People who travel with larger cameras (SLR's)

[PhotoJen]

How do you take them in the parks? I have a Digital Rebel and i'm taking my Tamron 28-300 lens plus xtra batteries and cards in a small canon bag. I"m hoping that this will be ok. I do have a large hiking backpack for it but I had neck surgery and can't carry it anymore (and it'd be too bulky)

Anyone have any advice? I tried to get DH to get me a smaller digi camera but that didn't go over too well

 

[LordAthens]

In the parks, carry my D100 and typically 2 pieces of glass, along with some extra batteries, SB-80DX speedlight, remote shutter trigger, filters, etc, in a Lowe Pro Micro Trekker. I also usually get my miniDV camcorder in there as well.

It's large enough to fit all of the above (albeit, a bit snuggly), but small enough that it's not a huge pack to be carrying around like some of my AW LowePro stuff's that I use for hikes, biking, etc.

I even ride with it on "thrill rides" like Space Mountain and Rock n Roll Roller Coaster. I just swap the bag around so it's on my chest. Works great!

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

I carry my 20D plus 2 or 3 lens depending on what park we are going to. I use the top loading Tamrac velocity 9 Bag, and it holds most of my gear. I can also carry my bag with me onto all the rides with no problems. what I have found to be a problem is the strap that canon provides with their SLR's can be very uncomfortable, I will definitely get a more comfy one before my December trip.
Maybe you can try a hip pack type bag, I have seen a few of these that are big enough to hold a small SLR.

 

[DiznEeyore]

My dh is a professional photographer and loves to take his big ol' digital SLR w/lenses, etc. to the parks. He carries everything in a really nice padded camera bag that we actually bought at WDW several years ago. It's not too large, but has enough space for everything he needs plus tickets, sunblock, etc. It has a shoulder strap and he wears it all day.

Now that's not what I'd want to do, but it doesn't seem to bother him at all!

 

[debbie in Seattle]

I solved that issue easily a few years ago, stopped taking a camera in the parks with me! I was spending more time taking pics than enjoying the sites of WDW, decided life was too short.

 

[krbq]

Once we saw a couple with an abundance of camera equipment that they were pushing around in a rented stroller. We had a laugh over that, but I guess it made sense if they were only there to take photos (but they couldn't have left it to do any rides, I suppose).

 

[jann1033]

i got a nice vcr bag at walmart. it's padded but holds my canon slr, an extra lens, film, ect plus has a zippered top/ front flap & zippered back area for passes, lip balm ect so it fit everything we needed. it has a shoulder strap that locks as a waist strap also and is rectangular so fits along side us on any ride under the belt/restraint. it works great maybe 6"x6"x10",made by samsonite, around $15 .worked much better than my actual camera bag as it is a little wider but not as tall nor as bulky. i stuck in a gallon size zip lock bag for water attractions but didn't need to use it as the flap kept everything dry

however i too get lazy and by the about day 3 of the trip anything that doesn't fit in a pocket gets left in the room so i am getting a tiny digital pre next trip. i hardly took any pix last time cause i wanted to be "unencumbered" and of course now regret it. i think my daughter got salt water in my camera any way when she took it to Hawaii so that's a good excuse for a new one

 

[jbird327]

I solved that issue easily a few years ago, stopped taking a camera in the parks with me! I was spending more time taking pics than enjoying the sites of WDW, decided life was too short.

I now miss not having pictures from my early trips (72,75,77..ect) because I did not want to lug around a 35mm + accessories but I recently got a nice digital that fits in my pocket. I am still not happy with the look of digital but it is better than nothing.

 

[PhotoJen]

Ditto, i'm also a scrapbooker so NOT taking pictures is TOTALLY out of the question I'm a wee bit snap happy. I have a 1 gig card and 2 512's and i'm HOPING thats enough memory (roughly 975 pics for 6 days

 

[bytheblood]

I carry my Nikon D50 with standard lens as well as a 70-300 lens, spare battery all of my SD cards and whatever else I may need in a well-padded Lowepro backpack. LOVE IT.

 

[esrade]

Ditto, i'm also a scrapbooker so NOT taking pictures is TOTALLY out of the question I'm a wee bit snap happy. I have a 1 gig card and 2 512's and i'm HOPING thats enough memory (roughly 975 pics for 6 days

Wow, PhotoJen, I admire your restraint. Yesterday, I went to visit some friends and today was a family birthday party. Between the two events, I took somewhere around 320+ pictures. I'm taking 2 1-gig cards to Disney and plan on uploading both every night to my laptop!

edited to add: I have a Rebel XT and use a Tamrac Velocity 5. It's just big enough for the camera and 2 lenses. It has a shoulder strap and a waist strap if you'd rather wear it as a fanny pack.

 

[WillCAD]

I've been an SLR guy since 1999. I carry the camera on a strap around my neck and shoulder.

I carry my Canon Speedlight flash in my pocket (I always wear pants with deep pockets to WDW).

When I was shooting film, I carried 3 spare rolls in my pocket. Now that I shoot digital, I carry a spare memory card instead.

