first drop of rain). Also, my kids are now these little budding photographers, so it was nice to give them the PAS to play around with - and seeing the pictures they took when we got home was a lot of fun too!

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

we brought both- which worked nicely on the days it was raining. DH didnt want to bring out the d90 and mess it up in the rain, so we used the point and shoot during those times.

 

[buffettgirl]

I usually also bring both, and then on the first days through the park I take the smaller camera to get the happy smiles and then on the later days I take the bigger so that I can more leisurely get better pics. OR I do the reverse. Just depends on my mood.

however, this time - I think i'm just taking the smaller.

 

[BigDaddyWill]

I just bought my Nikon d300s and plan to use it extensively on our June trip. My wife will carry our P&S though so she can catch things I might miss.

I like some others, will be carrying a gallon bag in case of rain or when we ride water rides. I agree that it depends on what quality you want your photos to be. If you are mainly taking quick snaps, by all means use your P&S! You can get the Photopass photographers to grab your group shots. But if you intend to visually explore (like me) then the choice is made.

Have a great time and share your pics when you get back!

Will

 

[CathieArms]

I'm not the kind to take my camera everywhere, but I can't imagine not taking it on our first WDW trip. If you own one, do you take it or use a smaller point and shoot while in the park?

Although I"m not too happy about lugging the weight around (Cannon T2), I can't imagine going back to a point and shoot (although how handy to just throw it in your pocket).

I only have the standard kit lense, and although I would love a bigger one, it's yet another thing I don't want to lug around.

Also, how do you protect it on water rides?

thanks for any input.

I love my DSLR, but no - I don't carry it into the parks. It's just too big and bulky and too apt to get injured somewhere.

With that said, though, I will take it out on short treks. Like character meals if we're not going to a park. But, for long days in the park, I take a smaller camera.

I just bought a Canon SD1400. While it can't do everything my DSLR can do, it takes surprisingly good pictures for its size and is definitely going to be fun using in the parks.

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

The last couple of trips, I've brought my Nikon D40. I would never consider NOT bringing it!! Of all the places you want to be able to take beautiful pictures to capture the memories and moments, Disney is it! I've never found it a problem to carry the DSLR. I have a Baggalini bag that I carry in the parks and store my DSLR and my extra lens in when I need too. Most of the time, I'm carrying it so I can take pics in the moment. For Kali, I bring a zip-lock gallon bag and put the DSLR in that and then in the Baggalini. I've never had a problem. Your pictures are your memories. Bring your best camera to be able to capture those. You won't regret it!

 

[Iwant2BAprincess]

I always take ours (t1i). I usually have it and a couple of lenses along with some snacks for the troups in my back pack and think nothing of it-about like a purse. As far as keeping it dry...I have used the large heavy duty ziplock storage bags and put my entire bag inside it for things like kali-just keep it folded in the bag until you need it. Did have 1 close call last year on splash-we were in the front row and couldn't have gotten more soaked if I would have just jumped in. Luckily, I wasn't shooting that time (some inner voice said just have fun riding with the kiddos this time) so it was in the back pack and I had that held under the ledge of the front of the boat so I acutally stayed nice and dry.

 

[Minniemom97]

I don't know how to phrase my question, but here goes. Can you buy a bag that covers the camera while around your neck, but that you can remove the "lens cover" on it so you can take pictures without removing the entire cover? Basically so the camera is still 'protected' without taking the cover off to take a picture. Does that make any kind of sense whatsoever?