Just got a dSLR...what to carry in?

[Mom2Rae]

I just got my dream camera, a dSLR. I got so sick of missing great shots of DD at her recitals, plays and stuff with my point and shoot and dim lighting.

So, I can't wait to take it with us to Disney, however, I'm not loving the camera bag. Any advice on an easier way to carry it around and which lens I should bring?

TIA

 

[t_catt11]

Honestly, your short lens is probably find for most of what you want to do; if you take a telephoto, you'll find yourself constantly backing up enough to get everyone in a picture, etc.

That being said, we bring both lenses. My wife's camera bag is actually made like a small backpack, making it MUCH easier to carry than a traditional bag.

 

[peyjax]

We just got the tamrac backpack bag while we were in Florida. It saved the trip. We were able to bring both lenses and got some great shots. We usually carried two bags inside a back pack. Needless to say this was so much easier. I would carry the regular backpack while dh would carrry the camera backpack. Love this camera bag. It actually carried our video cam (very small) as well.

 

[Mom2Rae]

Honestly, your short lens is probably find for most of what you want to do; if you take a telephoto, you'll find yourself constantly backing up enough to get everyone in a picture, etc.

That being said, we bring both lenses. My wife's camera bag is actually made like a small backpack, making it MUCH easier to carry than a traditional bag.

Thanks so much for your advice...I'm as novice as they come with this type of camera, but I bought one that has a lot of "auto" settings until I learn more! I will have to look into getting a backpack type bag. I won't be able to tolerate that camera hanging around my neck all day and I want to carry it in something that will allow me to grab it quick for a picture moment!

 

[Mom2Rae]

We just got the tamrac backpack bag while we were in Florida. It saved the trip. We were able to bring both lenses and got some great shots. We usually carried two bags inside a back pack. Needless to say this was so much easier. I would carry the regular backpack while dh would carrry the camera backpack. Love this camera bag. It actually carried our video cam (very small) as well.

Sounds perfect..I'm gonna google it now! Thank you for responding...I'm really hoping to get some great shots this time...especially inside!

 

[Technosavant]

I picked up a Tamrac Adventure 7 bag for our most recent trip. It was great- I was able to carry my DSLR, two extra lenses, a flash unit, and still had plenty of room for other items (including pockets for a couple water bottles on the outside).

I did end up sticking with just one lens and left the other two out to save weight, but the lens I was using is a 18-250mm "walking around" type of lens- if you don't have one of those, then I might recommend looking into something with similar range since lens swaps aren't always practical (like on the Kilomanjaro Safari).

Saving weight and space by paring it down to just the essentials will help you, but at the same time, you want to be sure you can cover what you need done. Last year I left the flash unit in the room the one time it would have been useful (didn't have this bag at the time), and I really regretted it.

 

[MissionMouse]

A lot of people like the messenger camera bags option currently on the market. You might also just consider buying a camera case that you camera manufacturer markets that is a custom fit for your camera. This of course will determine the size of you lense you can attach and use with this case.

Not knowing your lenses you might have you might consider a lense in the 24-120mm range with an f stop of 2.8 or lower to allow you to take existing light photographs (no flash) indoors or in low light conditions. If exisiting light photos are no imporatant then the typical kit lense might meet your needs since their normally in the range of 18-70. This allows you to get wide angle (landscape/buildings/etc) and solid portrait (family) shots. Just ensure their in good focus-exposure and you can crop them later...automatic exposure setting do not always do the job right.

 

[WillCAD]

I always recommend NOT keeping the camera in a bag when you're in the parks. It's too easy to miss a great shot because the camera was buried under park maps and sunscreen. If you're a parent with a little one in the parks, you know how quickly great photo ops can come and go, so why handicap yourself by making your camera inaccessible.

I recommend carrying the camera around on some kind of strap or harness, easy to get at, and ready to shoot at all times. Whether you carry a bag with extra lenses and other gear is up to you (though my preference is to go bagless and just use my Sigma 18-125 as a walkaround lens).

 

[mom2rtk]

My camera is almost always around my neck, so the bag is not important. I usually (GASP!) just stuff it into my tote bag when I need to put it down. (I always carry a big bag with costumes for my daughter.... don't ask..... but the pictures are awesome!....)

That said though, be careful where you put it. I sat down once with my daughter and put it on the seat next to me. I walked right off and left it there. It only took a few minutes to realize what I did an RAN back only to find a great CM chasing after me with it.... Now I never put it down ANYWHERE except my bag!

If you're going in warm weather, I have to say I HATED carrying a black backpack on my back. I did this once and don't do it again.


I have the Tamron 18-250 lens and have LOVED it. I'm not a big camera expert, but it meets my needs for good wide angle close ups (like when someone is IN the ride seat with me or standing in line with me and I can't back up) as well as telephoto shots as needed.

I do carry a tripod in a small separate bag so I can have it with me for evening castle shots. My hands are very unsteady, so I don't have a prayer at low light shots without the tripod.

