Point and Shoot or SLR Digital Camera???

[WDWChaser]

This is our first trip to wdw and I am debating which digital camera to take. I have a Canon 10.1 mp SLR that takes awesome pics and I would like to take it, but I did not know if carrying it all day would be a hassle. I also have a Sony Cybershot 3.2 mp, but it just does not take the greatest of pics (especially when you compare it to my SLR!!). I would love to hear all opinions!!!

Thanks!!!

 

[OKW Lover]

I used to do the whole big camera thing. Finally got tired of carrying around all that stuff and bought a very small PnS that fit nicely in my pocket and produces good pictures. I'm very happy.

 

[hddanis]

I had this issue too and decided to go with the point and shoot. I bought a nice 7.2 mp for less than $200. It actually takes really good pictures. It's very thin and I can probably hook it onto a pin trading lanyard.

 

[Spine_DR]

I have a Kodak DX6490 that is SLR like with only a 10 times zoom its not nearly as bad as taking a fully dressed out pro slr but I only take it to the parks to take pictures half the days at the most and since I took 500 and some pics with it last year this year I prolly wont take it to much>

 

[WillCAD]

Since this is your first trip, take the SLR. The memories of your first experiences with Disney Magic will be all the more immediate with the higher quality of the SLR, and of course the SLR is more capable and flexible (able to get the shot in a wider variety of conditions) than a P&S.

But you can also take the P&S and let your significant other carry it, or even trade back and forth a few time. That way you both have cameras and can get pics even when you are sepparated.

Carrying an SLR around the parks all day CAN be cumbersome and tiring, unless you take some precautions ahead of time:

1) Pare it down! Many SLR users carry a bag full of lenses, filters, flash, batteries, memory, and a few kitchen and bathroom sinks. This gets old, FAST. So I pare it down - I carry no bag (speeds entry into the parks since I can skip the bag check), and I carry a spare memory card or two in a pouch on my camera strap, one spare battery, and a small external flash unit that fits in my pocket (Canon Speedlite 220EX).

Most importantly, I got myself a good walkaround lens that has a range of zoom. Actually, I have two - the 18-55mm Canon kit lens that came with my camera (yours should have come with the same lens, and it's a very nice lens), and I later bought a Sigma 18-125mm lens. 18mm is great for wide angle shots - and you WILL use it at WDW! - while 55mm is a good moderate zoom, and the 125mm Sigma is more of a 6x zoom. I have used both lenses on my WDW trips, and by having a single lens that has a wider range of zoom, I have no need to carry any spare lenses around with me.

2) Spend the money on a really, really good strap. The straps that come with Canon SLRs are nice, but they are far too thin and uncomfortable for all-day use. You need a really WIDE strap to distribute the weight of the camera more evenly, and you need PADDING to prevent the strap from digging into your neck, and you need a strap with LENGTH so that you can loop it over your head and shoulder (which takes the weight off your neck).

I have actually abandoned regular straps entirely and made myself a camera harness. Yeah, it looks dumb, but it takes the weight of my camera completely of my neck (important for me since I have herniated disks) and puts the weight all on my shoulders. The harness has enough slack to allow me to shoot both horizontal and vertical, yet holds the camera comfortably on my lower chestwhile I walk, even when I don't have my hands on the camera. I even added pouches to it for two spare memory cards, placing them in easy reach instead of getting lost in my pocket (this idea comes from the decades-old practice of elastic film canister loops on camera straps).

3) USE IT! A camera is nothing but an expensive millstone around your neck if you put the lens cap on and only whip it up to take a pic once per hour. Leave the cap off (unless you're on a water ride) and leave the camera turned on all the time, and take more pics. The more you use it, the less it will seem like somthing you are carrying - it will seem more like something you are using, and the weight and bulk will no longer bother you.

 

[Rob R]

unless you are going to follow WillCAD's recomendations to a T, i would go with option 3:

buy another point and shoot, with a better mega pix and a faster start up time and less shutter lag than your 3.2 is sure to have, and go from there. no way would i take my camera bag around the parks. YUCK. get a small one, and keep it in your pocket. i'm semi pro, and take pictures for school sports/portraits and wouldn't dream of taking my SLR into the parks. worrying about my 2 toddlers is enough.

but an SLR around the neck with a tamron 18-200 or something might be a great idea, but my slr is way to heavy and bulky to wear around an amusement park and go on rides--but admitedly the pictures would be cool--like a big burst flying by the yeti!


