? for DSLR camera users

[mshanson3121]

Do you take your camera to the parks? If so, what do you do with it on the rides? What's the best way to carry it that you've found? We plan on getting Memory Maker, but... I'm worried that I'm still going to regret not taking my camera.

 

[bigskip]

I've taken my camera to the parks, but being luckily in the position of going for two weeks, i worked out what i wanted to take photos of, and dedicated a couple of days to take the camera into the parks with me, one lens, cross body strap, no issues on rides, camera sits in my lap. didn't do ToT or R'n'RC with it, nor wet rides.

HTH

Andy

 

[ribollita]

Yes. I used it at character meals and meeting characters without Photopass (Mary Poppins. Alice, White Rabbit, others) and charactrpalooza. It's very easy to take bags on rides.

 

[Cedarmom]

Yes, I take it. I have a backpack camera bag that makes it easy to carry.

 

[disneydude365]

OK let me just say this i wrestled with getting MM for our previous trip, and ended up just taking my iPhone and my nikon d3200 with an additional sense i keep it in a bad and i either keep it in my walker or basket of scooter.


i got online to check what the Photographers took for memory maker and i was seriously looking through the meet an greet with peter pan as i had received a rare hug from this guy. NOTHING WAS FOUND there were pictures of the event, but none of the hug and one of the group shots were fuzzy, and the then there was a really close up of just our faces i was relieved i had not paid for the service for that trip because i would have been seriously upset if i had and then found out no memory had been saved!

 

[Robo]

The camera, in a soft bag, can go with you on 95% (virtually all) of the attractions.

A backpack is a good choice, too.

On Soarin' (specifically) you simply place an oversized bag in front of you and a CM will move it to the aisle awaiting your exiting the flying room after the flight.

On most other attractions, a bag can sit at your feet.

At Kali River, there are now guest lockers to protect items as guests ride.

Only Space Mtn. is problematic for bags (and even there, things can be worked out.)

 

[Amusement]

I use a cross body strap like a rapid strap and just carry my camera that way. My camera gets too heavy on my neck if I wear it all day with a regular neck strap. I also sling a second lens over my shoulder in the soft case it comes with if I know I'm going to be want more than one focal length. For most rides, I just carry my camera on my lap.

I've had very mixed results with memory maker/photopass pictures. So many of them have ended up blurry that we never buy them and just take our own.

I'm actually leaving my big camera home on our upcoming trip and just going with a little point and shoot. I'm going to miss the nice pictures, but it's just me and the kids this time around and I don't want to worry about a big camera with a big lens and would rather focus on spending time with the kids so I'm making do.

 

[WeHaveADisneyProblem]

The water rides and rain are really the biggest concerns for most. A staple packing item for us is a box of gallon size freezer ziplock bags. I double bag all of the electronics and carry a small backpack in the event of rain or while on the couple of wet rides and this has been a great solution. I keep a couple of quart size in my pocket for smaller things like wallet and phones and have never had a problem. As long as you aren't carrying a huge lens that should work for you. If you do have long lenses, although a minor annoyance, you can always put those in a separate bag for those cases where water is a concern.

 

[rwdavis2]

I have a small to medium backpack that we keep the SLR in. I usually put a small towel or sweatshirt on the bottom to pad it. We normally don't do water Splash Mtn and have never done Kali Rapids (they have lockers)

 

[a742246]

I usually only bring my SLR for daytime use. At night I find the camera/phone a works fine!

 

[Mome Rath]

Do you take your camera to the parks? If so, what do you do with it on the rides? What's the best way to carry it that you've found? We plan on getting Memory Maker, but... I'm worried that I'm still going to regret not taking my camera.

I do off and on. I leave it on me 95% of the time, cross body as others do, even on rides (the large ziplock is the way I'd go if I rode water rides). I pick one lens and leave the rest in the room. The biggest gripe about MM is that there are not that many photographers out at unique places. Also, as an aside, don't forget that many phone cameras are indeed really good in today's day and age, so that is an option too.

