Pls rec a GREAT DIG. Camera....

[anbouk]

Hi! So glad a disser recommended me to come on over and join you photo experts This is my dilemma...when I take pics of the castle at night or a night parade...they just don't come out good! I have seen some pics from reading trip reports and somehow others seem to capture exceptional pictures....even night time ones! I'm so jealous! Can someone pls recommend based upon their experiences, a GREAT digital camera (point and shoot) that I should invest in for our holiday trip. I really want exceptional christmas decoration pics, nightime pics of MK, and especially the night parades. Thanks so much for your help!

 

[Golf4food]

Others can chime in on the P&S recommendations, but I will say that most truly good night photos require a tripod - even if you are using a $5,000 professional model dSLR.

 

[afo]

I have to agree with "Golf" a tripod is the best way to get thos shots without much blur. However, if you are going to be investing in a high end point & shoot, look for something with image stabilization. Canon ends the product code with IS for any of their P&S camera's with this function, not sure of Nikon's or other brand's, but I'm sure someone at your local photoshop can help.
For a tripod, don't assume it has to be a huge beastly contraption that you will have to carry around all day. It could be a small one like the GorillaPod or a bean bag (not sure of the trade name) that you rest your camera on top of something sturdy like a fence, trashcan etc.

 

[Steve's Girl]

It isn't as much the camera used as it is the settings used. Night photos of a stationary object can be done with almost any camera on a tripod. Night photos of moving subjects (ie, parades) requires knowing how to set the exposure correctly and having the right camera and lens - typically a DSLR with a fast lens for this type of photo.

 

[anbouk]

Thanks so much for all of your expertise here. I was really just looking for something good to use w/o a tripod. I understand fully that to get the BEST pics you need a tripod. I have seen some pics from digital cams from people w/o tripods that impressed me. Wondering if you guys think the SONY Powershot I believe digital camera that is out is worth it for around 200 bucks? Anything else? I have the Nikon Coolpix which is not real good think it was under a 100 bucks!

 

[Golf4food]

Thanks so much for all of your expertise here. I was really just looking for something good to use w/o a tripod. I understand fully that to get the BEST pics you need a tripod. I have seen some pics from digital cams from people w/o tripods that impressed me. Wondering if you guys think the SONY Powershot I believe digital camera that is out is worth it for around 200 bucks? Anything else? I have the Nikon Coolpix which is not real good think it was under a 100 bucks!

In a P&S you generally get what you pay for. If you want to get those low light shots without a tripod and such you'll have to spend the extra money to get a higher end model. Photography is all about light and cheap cameras generally do poorly in low light situations (even good cameras do poorly in low light if you don't know how to use the setting properly or have the wrong type of lenses).

 

[Steve's Girl]

Thanks so much for all of your expertise here. I was really just looking for something good to use w/o a tripod. I understand fully that to get the BEST pics you need a tripod. I have seen some pics from digital cams from people w/o tripods that impressed me. Wondering if you guys think the SONY Powershot I believe digital camera that is out is worth it for around 200 bucks? Anything else? I have the Nikon Coolpix which is not real good think it was under a 100 bucks!

Well, then I guess your best info. will come from inquiring of those whose photos you admire. Ask them what camera and settings were used.

 

[GrillMouster]

Asking what camera will get you better nighttime pictures of the castle is like asking which oven will bake you a great cake. As others here have said, it's not just the camera, but learning effective techniques that can make the greatest difference. That's not to say that some cameras aren't better than others; with cameras you generally get what you pay for. However, even a $35,000 camera will get you blurry images.

To get good low light pictures, you should stabilize the camera. Usually that means using a tripod, but I understand that you don't want to get bogged down with bulky camera gear. So, here are some alternatives to using a full-sized tripod. You can stabilize yourself by leaning against a pole, wall, or something sturdy, and hold the camera close to your body and as steady as you can (and hold your breath). However, that's probobably the least effective technique. You can stabilize the camera even more by placing it on top of a trash can (they're all over the place at WDW) or on top of a table, etc. This works in a pinch, but it really limits the angles at which you're able to shoot. You can improve things by using a mini-tripod (sometimes called a tabletop tripod). Mini-tripods fold down to just a couple of inches for easy storage (it can fit in your pocket or purse!). You can place a mini-tripod on a table or trash can or you can use velcro to attach it (tightly) to a pole or railing. I'm not mentioning the gorillapod or flexpods, because they're a little bigger and thicker than other mini-tripods, and I get the feeling that you'd prefer something tiny. Some people use a beanbag instead of a mini-tripod. Finally, use the camera's timer (you know, the timer that lets you include yourself in a picture). The timer allows a few seconds for the vibrations caused by you pressing the button to subside before the picture is taken.

Finally, because you mentioned comparing the pictures on these boards to your own photos, I'd like to point out that the pictures on these boards are not full-sized; they've been shrunken to fit in the posts. Images can appear sharper when they're sized smaller. So, don't beat yourself up: it's not really fair to compare your full-size images to the shrunken (and sometimes artificially sharpened) ones you see here.

 

[ukcatfan]

Thanks so much for all of your expertise here. I was really just looking for something good to use w/o a tripod. I understand fully that to get the BEST pics you need a tripod. I have seen some pics from digital cams from people w/o tripods that impressed me. Wondering if you guys think the SONY Powershot I believe digital camera that is out is worth it for around 200 bucks? Anything else? I have the Nikon Coolpix which is not real good think it was under a 100 bucks!

No offense, but you asked a question and were given 100% correct answers. It might not have been what you wanted to hear, but the truth is the truth. You simply cannot get good night shots of motion without a DSLR (with fast lens) and for anything at a shutter speed of around one second or more nothing will work but a tripod or a similar method like a bean bag. BTW, how could you tell from a shot if a tripod was used or not? I also have to agree that many shots look fine when shrunk down to web viewing size but are not good enough when viewed full size or printed. There is often way too much noise or blur that is not visible when small.

 

[anbouk]

Thanks for all of the responses!