Regular Camera?

[texasroni75]

I have a fairly low-end smartphone that has little memory and a so-so camera. I don't bother upgrading because in my everyday life I really don't need a "better" one. So, I bring my point-and-shoot digital camera on trips. It's about the size of a deck of cards and very lightweight but takes decent pictures. I'm already carrying a bag for DS's epipens and other assorted items we need so adding a camera isn't a huge deal for me.

 

[kaybird]

I still carry a camera, phone pics are ok, but camera still gives me more options. Several of the CMs said thank you when we handed them the camera for Character pics. ("Cool! a REAL camera!")

 

[Ava]

I only had my phone camera (iPhone 6) on our last trip, and while I liked not carrying around a bulky DSLR, I do wish I'd had a better camera for indoor/nighttime shots. This wasn't intentional though; I charged up the DSLR battery the night before we left, but when we got to Disney and I went to turn the camera on, it was dead. I either need a new battery or a new charger, but of course there was nowhere on property to get either and I didn't want to deal with taking a taxi somewhere off-site to purchase one.

I'm currently eyeing a Canon PowerShot in the Kohl's Black Friday ad. I've been wanting a new point & shoot for a while now since the DSLR is so bulky and a pain to carry when we go out places, and this one gets good reviews.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I have a regular camera - and that's what I bring into the parks. It takes much better night pictures than my Galaxy S6. Sometimes I just make do with my phone but mostly I much prefer my camera.

It's a Canon Powershot SX260 HS so it's pretty small but it has alot of options for picture taking.

 

[boufa]

When looking at camera specs, there is far more to it then megapixels. The 2 main "other" specs are optical (vs digital) zoom range, and sensor size. Sure they squeezed 18 megapixels onto the phone camera, but they are tiny. Thing of megapixels (or more correctly pixels) as the "eyes" of the camera. Bigger eyes, better view. Sharper, more accurate and better low light performance. In many cases a phone, even a good phone, anything less than full sun is considered low light.

A point and shoot is a significantly bigger sensor, and a DSLR even bigger yet... and both have far better optics/lenses to work with than a phone. A phone will work, but if you care about quality, then you need a camera of some sort.

... there is one thing I think we can all agree on... DON'T USE A TABLET OR IPAD AS A CAMERA...especially if you are standing in front of me at a parade. Its rude, its like taking a piece of paper and sticking it up in front of others and blocking their view.

 

[DSLRuser]

I was wondering if anyone takes a point and shoot camera anymore? My DH is telling me my phone (6s iPhone) has a better camera so I don't need to take my 3 year old Cannon. Thoughts?

Yes, the i phone 6 has great camera for certain situations. But a 2mm lens, and a 1mm focal length with a fixed aperture gives you no flexibility. All adjustments outside of a normal sunnyday photo is done in software. So under the right situations, it will take awesome pictures.

But anyone with a decent camera (mega pixals mean nothing) and the know how, will be able to get and take shots an iphone just cant take. PERIOD.

If you have no idea how ISO, Aperture, and shutter speed relate to each other to make a shot, then you may as well just keep your iphone.

 

[ashley0139]

Iphone camera is great... when it's bright and the conditions are perfect. I like having my regular camera for when conditions aren't perfect. Iphone cameras do not take good pictures of shows or in darkness. I'm always glad I have my camera, even if I don't use it a ton.

 

[revdon64]

I prefer the feel of a camera - holding a phone to take a picture feels awkward to me. Also, I love the zoom lens and when I go to Disney, I take a lot of pictures.

All the exact reasons I carry my DSLR. My phone takes decent pics, but I like the shots from my camera much better. Plus, I recently bought a sling bag for the camera and it's all that I carry in the park, so not much larger than my wife's purse.

 

[branv]

I just bought a Sony a6000 for our trip bc my cell phone just cannot keep up with my toddler. I've lost out on some beautiful shots bc at that age they don't exactly stand still much. Let alone indoor shots with a busy kiddo. Even though I know, well, nothing about cameras and right now am doing most everything on auto, I can't believe the difference between the pictures I got this Halloween vs last Halloween. It's not a miracle worker, but still quite better.

And at least the a6000 is pretty small and light. Though I will miss the ease and portability of just a cell.

 

[tabrizia]

I actually bought a new camera a couple of weeks ago, for both Disney and other trips we do.

I love my iPhone the pictures are great in perfect conditions. It however can not go in water, it gets glare if it is too bright out, it has issues in dark areas, etc. I have been using it as my main camera since my eldest accidentally dropped my DSLR 2 years ago.

That being said I am totally bringing my new camera with me, it is not a DSLR, it is a tough camera with the ability to take pictures in water. I love the underwater pictures it takes and the regular pictures it takes are also far far better then most of my iPhone pictures. I will bring my iPhone to take pictures to post to facebook quickly. My new camera for better pictures especially in the dark or with lots of movement and use MM for all the photopass areas.

 

[mocame]

I just bought a Sony a6000 for our trip bc my cell phone just cannot keep up with my toddler. I've lost out on some beautiful shots bc at that age they don't exactly stand still much. Let alone indoor shots with a busy kiddo. Even though I know, well, nothing about cameras and right now am doing most everything on auto, I can't believe the difference between the pictures I got this Halloween vs last Halloween. It's not a miracle worker, but still quite better.

And at least the a6000 is pretty small and light. Though I will miss the ease and portability of just a cell.

