Take pics, shoot video or both?

[Trullclan]

I'm trying to figure out what to do. I would love to have video AND pictures, but it feels like a lot of work, something I dont want to do on vacation (since we'll already be chasing around five kids and my in-laws). If you had to pick one, and the quality and quantity of the photos or video wasn't a factor in the issue, which would you choose? Or would you say "to heck with it all" and use both?

 

[OU1247]

I would take pictures because I don't know about you but I have tons of video of my kids when they were little and I NEVER look at it.
However I look at my scrapbooks all the time! Or have pictures in frames.

If you have a camera that does both you could shoot a few snips here and there.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

In November, I would have said pictures. Now I voted for both.

At Christmas, we accidently stumbled upon some video of my kids when they were newborn & 1 year. It made me REALLY sad that there's a huuuuuge lapse in video -- haven't taken any in probably 4-5 years 'cuz it was "too much trouble". Or it was "just another day in their life". Oh, but those days are so fleeting and they don't talk and act the same now as they did last year!! On our January trip, we took more video than usual - because it was easier. We just bought a new small, lightweight hard drive camcorder. it!!! Now .... ..... how to download and store the video?

 

[keelhauled]

I said do both but be selective about it. I did both for everything my entire trip and felt like I was missing actually being there. I mean I was videotaping a parade with one hand and trying to take pictures with the other! It's hard to enjoy a parade like that. I'm glad I have both but I won't take nearly as much video next time.

 

[Wit]

We're doing both. Probably because it is the first trip with my Partner and our kids. I went HUNDREDS of times as a child and teenager (we lived just east of Orlando) but there is no video of it. How I would love to see my face as a child in the most magical place on earth. So look at it this way....don't take video for you...take some for you kids, they'll watch it when they plan thier first trip with thier kids

We've just bought a Casio 7.2 mp EXilim camera for our stills. Its is VERY slim (thus our reason for purchasing) and takes some video. 142.99 at sears right now for those that want something simple and easy to carry that takes both stills and video. However my DP just got a superlight weight mini video camera for xmas, so we'll be using it for video. SHOP SHOP SHOP and find the right equipment for what you want to do.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

In 20 years you will realize why you took the time and effort to shoot the vids. I put the ones I shoot into a safe deposit box, they are that important to me and may they mean that much to my kids by then.

 

[Tom Kurowski]

I said both. After my mother passed away my brother and I bought pop a video camera which he used all the time because as he said, "I wish I had this when mom was around so I could here her voice again!" Then after he passed, my niece and nephews think its great because they can here pop telling his stories and commenting on how much fun he was having at disney with the kids.
Sounds morbid in one respect but it is nice the see and "hear".
tom

 

[BeckWhy]

This is really a tough decision I think. I brought my video camera in 2004 and barely used it. But when I went in 2006 I regretted the fact that I didn't have it. I am going to bring it this year though.

 

[Disneyluvr81]

I had planned on buying a Mini DVR camera before our honeymoon trip in September but my parents surprised me and got me one for Christmas - way nicer than I would have spent on myself so I am eternally grateful! So between my Dfi and I we will have his SLR camera, my point and shoot and my video camera (all Canons by the way - can you tell we are Canon people). I bought a really cute little bag that fits both my camera and video camera so I am planning on using that in the parks instead of a purse because it also fits my cell phone and sunglasses.

The last time we went to WDW last January, we both just had cameras and I hardly took any videos because I didn't want to waste my memory on it as I had no plans to buy new memory while I was there. While the little videos I took were cute, I felt there was a lot I missed and wanted to be able to have something to dedicate to just videos I could tape the ENTIRE fireworks and not just 30 second snippits here or there!

Good luck with your decision and I agree with a previous poster - just don't get so involved in trying to videotape and photograph everything that you lose yourself in it and don't experience the parks outside the camera lens!

