Should I take my Digital SLR or just my Point and Shoot?

[snowangel72]

I am trying to decide if I should even bother taking my Digital SLR camera. It is SO big to carry. I will have a two year old and a three year old in tow, plus the diaper bag and double stroller.

Should I take my SLR or just my point and shoot?

I am thinking my point and shoot only and leave the SLR at home....one less thing to carry on the plane etc.

I would love to know what other people do!

Melanie

 

[gomomgo]

Hi.

I have only one trip under my belt, but my advice is to just take the point and shoot. We left our SLR at home and were glad that we did. I couldn't imagine lugging it around the parks or leaving it behind in the room.

Good luck with your choice!

 

[belle&beast]

I took my SLR and point and shoot. I used the zoom lens to get great shots of the parades and shows that I never could have gotten with the point and shoot. I couldn't imagine being without it! My camera bag is a backpack and my point and shoot fit inside of it, too.

I also had a 4 year old, 2 year old, diaper bag, double stroller and video camera, so I understand about all the things you will be lugging with you. We were able to use a backpack as a diaper bag and put the video camera inthere as well. DH carried one backpack on the rides and I had another. It really wasn't too bad- we were very used to always having at least one bag with us at all times.

If you are used to the SLR and have great zoom or wide angle lenses, I think you will want to have it with you.

 

[Laxmom]

I agree with Belle&beast. We are heading on our trip in early September. I think we are going to take both.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

DH takes his SLR and gets great pictures of the girls with the characters. The only bad part is that the photopass people never ask to take our picture - they just ooh and aah over DH's camera since it is apparently better than theirs! Last time we asked them to take our picture in front of the castle, and the photographer wanted to use DH's camera!

It depends on your comfort level for lugging it around as well as your expectations. DH would never be happy with the point and shoot - no flash diffuser, super-zoom lenses, etc. He doesn't want to Photoshop every picture because he used a point and shoot and is not satisfied withthe photo! We end up with both anyway since DD8 takes her Canon along.

 

[kldmom2000]

When we went this fall with our DD's (one turned 4 on the trip and the other was 6), I brought both my SLR and point and shoot. I ended up using the SLR far more than I even imagined and got the most fantastic photos with it I plan on doing the same this August too I got one of the Tamrac backpacks and it worked like a charm for carrying the camera when I wasn't using it (which wasn't very often Good luck and have fun!

 

[jlovesee]

Leave the SLR at home. Its just my husband and I and we still feel his Nikon D200 is too big to carry around, and you will end up thinking more about the camera then about having a good time!

Plus if you have a decent point and shoot then your zoom/quality should be just fine.

Jennifer

 

[DKH01701]

Bring the DSLR. I got one for Christmas and used it on our trip in May. I finally got some decent Spectromagic pics and fireworks pics.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I think it depends on how good your point and shoot camera is. A lot of the newer ones have zoom capability that is equal to a 35mm. If that is the case with your point and shoot, then I'd bring it instead of the SLR. DH bought an SLR camera for himself and while I like the pictures it takes, it is such a nuisance to carry around and fuss with. We like to travel light. Unless there is a special occasion (wedding, graduation, 1st day of school, prom, etc.) I don't see us using it a lot. Right now it is a very expensive dust collector (IMO). But DH likes his toys. Anyhoo...if your going to be bringing a diaper bag and stroller, then what is one more camera? Bring both.

 

[brandylouwho]

Just my two cents, but it depends on how picky you are about your photos. Since I got my DLSR I can't go back to my point and shoot, especially for my precious Disney memories. The quality is so much better, the opitions are abundant and the shutter speed can't compare. My question is how many & which lenses to lug along with me ( maybe I need to buy a new one under the premise of "I'll only need this one lens in the parks." I wonder if my husband would believe me? )

Then again, I have a preschooler and a baby, so I am used to lugging a ton of stuff around and have a stroller to help with carrying all the bags. (and the camcorder and my daughter's camera and...). Gee, it will be nice once they are old enough to carry their own stuff!!!

If you do take the DSLR, I definitely suggest a backpack style case so that it is easier to carry. My normal camera case would be a big pain in the parks.

 

[mvazul]

I say take the DSLR.

I took mine (a Nikon D50) with my lenses (28mm and a 300mm) on our trip in January. I am a semi-professional photographer, so it goes everywhere with me. I had debated on leaving it home, but I am soooo glad I took it with us. I had several PhotoPass photogs comment on how much nicer my camera was compared to theirs!! I'm taking it with me, again, in August.

Have a great trip!!

