Follow up to the "which digital camera" and "how to shoot fireworks" threads...

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Thank you to everyone who helped me determine exactly what I needed and that my Canon PowerShot was perfectly capable

I bought a big memory card (well, big enough for me) and loved that I could delete all the pictures that just weren't quite right.

I steadied the camera on the stroller canopy, and got some pretty decent shots. I think I used Fireworks mode least - and more of night mode and auto focus - for whatever reason, they just seemed to capture it better.

So - I made a handy little sig pic of all my favorite castle pictures to show you

Thanks again - this board is the BEST!

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Bumping back up so the camera-man himself sees this gratuitous "thank you"

 

[crazee4mickey]

Gorgeous pictures-thanks for sharing your tips!

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

oooh - I love your pic!!!

What did you shoot with?

 

[jswalker1981]

I just purchased a Casio Exlim EX-Z57, and I can't wait to get it! One of the biggest reasons for getting it was for the faster shutter time. I was even telling a guy at Ritz Camera that I wanted a camera that would be small but would have a fast shutter time so I can take better pictures at Disney!

 

[cwnhokie]

They look great. Unfortunately I didn't read that thread and didn't get any good ones. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to go back and try again.

 

[Greg K.]

Lovely pictures! You have any others to share?

I'm leaving in two weeks with my Canon PowerShot A95.

Any special tips from your experience for that line of Canons??

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Hmm - let me think.

It seems like the pics turned out best in "auto" focus for us. I used the "beach"mode a lot at the beach and they were really pretty pics.

If you click the wheel over to SCN it will say "foliage" on the screen. You can flip around with the little toggle area to the right of the screen to change it to "beach" or "fireworks" or whatever.

I played around a lot with it - and just kept trying it out. It was nice that you can really see what you're getting, and keep deleting it if it isn't just right.

I shot A LOT - just keep going - You're bound to get a few blurry shots for each decent shot, so don't get discouraged.

I shot with my SLR for the majority of the day/sunlight shots, but I used the Canon A75 for the inside/dark shots and we were really pleased with them. FAR better than last year's miserable experience with getting pictures back from the SLR and wasting all that money on blurry shots.

(Not that it can't be done with an SLR - I just clearly didn't know how)

If you can - get a travel tripod!! They're like $20 and you can fold it down and throw it in the backpack. It would have made life so much easier - and if you get a good spot for fireworks (like most DISers would!) you will have time to set up and then just keep shooting!!

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Ohh - and make sure it's focusing on the castle. I had a few pictures ruined because the lady next to me suddenly was all arms and elbows in front of me! <grrr>

So, try to get a clear view of the castle (or whatever you're shooting) so that doesn't happen to you

 

[oogieboogie]

very good pictures 05CS.

The most important thing I've found when dealing with digitals is that practice does make perfect. Reading the manuals that came with the camera is also essential, and last but not least, take plenty of pictures. If your pictures don't look good on Monday's Wishes, then go back on Tuesday and try it again.

I took a full 256mb memory card of just the castle at night, about 154 pictures and out of that I got 60 pictures that I was happy with. The others were OK, some were blurred, some were skewed, etc.

Great going, 05CS... hope to see more pics from you on the DIS.

 

[crazee4mickey]

oooh - I love your pic!!!

What did you shoot with?

Thank you kindly --I used a Canon Powershot A95, I only had it for 2 weeks before we left but I'm delighted with this camera!

 

[Greg K.]

Thank you kindly --I used a Canon Powershot A95, I only had it for 2 weeks before we left but I'm delighted with this camera!

I've had mine for a little over a month -- I should be so lucky! I'm just getting the hang of it, but got some great snaps last month at a piano recital, using just the lights on stage. It's a dandy little camera.

Thanks, guys, for the tips!

Two weeks from tomorrow, we leave for WDW

 

[crazee4mickey]

I've had mine for a little over a month -- I should be so lucky! I'm just getting the hang of it, but got some great snaps last month at a piano recital, using just the lights on stage. It's a dandy little camera.

Thanks, guys, for the tips!

Two weeks from tomorrow, we leave for WDW

For fireworks I had a mini tripod and set it on top of a garbage can and for a "digital camera virgin" I was quite pleased with the results--did not use flash, used both night time and fireworks setting. You will be so extremely happy with the pics this camera takes, have a great time and don't forget to post some of your pics for us to admire when you get home!