Huge Camera vs. Small Camera

[Rora]

I vote the small camera. Big ones are a big hassle at Disney, IMO.

 

[onnawufei]

I'm yet another person saying to take both. I always take my DSLR, and my DH takes my pocket size point and shoot so he can take pictures too. He complains that I don't take "normal" vacation pictures, I just take artsy ones, so he wanted to be able to take his own. I carry my camera, flash and at least one extra lens and have never had any issues.

 

[disEAR]

I'd take both. If you're worried about carrying it around all the time, you can select certain days to carry it and always have the small one on hand just in case that kodak moment arrives.

I have my SLR and won't bring it into the parks every day, especially if i know i'm going on certain rides, or getting wet. But even if it's extra heavy (and I have a massive lens I like to use on the safaris) it's worth the shots I can take with it.

If you're going to get specific shots of the parks, bring your camera. If you just want shots with characters and family, you're okay with the small p&s.

 

[Commando2319]

I'd say by the fact that you are worried about lugging around the bigger camera, that you'd probably be best to just bring your small point and shoot. That you are even considering it means that you probably don't notice that difference that much between the two. In that case, it is prob best for you to have the convenience of the smaller camera.

I know for myself, once I learned how to take better photos and discovered the quality difference in the photos, I gave away my point and shoot and never looked back.

 

[anthony2k7]

as others say, depends on the type of pics you want.

if you only want snapshots of each other then I'm not entirely sure I'd bother with a camera at all depending what the camera on your phone is like. Most nokias/Sony Ericsson phones take great pics for that kind of thing - and then you can just use photopass for better quality pics.

If you want a good selection of everything disney then you're going to need a dSLR with a fast lens to be able to get half decent pics because you so often find yourself in low light situations which P&S just cant deal with without using a flash, which in rides is obviously banned and for fireworks etc is no use at all.

If you're taking a dSLR though make sure you plan which lenses you're going to use, I find the weight and bulk of my camera is ok, but lugging several lenses as well is not so fun after a long disney day!

The only times I've wanted a P&S in orlando is at universal with so many rides having no bag rules so having to mess with those stupid lockers gets annoying. We get by with just our phone cameras when at universal - but a P&S (waterproof!) would be ideal for universal.

 

[sjs314]

Last year I took my new bridge camera, I thought since it was smaller than a DSLR it would not be such a pain to drag around........Wrongggggg I found if I had it out and around my neck after no time at all it began to make my neck ache, keeping it in my camera bag was no good either since I had to stop to take it out each time I wanted to take a picture.

I bought a point and shoot for my trip in November, 14 MP 8xzoom(only about half the zoom of my bridge camera) but it is small and light and won't be a pain to carry. It takes good pics and has HD video (my bridge has video but not HD)

Will I take both? Have not decided I thought I might just to use the larger camera with more zoom for shots of the resort(staying at AKL)

Only thing I hate leaving it in the room when I gone off to the parks

 

[GC&S]

I have a Nikon D50 DSLR and I don't think it's that bad to carry around. I've even had some of the photopass photographers show me some new tricks with it since they use them as well. But I love great pics and once I looked at the quality of pics of that camera vs my old point and shoot, it was a no brainer. I also take a zoom lens which is kind of a pain but it's great for parades and far away shots. My camera has never been damaged by rain or rides.

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

I take a Canon 30D with L grade lens (4lbs +/-) and a Panasonic Lumix p&s. Some days I carry both but occasionally I just carry the Panasonic. The ability to shoot fast and get high quality makes it worth carrying the DSLR and I've been carrying one for so many years that it's usually not an issue; but that's just me!

 

[vtwep]

I like taking my dslr. Ya, it's bigger. But I have an 18-200 lens that can help me get all sorts of shots. The controls are easier. And I can quickly take multiple photos of any shot/situation to make sure I get the "good" one. Every time we go to the park, we think "let's just take the small one"...but every time, we end up with the big one and are happy we did.

Last summer, we went to Hershey. The first day, I took our small point and shoot camera. We got back to the hotel and had only taken 30 or 40 pictures. Kind of disappointed that there wasn't much to shoot. Day 2, we took the larger camera around the hotel grounds and the park. Took around 400 pictures. Same thing on the third day. So, it may be bigger/heavier, but it's easier to take multiple photos, zoom, etc. Definitely enjoy using it more.

Either way, have fun!

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Last year, during our honeymoon, DH had his big camera, I had mine that I could slip in my front pocket. It rained every day, so his barely got used, and mine got used more than I ever thought it would.

I have to buy another camera this year...I slipped into a river with it in my pocket a couple of years ago. It makes funny noises and viberates now....I think rust on the inside finally caught up with it.