Scared to bring my DSLR

[chasenluke]

I have a Nikon D40X that I love. I am terrified to bring it on my next trip to Disney. I have a great P&S Canon and my son will have his. Last trip I saw people with their DSLR and wished I would have brought mine. Now that I am going back I am not sure.

Help reassure me it will be fine.

 

[Gdad]

What are you most afraid will happen to it?

 

[spinetnglr]

I have a Nikon D40X that I love. I am terrified to bring it on my next trip to Disney. I have a great P&S Canon and my son will have his. Last trip I saw people with their DSLR and wished I would have brought mine. Now that I am going back I am not sure.

Help reassure me it will be fine.

What part about it scares you? Are you afraid you are not going to want to carry that much of a camera? Are you afraid it will get stolen? Are you scared about taking it on rides? I have been to WDW with my D40 and my D300 and have no reservations about taking either. In fact, I wouldnt go without a DSLR so maybe if you clarify exactly what part of a DSLR in the parks scares you will get some replies that reassures you enough to take it with you.

Edit :: LOL Jeff ... looks like we both had the same question at the same time

 

[Marlton Mom]

Do you have the right bag to carry/protect it when you are ambling around the parks?

There is also the possibility of stashing it in a locker when you are on... lets say Splash (your camera) Mountain.

I've seen posts on the boards that people place the camera, in it's carrying case on the floor of a ride (like Rock and Roll rollercoaster) and put their foot through the strap.

So you do have options.... I personally plan on taking pix in the early morning and at night and leaving the camera in a locker during mid-day when I am on the camera scary rides.

I hope that helps!

Marlton Mom

 

[AndrewWG]

I am assuming that you bought a nice camera for a reason, to use it. Disney is a perfect place to be using a DSLR for so many many reasons. I say bring it, take pics and be sure to post them here when you return!

Now, if you just want to travel light, a DSLR probably isn't the way to go. There have been times (as much as I hate to admit it) that I wished I had brought just my P&S and just took pics of the family from time to time and not worried about lugging around the whole DSLR camera bag.

 

[hughtopia]

BRING THE CAMERA! We just got back a few weeks ago and 3 of the days I brought my dslr and one day I just brought my point-and-shoot. Of those days guess which was the one where we happened to meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto, Goofy, Sleeping Beauty and Marie from The Aristocats? Yeah, you guessed it, the day when I only had my point and shoot. UGH! Sure the pictures are "ok" but I'm still kicking myself for not having my real camera.

 

[chasenluke]

I am terrified to break it. I am not worried about carrying it at all. i did buy a new case that fits just the camera so I don't have to carry everything. There is no way I am carrying my big zoom lens. I just don't it bouncing around on the rides.

 

[Kies99]

I bought our DSLR specifically FOR a trip to Disney! Took over 1700 pictures in the course of one week. SOOOOO happy I did.

 

[racreel]

I am terrified to break it. I am not worried about carrying it at all. i did buy a new case that fits just the camera so I don't have to carry everything. There is no way I am carrying my big zoom lens. I just don't it bouncing around on the rides.

If you want the photos, you can't be afraid to take it with you. If you don't take it to the places you want to photograph, it's not worth much anyway.

If your gear is in a good bag, it's probably not bouncing around any more than it would be in your car when you hit a bump.

 

[Danauk]

I bought my D40x after several trips to WDW and wanting to get better quality pictures. Like others have said if you have a good bag and you look after it then I can't see the problem. The way I see it is that I didn't spend all that money on a good camera to not use it!

 

[Gdad]

I may be the wrong guy to chime in on this since I took my first dslr (Nikon D70) in my first trip in my first kayak- we all made it back in one piece safe and mostly dry but still. The way I figure a camera is built to take pictures and I use mine like a journal of my life. If I am somewhere interesting and my camera is safely at home tucked in it's litle padded box then it may as well be lost, stolen, broken, etc. since it's not doing anything for me anyway. Take your camera- wear it around your neck- take lots of pictures- and enjoy. If it gets a couple scuff marks on it that's no big deal- it's tuffer than you think. If it ends up at the bottom of the river you were kayaking on- well- that means it's time for an upgrade.

 

[annnewjerz]

I am terrified to break it. I am not worried about carrying it at all. i did buy a new case that fits just the camera so I don't have to carry everything. There is no way I am carrying my big zoom lens. I just don't it bouncing around on the rides.

