New Camera for Disney 2008

[NewEnglandCamper]

I'm definately upgrading my OLD outdated 2004 cheapo digital camera before our next trip!

Here are my requirements:
* Digital Camera
* Can take an AWESOME night picture of my kids (family) at Epcot, Magic Kingodm, etc. (while I'm holding the camera)
* Sharp featues during day (at least 5 megapixel)
* Can take several pictures at one time.
* Budget: Up to $400 (target $300)

Should I not bother and just depend on PhotoPass?

 

[ukcatfan]

* Can take an AWESOME night picture of my kids (family) at Epcot, Magic Kingodm, etc. (while I'm holding the camera)
* Budget: Up to $400 (target $300)

That camera does not exist. A DSLR is needed. If you are willing to spend a little more, then you could go with a Pentax K100D that would do a little better. You could later add a 50mm f.1.4 to do even better in low light. The Rebel XT is also pretty low priced right now.

Kevin

 

[AdWayInc]

I am looking for a new digital camera also. Not only for our trip to WDW in March but my daughter is getting married in June.
I want something easy to use and not try to figure out all the speeds and stuff - even though my DH loves to do so - so I wanted that option.

I am thinking about the Panasonic LUMIX DMC -FZ18K
Not quite a DSLR but it seems to put out nice pics.
8.1 mp
18X opitcal
and has a lithium ion battery.

I am still on the ence and doing more research but I found a great price for $284.00.
Do you have any suggestions?

 

[JR6ooo4]

I'm definately upgrading my OLD outdated 2004 cheapo digital camera before our next trip!

Here are my requirements:
* Digital Camera
* Can take an AWESOME night picture of my kids (family) at Epcot, Magic Kingodm, etc. (while I'm holding the camera)
* Sharp featues during day (at least 5 megapixel)
* Can take several pictures at one time.
* Budget: Up to $400 (target $300)

Should I not bother and just depend on PhotoPass?

The only problem is the dark night shots. If there is very little light (even a brightly lit living room can be considered dark in the eye of a camera) the camera leaves the shutter open until enough light gets in.

Usualy a hand held camera wil move slightly if the shutter is more than just fractions of a second. That is why night pictures and others are blurry. It is called camera shake.

Now if you have a tripod or top of a garbage can the camera will be still. But chances are the kids will move. Parents too...

getting a good night shot is easy, as long as neither the camera or the subject move.

Otherwise you can use the flash which only reaches about 10-20 feet. So the family will be bright and everything behind will be dark.

Mikeeee

 

[mom2mykids]

The only problem is the dark night shots. If there is very little light (even a brightly lit living room can be considered dark in the eye of a camera) the camera leaves the shutter open until enough light gets in.

Usualy a hand held camera wil move slightly if the shutter is more than just fractions of a second. That is why night pictures and others are blurry. It is called camera shake.

Now if you have a tripod or top of a garbage can the camera will be still. But chances are the kids will move. Parents too...

getting a good night shot is easy, as long as neither the camera or the subject move.

Otherwise you can use the flash which only reaches about 10-20 feet. So the family will be bright and everything behind will be dark.

Mikeeee

Just curious, is there something to help with the night shots then....other than a tripod and taping the kids in place, LOL Now at least I understand why my day shots look so good but the low light are always blurry. I'm looking to get a DSLR also.

 

[arielslm]

I just checked on ConsumerReports.org and their best suggestion for a DSLR camera, which is a step up from a basic digital point-n-shoot is the Nikon D40. I just bought it off of Amazon for $478 and that includes an extra lense. I also checked the reviews of the camera and out of 200+ reviews it still got a 4 1/2 star rating!! I can't wait to get it!!

I hope this helped!!

 

[Groucho]

Looks like it's time to drag out the old sensor size chart. Apologies to the regulars who are sick of seeing it.

NewEnglandCamper, some quick background would be helpful. Point-n-shoots are all terrible at fast shots in low light. This is just the way it is. Spending more is no guarantee of better results, a $200 Fuji F40 will beat a $500 big-zoom from anyone in low-light performance (except certain other Fujis.) The reason is that, to make the cameras so small, the sensor that captures the image has to be very small. (This is also part of the reason why cell phone photos look so terrible! Their sensors are really puny!) These small sensors are being asked to churn out a huge amount of data, meaning that each pixel is incredibly small.

"Pixel density" refers to how many pixels are crammed into a certain amount of space. If you have two cameras that a 5mp and one has a large sensor, it will have a lower pixel density and probably better image quality. If you have two cameras with the same size sensor and one is 5mp and one is 8mp, the 5mp will have lower pixel density and probably better image quality.

The reason DSLRs are so much better in low light is because their sensors are much larger - around 15x larger than the sensor found in the vast majority of point-n-shoots.

Most PnSs have a 1/2.5" sensor, as seen in the lower right. Some have slightly larger sensors, the usual champs in this regard are the Fujis that have the "SuperCCD HR" sensors, that are 1/1.7" or 1/1.6".

Now, consider that most DSLRs have similar or just slightly higher megapixel counts as point-n-shoots, despite a much larger sensor, and you can see why DSLRs have such an advantage.

For reference, Olympus and Panasonic DSLRs use the 4/3rd sensor, all other DSLRs (except a couple very expensive "full frame" ones) use the APS sensor.

Entry-level DSLRs can be had for surprisingly cheap, under $500 now, but are bigger and heavier and to get the best results, you want multiple lenses. (And they don't take video, most don't let you compose a photo with the LCD, etc.)