Take my Digital SLR, or just a Digital Point and Shoot?

[Rainforest_Elf]

I am WAY into photography and scrapbooking, so naturally I'm planning on taking no less than a bazillion photos when I go on my vacation. I've got a Nikon Digital SLR which is my pride and joy. I love it. But do I bring it with me on vacation?

I know the pictures I take with my DSLR are going to be cripser, higher quality for shooting/reviewing/printing, but it's also large, bulky, and heavy to carry around. Also, if something happens to it, which was a $2000 investment ( a lot for a college gal like myself) I'll never forgive myself.

So, should I invest in a cheap digital camera with a brand I trust as a photographer, or should I risk bringing my baby with me on vacation? I do plan on riding a lot of rides while there, so is my camera going to remain safe in my lap? What would you suggest?

 

[Groucho]

This question is asked fairly regularly and the responses are usually the same.

Are you happy with the quality of the pictures from your SLR? I thought so.
Will you be happy with the quality of the pictures from a PnS? It's very likely that you won't, no matter what brand you pick.

I bought my SLRs with vacations as a high priority. I literally have had dreams for years about forgetting my camera when going on vacation (usually WDW). A couple days ago, I had a dream that I was in some weird backstage at AK and somehow my camera bag with the camera and a bunch of lenses got left on a strange bus. Point being - I can't even imagine leaving my DSLR behind when going on vacation, no matter where I go - but especially WDW.

We usually bring a PnS too, but that rarely if ever gets used. Last trip, we brought two DSLRs and left the PnS at home (we did bring a camcorder and took about 5-10 minutes of footage over a week.)

Remember also that Disney parks are generally dim inside and at night, have very low lighting. These are the type of environments where DSLRs shine and PnSs stumble.

And with a modest amount of care, your DSLR will be perfectly safe on any ride there.

 

[ukcatfan]

I mainly bought a DSLR FOR vacations!

 

[Steve's Girl]

Can't imagine going without my DSLR! Do you have homeowners or renters insurance that you could add scheduled coverage for your DSLR? May help put your mind at ease a little.

 

[SC Mouse Fan]

A couple days ago, I had a dream that I was in some weird backstage at AK and somehow my camera bag with the camera and a bunch of lenses got left on a strange bus.

I just had a dream Saturday night that I left my DSLR somewhere in the Magic Kingdom and I was frantic trying to find it. I don't even plan to go back to WDW until Nov 2009 but I am already having dreams about it.

To keep this on topic. I took a PnS in Nov 2007 and my DSLR and did not even use the PnS. I think next time I will rely on my son's Pns if something goes wrong with the DSLR and just leave mine at home.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

I like the insurance idea, hahah.

Alright, y'all have convinced me. I'll bring it =)

 

[tripodjw]

Talking of leaving cameras somewhere in Magic kingdom. On my first visit to WDW when i was about 14 my dad lost my camera in WDW. he left it on a bench while i was on Big Thunder. I was gutted, it was my camera and i was only young. It was only a P&S but it had my pics of the shuttle launch we'd seen a few days before. Obviously no joy at Lost and Found.

Even with this bad experience i have progressed my photography to the DSLR point and am happy to take expensive camera equipment to the parks.

Ultimately, what's the point in buying the stuff in the first place if you don't use it. If it gets lost or broken, then that's what insurance is for. Or is just a good excuse to upgrade

And as for my dad, well i've never let him forget this incident, and my recent trip to Florida saw me buy him a souvenir pin of the logo for the shuttle launch that was in the pics on the camera he lost. He does see the funny side!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

To many of us

Disney = the Holy Grail of Photography.

To not bring the dSLR = Blasphemy!

 

[boBQuincy]

A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are built for.
John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic, 1928

 

[thomas998]

I am WAY into photography and scrapbooking, so naturally I'm planning on taking no less than a bazillion photos when I go on my vacation. I've got a Nikon Digital SLR which is my pride and joy. I love it. But do I bring it with me on vacation?

I know the pictures I take with my DSLR are going to be cripser, higher quality for shooting/reviewing/printing, but it's also large, bulky, and heavy to carry around. Also, if something happens to it, which was a $2000 investment ( a lot for a college gal like myself) I'll never forgive myself.

So, should I invest in a cheap digital camera with a brand I trust as a photographer, or should I risk bringing my baby with me on vacation? I do plan on riding a lot of rides while there, so is my camera going to remain safe in my lap? What would you suggest?

You're camera will be pretty safe on all rides except those that shoot or splash water at you... In other words just make sure its in a good water tight bag if you ride the water rides (or Jasmins carpets since those camels are nasty things).

I've tried P&S simply because I didn't want the weight of a DSLR hanging around my neck all day... a good point and shoot works pretty good for everything you might want except the ones where you need a flash... nothing is worse than waiting for a P&S to recycle the flash... 15 seconds later and your ready for picture 2 but everyone else got tired of waiting and left.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

I've tried P&S simply because I didn't want the weight of a DSLR hanging around my neck all day... a good point and shoot works pretty good for everything you might want except the ones where you need a flash... nothing is worse than waiting for a P&S to recycle the flash... 15 seconds later and your ready for picture 2 but everyone else got tired of waiting and left.