 

[brightvalleyjrts]

I plan on doing both. I never leave home without my camera, but we also wanted to hear and see the kids reactions so I figured we would take both to WDW. I will make a DVD of the movie clips and still pictures for our family when we return.

 

[Trullclan]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. Anyone else?

 

[Lynn5700]

This year we are getting a video camera to bring to disney,I want to get a dvd camcorder,because we are getting married when we go and our family is going to be with us so I want us all on film together when we are doing things and even though I have a videographer for the wedding I still want to have my dad film it for me as well.

 

[mmorizio]

I have always shot both, going back to our honeymoon in 1973. I have video of our kids growing up in WDW, right up to both of them as adults at our family reunion last year. I also made videos of all three of the trips we made with my daughter's competition dance team and all of the families we knew so well, but hardly see anymore. I can't tell you how precious these videos are to me now.

Nowadays I can shoot stills and video with the same camera.

 

[PrincessJasmine1972]

We did both..becuase it was our very 1st trip!

 

[BabyPiglet]

We do both. My dad takes video, and me and my mom take pictures.

 

[Tykatmadismomma]

Our DVD camera also takes pictures you just flip a switch. I am not fond of the quality of the pictures it takes, But I do love watching the dvd's. Our youngest loves curling up on the couch and watching our Vacation(herself). Last year I taped the girls watching the wishes show, it made me cry seeing my 6yr old repeating "I do believe in wishes" It is just so special to me to see the magic in their eyes.

 

[Shir Kahn]

A very nice camcorder to get is the Canon TX1. It's a High Def flash camcorder that has a 7.1 megapixel camera inside as well. It's also very, very slim, you can carry it in your pocket. The only drawback is that you definitely need a high capacity card, at least an 8gig I would say. Those aren't cheap.

 

[dreamin in pa]

We do both, DH does the video camera and I take the still shots. Truthfully, sometimes we both think it's a pain. I'd rather he'd join in on what we are doing at the moment and other times, he wishes I would just stop taking pictures. But no matter what, the memories are there in one form or another.

 

[fla4fun]

I like to do both with one camera. I don't do long videos, but with my Canon S5 (and my previous S1) I get great still pictures, and decent video (my skills as a videographer could use some practice). The S5 has a much longer video capability than my S1 had. I have two memory cards I use for the still shots and one extra large I use for videos. Much easier to carry a few memory cards than two cameras.

 

[rotlex]

In November, I would have said pictures. Now I voted for both.

At Christmas, we accidently stumbled upon some video of my kids when they were newborn & 1 year. It made me REALLY sad that there's a huuuuuge lapse in video -- haven't taken any in probably 4-5 years 'cuz it was "too much trouble". Or it was "just another day in their life". Oh, but those days are so fleeting and they don't talk and act the same now as they did last year!! On our January trip, we took more video than usual - because it was easier. We just bought a new small, lightweight hard drive camcorder. it!!! Now .... ..... how to download and store the video?

Wow, this SO could have been me posting this. Exact same thing happened last year. We were sitting around after the holidays, and started watching some early video we did of our daughter. (From the hospital and her first year). I realized how awesome it is to look at this stuff, but also realized it had been 2-3 years since we did ANY video. Granted, I have thousands of pictures as I'm an avid photographer, but the video is "different".

Anyway, I went out before our 2nd Disney trip last year and bought a new HD camcorder. We did video and pictures, and boy was it fun. Video taping the shows, as well as our daughter on rides and stuff was a blast. She also loves watching them now. The problem is, now I'm kind of committed to doing both every time we go, LOL.

Oh, in regards to the hard drive camcorder. I had also bought one, but returned it after realizing the huge amount of hard drive space video, especially high definition consumes. I opted for a high definition tape based cam, that I can still capture to the computer for editing, burn to DVD, and have a backup copy on tape in a fireproof box. As far as getting the movie from the camera to the comp, it should have come with some type of software to do this, however, I use a Mac, so I either use iMovie\iDVD or Final Cut Express.