 

[msmama]

I'm like several above. I take it with me some days, but not every day (or if we go back to the hotel in the middle of the day I may take it half and half).

I also do MM because usually it's just my son and I so I like to be in pictures. Photopass photographers will take pictures with your camera, but I don't usually bother with that (theirs are generally set up for their specific spot while if they use mine I put it on Auto).

I use one lens, have a neoprene case and toss it in my park bag. We don't do any rides where I can't keep it with me with no issues.

 

[FLkid]

Currently at AK with my DSLR. I purchased Amazons camera back pack for $29.99 and I'm wonder why I waited so long to buy one!

It currently holds my Nikon, two lenses, batteries, external flash, poncho, wallet, external battery, cords ect and I've had no problem on any of the rides (not riding any water rides though.. Because it's cold)

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I've taken my camera to the parks, but being luckily in the position of going for two weeks, i worked out what i wanted to take photos of, and dedicated a couple of days to take the camera into the parks with me, one lens, cross body strap, no issues on rides, camera sits in my lap. didn't do ToT or R'n'RC with it, nor wet rides.

HTH

Andy

Lucky for us I can't ride roller coasters so I hold it. For water rides we carry a plastic bag in our backpack and we put it in there, inside the backpack.

 

[JoeA]

For me it really depends on what I want to do that day or night. I've taken my camera and several lenses on days that I want to take pictures, and that is my primary objective. For most days I just take a small digital (that is waterproof) for shots or use my iPhone.

That is usually my plan for all vacations, actually.

 

[Imagineer5]

I bring my Canon DSLR on every trip, which includes many trips with just my toddler DD and myself. Generally I carry the camera on its strap over my shoulder (I leave the backpack in the stroller) and carry it on all the rides and always have it on me. Sometimes I strap on my small purse onto the camera so it's all together, making also carrying my DD possible.

The only exception to this is Splash (I skip Kali), and for that ride I don't do when it is just DD and me, but with DH I leave the camera with him. Before DD, I'd put the camera in a plastic bag inside a backpack and bring the backpack on.

 

[RustManFan]

No problem with my DSLR on rides at all. I have a camera bag that has a built in rain cover so I just pulled that over the top when riding Splash Mt, for example. My AK pictures wouldn't be what they are without it!

Camera bag isn't huge but it holds all I need including camera body, 2 lenses, wallet, reading and sun glasses.... also has a web pocket on the outside for a water bottle.

Its a LowePro bag Nova AW (all weather) I picked up from Amazon a number of years ago. I shopped around a lot for just what I wanted!

 

[Ronda93]

I stow my dSLR in a Crumpler pouch inside my usual backpack. I think it's the medium.
http://www.amazon.com/Crumpler-Haven-Medium-Camera-Pouch/dp/B006O150JA

Love it. All the protection, none of the conspicuous.

 

[mshanson3121]

Wonderful! That settled that - the DSLR goes with me, lol. And that's great that the photographers will take pictures on your camera. I may skip the MM then, if that's the case. I'll have to find a little backpack. I have a really good Roots backpack camera bag, but it's BIG (a full sized backpack), far bigger than I want to be lugging around all day at Disney.

Is there a good cross-body bag anyone has found that can carry a DSLR? I have the D3200, and likely will just take my 18-50 with me, with the exception of at AK, that day I'll likely take my zoom, too.

 

[HockeyIsLife]

Every single vacation I ask myself this same question. And Every SINGLE vacation I have a different feeling once I get there. Twice I have said "I paid all this money, I am using this camera come hell or highwater!" and each time I ended up taking a cab to Walmart or Target to purchase a point and shoot.

SO...Now I bring everything and gauge it that morning. I have a cross body bag, and then I usually only bring two lenses in the park. But There are days when my point and shoot or iphone can capture what we need and I want to be hands/bag free.

I will say the last few trips we did Memory Maker and I LOVED IT!!! We were way more apt to stop for photos as a family, because I wanted to get our moneys worth. And it was so awesome to have me in the pictures because I am rarely in them as the photographer!

Have fun!