First, I had a D60 and once dropped it from a bookshelf all the way to my hardwood floor. While I wouldn't recommend trying it out, my camera didn't break or seem any worse for the wear---so I wouldn't be too worried about it getting banged up at WDW as long as you have a nice bag to keep it in.

Second, to keep it from bouncing around on the rides, I'd recommend keeping it out and taking pictures instead. Some of the bumpiest/jerkiest rides like Big Thunder Mountain make it difficult to hang on to, but if you manage to get a good shot, the results are well worth it. Taking pictures on the rides is half the fun!

 

[chasenluke]

Okay I am convince to take it. now I am just going to make sure the case I have it good enough.

Do they make any cases that go around your camera and you still use your camera stap on your neck? I know my mom had one years ago but not sure if they still make them.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Take your camera- wear it around your neck- take lots of pictures- and enjoy. If it gets a couple scuff marks on it that's no big deal- it's tuffer than you think. If it ends up at the bottom of the river you were kayaking on- well- that means it's time for an upgrade.

Second, to keep it from bouncing around on the rides, I'd recommend keeping it out and taking pictures instead. Some of the bumpiest/jerkiest rides like Big Thunder Mountain make it difficult to hang on to, but if you manage to get a good shot, the results are well worth it. Taking pictures on the rides is half the fun!

I agree with you both ... I've taken my DSLR on numerous trips to WDW and rarely put it away.

chasenluke - Take it with you and take lots of pictures but please remember to turn your flash off on the dark rides.

 

[WillowBelle]

I took my 50D for its first spin around the world in June. Lugged that sucker around all day and night plus the heavy camera bag - WHEW! It has never crossed my mind to NOT take the camera with me. I was more nervous about the rented lens that I brought along - that didn't stop me though . Everything was great!

 

[boBQuincy]

To paraphrase the quote about ships: a camera in it's case is safe, but that is not what cameras are made for!

My cameras have their share of scratches and scrapes but none have ever quit working as a result. The "short drop and a sudden stop" as in a trip to the floor, well that did claim our Canon A70.

Cameras are not a problem on Splash Mountain, just get them up under the area in front of you before getting halfway down the drop! It's really quite dry under there.

 

[GrillMouster]

...Take your camera- wear it around your neck- take lots of pictures- and enjoy...

If you keep putting your camera in an out of a bag all day you're eventually gonna get sick of it and the camera will spend more time in the bag rather than out. Wear the camera and USE it!

My camera comes out of the bag in the morning and doesn't go back in until I'm done shooting for the day. The same goes for lens caps.

 

[ukcatfan]

If you do not have one, get a plastic lens hood and keep it on. That will brace any accidental bump to the lens and help protect from scratching the lens. For wet rides, I have some of the really big Ziploc baggies that are large enough to fit my entire backpack.

 

[rtphokie]

I have a Nikon D40X that I love. I am terrified to bring it on my next trip to Disney. I have a great P&S Canon and my son will have his. Last trip I saw people with their DSLR and wished I would have brought mine. Now that I am going back I am not sure.

Help reassure me it will be fine.

You bought it to use it so why not use it a place with so many great photo opportunities.

If you have a good bag and treat it reasonably, you'll be fine. DSLRs are so commonplace now it wont be a theft target like it might have been 10 years ago. Relax and enjoy your camera and your vacation.

 

[Snappy in OK]

If you keep putting your camera in an out of a bag all day you're eventually gonna get sick of it and the camera will spend more time in the bag rather than out. Wear the camera and USE it!

My camera comes out of the bag in the morning and doesn't go back in until I'm done shooting for the day. The same goes for lens caps.

I absolutely agree. We were there in Sept, and I kept my D60 around my neck most of the day. The only time it was not, it was in the empty stroller seat. I also took my zoom lens along and just kept it in a small, padded lens case that I kept in the diaper bag or the bottom of the stroller.

I also recommend a plastic lens hood. I keep one on my lenses these days as added protection.

One more tidbit - I like to keep a UV filter on my lenses to protect the glass from scratches, etc. Long story short, I wound up dropping my camera (trying to keep DD from slipping out of the bottom of the stroller seat) - the lens was fine - but the filter shattered. Better than the lens!!