That's my other thing. I do freelance work, so I never really have my camera around my neck for 10+ hours, are you sure it doesn't really get annoying to have it around all the time? I mean really, I'll be using the camera for pictures of my friends, maybe not pictures of the rides themselves, so dark light maybe not be as big of an issue as I may think.

 

[handicap18]

I couldn't imagine going on vacation anywhere without my dSLR. The only time I can recall over the last 25+ years where I didn't bring an slr or dSLR was.... I think when I was 14 we went to Maine to visit my Aunt and all I had was a Kodak Disk camera. I didn't get an slr till about 4 years later.

Our 2nd trip to Disney in '05 I didn't have a dSLR yet. So I brought the digital PnS and my film SLR. I did take a lot of digital shots and also took about 4 rolls of film. When I got the pics back I was more impressed with the film shots. After seeing all the dSLR's around the parks during that trip and improved shots I got with my film slr vs the digital PnS I bought a Nikon D50 less than 2 months after that trip.

I've been all over the world and there isn't any place I wouldn't bring my dSLR . Except maybe if I went diving again. But then mabye I'd try and find an underwater housing for it.

 

[pjacobi]

What are your priorities?

If your priority is to have fun with family and friends, you'll only have time for a quick snapshot from a P&S camera.

If your priority is great photography, bring a dSLR and all the accessories.

Great photography takes time and effort. It's very difficult to get the perfect shot while you make everybody else in the family wait for you.

Consider bringing *both* a P&S camera and a dSLR.

When you are with a group to enjoy the rides, use a P&S for a quick shot.

When you have time, go back to the park with a dSLR for the perfect shot.

Use the right tool for the job!


-Paul

 

[thomas998]

That's my other thing. I do freelance work, so I never really have my camera around my neck for 10+ hours, are you sure it doesn't really get annoying to have it around all the time? I mean really, I'll be using the camera for pictures of my friends, maybe not pictures of the rides themselves, so dark light maybe not be as big of an issue as I may think.

The trick is to get a good camera strap if your going to be running around with it on your neck all day. DON'T use the one that came with the camera, you need to find a wide neoprene camera strap. While it wont make the camera any lighter it will keep the strap from cutting into your neck.

I've trudged around with very heavy lenses either attached or in my fanny pack... and the one thing I would suggest is you use the cheap multi-purpose kit lens that came with the camera. You will get decent enough shots and unless you're at the AK trying to get animal photos there isn't any reason for mega zooms unless you just want an extra pound or two pulling on your neck.

 

[thomas998]

What are your priorities?

If your priority is to have fun with family and friends, you'll only have time for a quick snapshot from a P&S camera.

If your priority is great photography, bring a dSLR and all the accessories.

Great photography takes time and effort. It's very difficult to get the perfect shot while you make everybody else in the family wait for you.

Consider bringing *both* a P&S camera and a dSLR.

When you are with a group to enjoy the rides, use a P&S for a quick shot.

When you have time, go back to the park with a dSLR for the perfect shot.

Use the right tool for the job!


-Paul

Very good suggestion... in fact I found that leaving the camcorder and camera at the hotel actually resulted in me enjoying more of the park for what it was... too often I would find myself so focused on capturing the moment that I missed the experience.

 

[Groucho]

What are your priorities?

If your priority is to have fun with family and friends, you'll only have time for a quick snapshot from a P&S camera.

Well... I think it's just the opposite. With a PnS, you have to take it out (with the idea that the camera will usually be in a pocket or bag), turn it on (and wait), then take a photo (which will take longer)... by having my DSLR out and on (with it going asleep after a minute or two), I have able to take photos pretty instantly, shots that I would definitely miss with a PnS, and I am also able to fire off a shot or two while walking that would take longer to try to compose on an LCD screen. There were certainly times where the entire process of raising the camera, taking the photo, and putting the camera down would literally take less than five seconds.

The trick is to get a good camera strap if your going to be running around with it on your neck all day. DON'T use the one that came with the camera, you need to find a wide neoprene camera strap. While it wont make the camera any lighter it will keep the strap from cutting into your neck.

This is very true. If you're complaining because your DSLR feels so heavy, a good amount of that is probably the thin, unstretching strap that digs into your neck and wears you down with every step. Spend $20 on a good Op/Tech pro strap and you'll wonder how you ever survived before.

I saw surprisingly few "proper" straps at WDW last trip - all those poor sore necks! Op/Tech could make a fortune setting up a little kiosk at Downtown Disney or somewhere like that.

 

[tripodjw]

For a camera strap, i really hate having the camera round my neck so i use a strap with a comfy pad on it from an old camera bag and sling it across my chest messenger bag style (bag straps are longer than the typical neck strap).

I therefore have my camera on one shoulder and it hangs at my side around hip level on the other side.

I find this more comfortable on my neck, i don't get a white line on the back of my neck where the sun don't reach and the camera is as accessible as it would be round my neck. Plus i find it an advantage to be able to swivel the camera to my front, back and side depending on what i'm doing.

Its probably not the done thing, but it works for me.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

For a camera strap, i really hate having the camera round my neck so i use a strap with a comfy pad on it from an old camera bag and sling it across my chest messenger bag style (bag straps are longer than the typical neck strap).

I therefore have my camera on one shoulder and it hangs at my side around hip level on the other side.


Its probably not the done thing, but it works for me.

Wow, I love this idea!! Thank you for the tip!!