My dream lens would be to upgrade to one of the image stabilization lenses....

 

[DaveStroem]

For most of the parks you will only need a relatively short lens. AK is the only one that you may want a longer lens for.

So what type of camera did you get?
What lenses?

If it is a Canon, they have a 55-250 IS that is pretty cheap and is small. It isn't the best for low light, but it is less then 1/4 the price of my 70-200L 2.8IS. That bad boy is about 9" long and weighs over 7 pounds.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Photography Board.

 

[aprince&princess]

You should also check out the photography board. There are many great tips listed there as well.

 

[GrillMouster]

I carry my DSLR in the pockets of my cargo shorts. They have really, really BIG pockets. (just kidding)

I agree with the other person who suggested leaving the camera on your person at the parks. Stowing and removing a DSLR from a camera bag is more cumbersome than doing the same with a point-and-shoot. You'll get sick of constantly removing and stowing a DSLR in a camera bag all day long. I find the straps that come with most DSLRs to be uncomfortable when worn from the neck, and unstable when worn on the shoulder (they slide off). I don't like neck straps at all, but I've heard that Op-Tech makes some of the most comfortable neoprene straps. I prefer the R-strap from BlackRapid, which goes across the torso, or the Up-strap which goes on the shoulder (a comfortable rubber pad prevents it from sliding). Neither of these options are really cheap, but they're worth the expense if they make you more likely to use your camera.

Another thing I recommend is leaving the lens cap off of the camera when there's the possibility that you might need to take another picture in the near future. My caps come off the lens as soon as it comes out of the bag in the morning, and they don't come back on until I'm done shooting for the day and everything is stowed away. This allows you to be ready to shoot at a moment's notice, and it decreases your chances of losing the cap.

 

[Mom2Rae]

For most of the parks you will only need a relatively short lens. AK is the only one that you may want a longer lens for.

So what type of camera did you get?
What lenses?

If it is a Canon, they have a 55-250 IS that is pretty cheap and is small. It isn't the best for low light, but it is less then 1/4 the price of my 70-200L 2.8IS. That bad boy is about 9" long and weighs over 7 pounds.

I got the Olympus E-450 (little bit of an upgrade from the E-420). I'm REALLY, REALLY lame with my photo taking a abilities, but I'm hoping to learn little by little. I just wanted a SLR mainly for the increase in shutter speed and hopefully to take better shots of my dd doing indoor events. I've enjoyed reading the book that came with it and I'm not as intimidated as I thought I would be! The camera came with two lenses, a 40-150 & a 14-42. Are those bad?

 

[madge]

I carry a Crumpler 4 Million Dollar Home bag .. in fact, I took it to WDW last month. I had room for my Canon Rebel with a lens attached and another lens, and still had room for my phone, a battery, memory card, etc

 

[boBQuincy]

Cary the camera in... your hand! Cameras in bags miss a lot of photo opportunities.
Crumpler bags seem to be getting popular around here, I carry a $4M Home for lenses and such, but the camera stays in my hand.

 

[BelleBway]

I'm also a fairly new dslr owner... I carry a Crumpler $5M Home as my day bag when I take it anywhere. Although I'll have the camera around my neck 90% of the time at WDW, I want to have space for it in my bag during meals and when riding less tame rides.

 

[Photoguy]

I picked up a messenger style bag. I had considered going bagless with the camera around my neck but the fear of rain has stopped me from going that route. To everyone who doesn't bring a bag into the parks, what do you do when it rains? Just curious if there's an option out there I'm not thinking of in order to travel lighter.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Get an OpTech Pro strap (not the pro loop) and wear it strapped diagonally across your body. That way the weight is evenly distributed and the weight isn't being born by your neck. Use an OpTech pouch that is simply a case that protects against scratches bumps and dings, but hangs off the lens when you open the bag. Google it; it weighs next to nothing. And the strap is the most comfortable camera strap imo.

 

[jann1033]

i hate backpacks, imo it 's pain to have to take it off every time i need something. i tried the slingbags but they seem to have some of the same problems imo so i use a tamrac system 3 bag. it's a messenger type, fits a ton but they have smaller and larger. is a modular system so you can add lens cases, filter wallets, memory wallets etc to the outside of the bag and straps and has a attachment so it piggy backs on the back of a rolling suitcase or something ( might work on some strollers although i would be concerned with an umbrella type that it would tip over and land on the camera bag)
usually i have the camera around my neck ( optech strap) or shoulder, but still need a bag for lenses and assorted junk. i may try out the lens safe type holder though and just add a lens bag to my person somehow...but i never wear a belt so not sure what i would attach it to ....i could fit 2 small lenses in a bigger lens case or two, add the junk like cleaner, cps etc to my pockets and be good to go. i would love to be bagless since i figured i am lugging at least 20 lbs of stuff when i take my tripod, ball head and filled bag...now if i can just get pants with a pocket big enough for a tripod.....