 

[Karrie Davis]

I am pretty picky about the photos I like to get. I am also own a photography studio here in Colorado www.KarrieDavis.com . I thought I needed to take one of my SLR's to Disney the 1st year and I will NEVER do it again. It is too hard to go on rides without leaving in behind, do you really want to leave a good camera when you are on rides? I have several but it still would suck to loose one

So the next trip I only took my husbands P&S. I got GREAT shots, no they were not professional but honestly the DSL camera does not make your shot look more professional anyway. As long as you have a quality P&S camera they are going to look the same really - snapshots are snapshots........

THE ONLY reason I would want my DSLR is for reasons you need to shoot in RAW format and I was trying to do a few shots that are something really unique that I need a really low shutter speed or a SUPER low f stop and that requires a professional lens if you are zooming anyway, no kit lens gets down as low as you need it to in the dark. And I just can't see doing that on vacation...... If you have a quality p&s you can get the dark shots anyway.

I am now buying myself a p&s that shoots in RAW so I can have the ideal camera for my vacations, I would never bring a DSLR if I did not have to.

If you want the best photos get photoshop or elements and learn some easy post processing techniques to get those memories popping

If any one wants to email me for a how to in photoshop for great snapshots I will happily share what I do.

 

[Rustysmom]

I'm bringing mine because we are probably going to have to do the baby swap on most of the rides because DD either won't be tall enough or too afraid, and my DH can watch the cameras. I'm going to wear it around my waist in a holster type case and put the zoom lens in my backpack.

My only other camera is a Canon A95 which took awful pictures. Half the time they came out blurry, only you couldn't tell until they were on the computer. Now the flash is broken too. I'm probably taking that too so DS can take some shots, in the daytime anyway, and it will come in handy if my DSLRs battery goes out and I don't have a spare.

 

[TravelinGal]

I've had both big and small cameras (before digital) and my experience was that I would always leave the big one (same size as most DSLR today) in the room because it was a pain to drag along.

When I got a new digital camera for Christmas, I asked for a nice tiny one that will fit in a pocket. THAT I will carry in the parks. So I don't get the big Ohh Ahh fireworks pictures. The pics I want are of my son enjoying the vacation anyway - not scenic shots that he's not in.

I guess a big question would be what your main focus will be for the pictures.

 

[snowangel72]

You are all SOOOO helpful!!!! You just confirmed what I thought. I really don't need my DSLR for the park. I only want to take snapshots, so I will be happy with that. I can't imagine fussing with lenses and my big sling bag and all that in the heat. I like just throwing my P&S into my pocket and going.

THANK YOU!!!!

KERRIE DAVIS!!! WOW YOU ARE TALENTED!!! Great website!!!!! I am VERY impressed!!!!

 

[jenjersnap]

I am now buying myself a p&s that shoots in RAW so I can have the ideal camera for my vacations, I would never bring a DSLR if I did not have to.

Karrie, which P&Ss have RAW mode available? Just curious.

The plan is to bring our DSLR. We just returned from a 2 week long trip through New England and the difference in our pics was phenomenal compared to our old P&S.

 

[Schmeck]

No matter what camera you decide to lug around - remember to turn off the FLASH while taking photos on attractions, please!

I wouldn't want to lug a big, expensive camera around for days - I'd be too worried that it would get damaged on the more aggressive attractions. And you certainly can't leave it in a stroller!

 

[Manda]

Just my two cents, but it depends on how picky you are about your photos. Since I got my DLSR I can't go back to my point and shoot, especially for my precious Disney memories. The quality is so much better, the opitions are abundant and the shutter speed can't compare. My question is how many & which lenses to lug along with me.

Totally agree. I carried mine around the parks last time. I have a Nikon D50 and I just carried it with one lens mounted and in a small holster pack. It fit inside the small kid backpack that I put over the back of the stroller with our maps and extra outfit for DS.

I thought I needed to take one of my SLR's to Disney the 1st year and I will NEVER do it again. It is too hard to go on rides without leaving in behind, do you really want to leave a good camera when you are on rides? I have several but it still would suck to loose one

I never had to leave anything behind on a ride. Not sure why you would have to do that. My camera bag and backpack always came along.

 

[webshark3]

Ah, the eternal P&S versus DSLR debate. No wrong answers, but no solutions either...

Here's mine. It'll hopefully be on the market before July.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1457450

If the DP1 isn't your cup of tea, I'd probably reccomend the Canon G6...

 

[Zoesmama03]

DH takes his SLR and gets great pictures of the girls with the characters. The only bad part is that the photopass people never ask to take our picture - they just ooh and aah over DH's camera since it is apparently better than theirs! Last time we asked them to take our picture in front of the castle, and the photographer wanted to use DH's camera!

I'd probably do that too if I had that job. I soooooo want and DSLR and have to say if I had one I'd DEFINITELY bring it.