I just got the Sony a6000 too! I love that it is so lightweight and takes beautiful pictures. What lens did you use for your general use in the parks or did you take more than one lens? I have the 16-50 and 55-210 lenses and was debating if I need both lenses all the time. I definitely want to take the 55-210 on AK safari, though.

 

[Love Tink]

When you look at photos that other people have taken on their phones do you think, "Great photo!" or do you think, "Oh, that photo would be so good if it wasn't _________ (dark/pixilated/backlit/not sharp)"?

Phone photos either bother you or they don't. If they don't, then use your phone. If they do, bring a camera. Some people really don't seem to see the difference. For others it is a massive difference.

Personally, I can't stand photos taken with those tiny phone sensors. I like good lighting and good quality. I also don't want to carry around a DLSR, so I bought a compact camera that has good specs.

 

[ashley0139]

I just got the Sony a6000 too! I love that it is so lightweight and takes beautiful pictures. What lens did you use for your general use in the parks or did you take more than one lens? I have the 16-50 and 55-210 lenses and was debating if I need both lenses all the time. I definitely want to take the 55-210 on AK safari, though.

I have the a5100. Absolutely love the camera. I have both of those lenses too. When I go to the parks I only take the 16-50. The 55-210 is just so bulky. I'll take it if I'm not going to be walking around a ton (I used it at the D23 expo in presentations a lot), but in general I find it's too much to carry and the kit lens is just fine.

 

[mocame]

I have the a5100. Absolutely love the camera. I have both of those lenses too. When I go to the parks I only take the 16-50. The 55-210 is just so bulky. I'll take it if I'm not going to be walking around a ton (I used it at the D23 expo in presentations a lot), but in general I find it's too much to carry and the kit lens is just fine.

Thank you for your feedback. I was leaning toward taking just the 16-50 except for certain attractions like the safari. Did you take a camera bag or just put your camera in with everything else that you bring in the park? I have a Sony camera bag that is small and lightweight and if I don't have to take the bigger lens, would fit a couple small essentials but that's about it. I'd really like to take just one bag total but I don't want to risk breaking my camera.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

In general lighting conditions the iPhone6s camera is going to be as good as most point and shoots and even in indoor situations (dark rides) it's probably going to be on-par with your cheaper point and shoots.

It is generally considered bad form to take photos on dark rides, especially when a flash is involved.

We stopped carrying a separate camera several years ago, and have never had an issue.

I find is helpful to have everything in one spot.

One thing I have learned is that the cell phone camera is handy in ways I didn't think to use my old digital camera. Digital images are easier to carry than extra paper, and taking a snapshot is faster than writing.

 

[DSLRuser]

When you look at photos that other people have taken on their phones do you think, "Great photo!" or do you think, "Oh, that photo would be so good if it wasn't _________ (dark/pixilated/backlit/not sharp)"?

yes. now I am an extreme hobbyist who also does some professional work. I am a pretty harsh judge. More on myself then others. but i do frequently go through my process when looking at a photo and see what i would have done different with the same shot.

 

[ashley0139]

When you look at photos that other people have taken on their phones do you think, "Great photo!" or do you think, "Oh, that photo would be so good if it wasn't _________ (dark/pixilated/backlit/not sharp)"?

I do, and I'm not even an extreme hobbyist. But I do notice when I see what could be a great picture but it's dark/blurry/etc.

Thank you for your feedback. I was leaning toward taking just the 16-50 except for certain attractions like the safari. Did you take a camera bag or just put your camera in with everything else that you bring in the park? I have a Sony camera bag that is small and lightweight and if I don't have to take the bigger lens, would fit a couple small essentials but that's about it. I'd really like to take just one bag total but I don't want to risk breaking my camera.

I just put my camera in the bag that I take to the parks with everything else (not a camera bag). That's one of the reasons I did not get a DSLR - I won't carry a separate bag. That little guy is tough. It didn't break and I wasn't even worried about it breaking. Just made sure not to keep it next to my water bottle.

 

[siskaren]

It is generally considered bad form to take photos on dark rides, especially when a flash is involved.

I've never heard of it being considered bad form unless a flash is used.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

When you look at photos that other people have taken on their phones do you think, "Great photo!" or do you think, "Oh, that photo would be so good if it wasn't _________ (dark/pixilated/backlit/not sharp)"?

Phone photos either bother you or they don't. If they don't, then use your phone. If they do, bring a camera. Some people really don't seem to see the difference. For others it is a massive difference.

Personally, I can't stand photos taken with those tiny phone sensors. I like good lighting and good quality. I also don't want to carry around a DLSR, so I bought a compact camera that has good specs.

I agree with your post, but I sorta wonder what folks are doing with the images they take.

If someone shows me a photo, I think something like, "Oh, it looks like you had fun on your vacation!" or maybe "Ooh, little Suzy isn't so little any more! She's almost as tall as her mom! Glad everyone is healthy!"

The overwhelming majority of the images I take get tossed on a hard drive and (nearly) forgotten, especially the ones from places like theme parks.

Ooh, how unique, a photo of your family in front of the MK castle!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I've never heard of it being considered bad form unless a flash is used.

Oh, I dunno about that. Search up a thread on the topic, and you are sure to find a thread that gets heated in a hurry. (Mind, I know almost every topic has gone sour at least once on the DIS).

One thing that can be (used to be?) a problems is the way some low-light sensors interfere with (trigger) the motion detectors on dark rides.

It would be hard to find a corner of a WDW theme park that hasn't been photographed + posted on the internet. Maybe we need a challenge thread like that: find a non-ride spot of WDW that has NEVER been photographed before and post it on the DIS!