FWIW

rob

 

[nbodyhome]

I love my Canon S2 - to me it's the best of both worlds. Good zoom, easy to use, but also with manual functions. Not tiny, but not bulky either.

 

[bopper]

I would say bring both with you. Take the big camera out one day to one of the parks (like Magic Kingdom) and then the little one other times.

 

[cryssi]

we're taking the big one this time. probably the p&s, too, with an underwater housing for castaway...

 

[SueInBoston]

I agree with everything WillCad said...

I have a 18-200mm walk around lens, a nice op-tech strap and I carry the camera all day with no problem.

Sue

 

[SLDL]

I agree with the 2 camera theory. Last year, we carried a small Nikon Coolpix that could slip in my pocket & a Minolta 35mm SLR that took great pictures! I carried them in a backpack made specifically for cameras & I am so glad I had both of them! I handed my husband our Nikon to take a pic of me & the kids (one of the few of us since I am always the one taking the pictures!). We were on a ride in the MK & when we got off I immediately asked him to give me the camera so I could put it back in my pocket. Oops. He had left it on the ride! After a brief meltdown right there in front of Buzz Lightyear, we left word w/ Lost & Found, camera was stolen & never found. Moral of the story is, if I had not had the other camera we would have had no camera! Maybe other folks could have settled with some disposable cameras from the gift shop but not me.
I would bring both, if I were you. I would invest in a backpack that you can buy at any camera store. Have fun!

 

[american_gramma]

I'm not the best picture-taker & for our next trip coming at the end of June, I'm going to bring my Kodak Advantix 35MM. I took my now outdated digital last time & although it takes great pictures, the delay is a huge disadvantage & I missed lots of great shots. My daughter, though, will bring her digital so we'll have two options.

We think this time, too, we'll be braver & see of other park goers will use our camera to take a group shot of us. There are very few pics of all of us & we've done the favor for others. We think it's a great idea! A favorite memory of mine is dinner at the Crystal Palace. A newlywed couple was there & asked if I'd take their picture. They had bride & groom Mickey ears. Too cute!!

 

[SLDL]

That's another thing I like--having pictures from 2 people. We went w/ friends last yr. & we both took pics & found that many were very different. I like seeing things from someone else's perspective.

As for the group shots, I never mind taking pictures of groups when I am asked. And I have never had anyone grumble or so say no when I ask for a photo. Last year, I asked a man to take our pic. in front of the Walt & Mickey statue in MK & then realized he didn't speak much English. Nevertheless, he knew what I was asking about & gladly took the picture. Those group shots are the best!

 

[tmbrea]

Ok, this is our third trip to the world. I considered buying a point and shoot for this trip, but decided to use my digital rebel slr. I have a really good lens 28-300mm, from my 35mm rebel that works with my digital. It's the only lens I plan to carry. Not carrying a camara bag, just a little backpack purse for my camara, id and phone. Did this last year on a trip to new york, worked very well. I do plan to carry a monopod this year though. Picked up one at the local camara shop for $30. Less wght/room then a tripod and just as effective. Hope this helps. I agree with the op, take the slr since this is your first trip, the memories are well worth it....

 

[mcDisy]

I used my full gear early in the day. Especially to get the character pictures. The CM's taking pictures will get out of your way when you take out a Canon L-series lens, and let you take a much better picture of your kids with the characters then they can possibly take. And will often give you additional pointers, etc. Also have had them take the time to reposition the characters. Basically, they treat you more like a professional than a tourist. They will not do that if you are using a P&S, since you would not be able to use the advice on a P&S.

The down side is that L-Series are heavy. And I am not going to walk around with an L-Series just hanging around my neck, where it can get banged up on rides. So, after a bit of photo taking, I head to the lockers, and put it away. I can go get it later if I decide to.

Then use a P&S for the rest of the day. P&S work perfectly for all those "shapshot" moments. And quite frankly, if you are not printing it, you will never see the difference in P&S and the SLR on "snapshot" type pictures. Bokeh will be horrible with the P&S, but then this is a snapshot, so who cares. Unless you print them. But most shapshots end up on a digital picture frame, or something like that, or printed on 4*6 just to give to grandma.

Do bring the SLR on the Animal Kingdom "safari". And try to sit near the front. When the driver sees the big white lens, they too tend to point out more things, and wait for you to take the shot. Had the same experience on a Belize river tour, the boat driver was finding things for me, and waiting until I got the shot. Plus, the safari has many dark area. A P&S flash is useless, and the stops too small, so you will miss shots you can easily get with the SLR, assuming you are on Apature Priority.