My old camera used 4 AA batteries, and I carried a spare set in my pocket in a small wallet with the spare memory card. My new Digital Rebel takes a specialty battery, and I have no spare, so instead I will be carrying a polarizing filter in the wallet with my spare memory card.

I have never carried a spare lens. I started with a 28-80mm, which didn't have enough zoom, so after 1 trip to WDW I bought a 28-200, which had plenty of zoom. I currently have only the 18-55 kit lens that came with my Digital Rebel (which is equal to a 28-80 on a film SLR), and next year some time I will buy a Sigma 18-135, which is equal to a 28-200 on a film SLR.

Bags are a pain. But if you plan a little, you can get along just fine without one, and still carry the basic equipment that you need to get great pics.

Just remember, it's not the plane, it's the pilot.

 

[bcvprincesses]

We have a Targus backpack that can carry everything we need but is not too big. Here is a link http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/reviews/760145276

We take our camera, lens, extra battery and everything for the parks. It is padded and works great for us

 

[BrerMama]

I don't have an SLR, but I have a pro-sumer camera with a long zoom lens built in. Looks like it's an SLR in other words. I bought a camera bag at Target that looks like a large purse, but it has padding inside and padded dividers that have Velcro on the sides so you can move them to cradle your camera and other equipment. It's a little larger than I'd usually like to carry around the parks, but still smalelr than a backpack or tote bag. And it's fashionable. I carried it all over on vacation this past year (two weeks in Branson) and plan to do so in June at WDW.

 

[keithomas]

I think I now own at least 5 different camera bags. DW thinks I'm nuts, but each bag DOES have a specific use depending on the specifics of the photographic 'endeavor'! LOL

I have a Nikon D70 with the kit lens plus a 70-200 f2.8 (read that as big & heavy lens) and a 2x teleconverter. I carried this setup + batteries, charger, etc. this summer in Rocky Mtn NP in a Lowepro AW toploading zoom bag. I used the chest harness to carry it in front of me. My advice would be to use either a hip/fanny-bag or one of the sling-bag styles. Some of my fanny-bag styles work great rotated around and worn in front of me for easy access.

Needless to say, I'm not carrying that setup to WDW when we leave THIS WEEK!!! I'm going to carry my relatively small Canon S1 in a little fanny bag, that was not originally intended for photo use. There will be times I regret not having my "good camera" because of shots I wouldn't otherwise be able to take, but there will be many other times I'm glad to not be lugging around 10-15 lbs of gear.

 

[LvsTnk]

DD carried her Rebel and Nikon around her neck for most of the day and then after that it was Mom's turn to take care of them. I did buy her a medium sized red Crumpler which she has not used at all...nice bag though everything fit and she was able to sling it over her shoulder.

She is asking for a the new Nikon digital SLR and if she thinks I am taking care of 3 camera's she's nuts! Actually she has a Holga she likes to throw in there for fun. Ohh the joys of having a teen that loves photgraphy.

I on the other hand bought the Sony camcorder/camera so small I can fit it in my pocket!! love it!!

 

[woody64]

I usually have 1 small bag for Digital Rebel and lenses etc plus digital video camera. Just received my "Christmas" present for upcoming trip-new Tamron 18-200 which will clear up room as I will not take spare lenses. I just throw it over my shoulder and off I go and also carry on rides etc. My wife scrapbooks so no pictures are also not the answer.

I have already informed DW that I am taking several trips to parks at night to try out night shots with all the decorations as we leave in 7 days. Can't wait!

 

[WillCAD]

She is asking for a the new Nikon digital SLR and if she thinks I am taking care of 3 camera's she's nuts! Actually she has a Holga she likes to throw in there for fun. Ohh the joys of having a teen that loves photgraphy.

It might be time to teach DD the value of self-reliance! I.E., time to make her carry her own stuff.

 

[PhotoJen]

Wow, PhotoJen, I admire your restraint. Yesterday, I went to visit some friends and today was a family birthday party. Between the two events, I took somewhere around 320+ pictures. I'm taking 2 1-gig cards to Disney and plan on uploading both every night to my laptop!

edited to add: I have a Rebel XT and use a Tamrac Velocity 5. It's just big enough for the camera and 2 lenses. It has a shoulder strap and a waist strap if you'd rather wear it as a fanny pack.

LA LA LA NOT LISTENING!! Don't scare me and tell me i'm NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH!!! Its one of the things stressing me out I just won't take too many pics of my nephews who'll be hanging out with DH & my kids

Also i'd love to find some sort of bag that was a fanny pack type that I could also carry some stuff in...i'm off to look now!

 

[esrade]

LA LA LA NOT LISTENING!! Don't scare me and tell me i'm NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH!!! Its one of the things stressing me out I just won't take too many pics of my nephews who'll be hanging out with DH & my kids

Also i'd love to find some sort of bag that was a fanny pack type that I could also carry some stuff in...i'm off to look now!

Don't worry - if worst comes to worst, I know there are places than can download your pictures for you and burn them to CD.

I have to say, I bought several camera bags and like the Velocity 5 the best. The waist straps tuck into the bag so they're not out if you don't want them to be. The shoulder strap unclips if you don't want that. Good luck!