Talk to me about carrying a DSLR around in parks!

[WLfamily]

I'm seriously thinking about buying my first DSLR camera. All the reasons I want one are obvious I'm sure...better pictures at night, better firework pictures, better indoor lowlight pictures, etc.
My main concern is carrying the large camera around in the parks. I have a friend who told me she hates to carry hers on rides. That is kinda the whole point of why I want it.
I'm not a big backpack carrier either, and she told me you have to be to carry a DSLR.
Talk to me guys!!! Do you have one, how do you carry it, what about those FL downpours, will I be sorry I have it??????

 

[powbob]

I assume that you already know that getting those high quality shots with a DSLR requires more effort than just taking a picture with your P&S or camera phone. DSLR's are capable of taking much better photos , but you have to know how to use the controls. A good tripod or at least a monopod is very useful if you want to shoot in less than ideal light.

But, to your point. There is a wide range of weights and sizes of DSLRs. I use pro level Nikon cameras, so relatively heavy and bulky due to metal construction etc... but it is also water resistant to the point that a bit of rain isn't a problem. You get used to the weight and bulk and a good strap can do wonders. A backpack or bag of some sort isn't really necessary unless you carry multiple lenses and such. If you get an all around zoom which covers the focal ranges you use one lens is all that is necessary. I personally carry a few somewhat heavy lenses , so I use a sling bag because I don't find backpacks comfortable and hate having to take it off every time I need something.

 

[WLfamily]

I'm very aware that I have much to learn with a DSLR, but I'm up for the challenge! Now I'm not planning on going into the photography business by no means.
I just want better photo options than I have now.
I'm looking at the Nikon D3200 which comes with an additional 55-200mm lens. I've read and studied about it quite a bit, and most people say that is the only lens they use. If that's the case I won't need to carry extra lenses.

 

[BubblyTrip]

I keep mine in a big ziplock in my backpack. Never been a biggie for me. I don't pack extra lenses.

 

[Auntie D]

I carry mine with me all the time in the parks. Most of the time, I carry it across my body so it's handy and ready when I need it. I do also carry a backpack, and for some rides (Splash Mountain, Kali, Soarin, and a few others) I put it in the bag. I don't find it to be troublesome to carry around and the photos are well worth it.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

After years of debating with myself, I finally bought a DSLR (Canon T5i) this past December. I've taken it to Disneyland three times, and haven't had any issues. I only brought a camera gear bag once, when I was shooting the CP. The zoom lens came in handy. I will bring it with me to WDW in July. I love having a DSLR, but I won't bring it to the parks every day. My iPhone will do the job on point & shoot pics. I say go for it. But get lots of practice before you bring it to the parks.

 

[xlxo]

Hmm... D3300 with an 18-200mmm with an external flash in the bag is my portable idea. Small body, single lens and a flash for low light.

 

[powbob]

I'm very aware that I have much to learn with a DSLR, but I'm up for the challenge! Now I'm not planning on going into the photography business by no means.
I just want better photo options than I have now.
I'm looking at the Nikon D3200 which comes with an additional 55-200mm lens. I've read and studied about it quite a bit, and most people say that is the only lens they use. If that's the case I won't need to carry extra lenses.

The D3200 is a good entry level DSLR. It is lightweight and quite small, so carrying it around will be easy. I still recommend a good strap though. Make sure you practice as much as possible before you take it to the parks. The 55-200 is a decent lens, but 55mm used on an APS-C camera is basically equivalent to an 88mm lens on a full frame camera. This means it is really a short telephoto even at the short end, so you get no wide-angle or normal focal length ability. An 18-200mm is much more useful as a general purpose lens. That's another thing about DSLRs. The extras can get expensive quickly.

For clarification:
The normal view on an iPhone 5 camera is equivalent to an 18mm lens on your DSLR.

 

[SnackCredit]

I was fine wearing my DSLR around my neck.

 

[MsHook]

I just carry mine in the small bag it came with using it like a handbag. No massive backpack needed. I only carry money, tickets and keys so they all live in the inside zip compartment and I don't bother bringing my other lens. For water rides like splash mountain, I put it under my shirt and cross my arms over it. For Kali river rapids, I put the bag in the compartment in the middle. The only time I don't bring my DSLR with me is when I go to IOA as those water rides get you ridiculously wet. I just use my iPhone for those days. Never had an issue.

 

[rwdavis2]

I would carry it I a small backpack made for cameras. It holds lenses and other stuff. We took ours a couple years ago and got some great shots that would nt be possible with a phone. For lots of things I used it n manual mode. Mainly low light shots and long distances with the zoom lens.

 

[Tbiafore]

Its all about the strap and not bringing a bunch of lenses....just bring a good walk around lens and strap...I use a rapid strap and it does wonders at the parks: http://www.blackrapid.com/products/curve

 

[Turk February]

I always carry it around my neck. Sometimes it gets annoying but it's a small price to pay to get much better photos. We use the stock lens and also have a 50mm which we keep in our backpack.

We use one of those giant ziplock bags for water rides.

 

[nat8199]

I have this insert for my DSLR. It fits in a gallon ziplock, though I wouldn't submerge it. It holds my DSLR with one smaillish prime lens attached and holds another in the case. It gives padding and takes care of splashes. I can just put the whole thing into whatever bag I am carrying. I have a smaller cross body it fits into, and then also have a messenger bag (neither made for cameras).

 

[cgattis]

I can't remember a day I have gone into a Disney park without mine. I don't care for backpacks, so I carry a shoulder bag that will lay comfortably under my arm with my camera inside (have a couple of Kavus that I like, plus one from RonJon with swivel straps). Ziploc bags for rain and water rides. If I'm planning to use a tripod at night, I'll stick it in a locker until then. I rarely take a longer lens but if I do, it goes in a padded sleeve and into the bag.

If I don't mention this, someone else surely will....just make sure to learn how to turn your flash completely off for dark rides and shows. In the old days, if I closed my pop-up, it would stay closed. Now my camera is too smart for that . Also, if your camera has a pop-up and that's all you take (I wouldn't take an external flash unless I knew I had a major moment to capture indoors), you can get a cheap bonnet-type diffuser (like $10) to help it look a little better.

I don't think you'll find an issue on rides. The only two that make me a little nervous are SM and RNRC, just for the jostling, but I've never had an actual issue with either. I did, however, drop one of my kit lenses squarely onto it's face (cap on) on the asphalt at an XC meet (trying to run across and catch runners on the other side of a loop....and didn't zip my bag!) and it was fine. This stuff is actually pretty tough.

Take it and have fun! And if you hate carrying it, you still have a nice camera for outside the parks.

 

[winthropf]

I also don't carry a backpack. I use a binocular strap that is more like a shoulder harness (look them up on amazon or any other site). It puts the weight on both shoulders rather than a single strap pulling on your neck. Keeps the camera mid to lower chest so it is always ready to catch a picture.

 

[fla4fun]

I take mine with me on the trip, but it doesn't go in the parks every day. If it looks like a day is going to be really bad weather wise, I will lock it up in the room and just use the iPod for snapshots. But for night and ride photos, it can't be beat! I just pick a lens for the day, and stick a Ziploc baggie in my pocket just in case. I don't carry a bag of any kind in the parks. I agree that having a lens that will cover 90% of your shooting needs is a good idea.

 

[Q-man]

Big fan of the Tamrac Velocity bag. Keeps the camera at a quick reach and out of the weather. No issue riding rides with it. http://www.amazon.com/Tamrac-5766-V...1425741351&sr=1-8&keywords=tamrac+camera+bags

Had a backpack bag before and would end up opting for the P&S as I got annoyed with taking the backpack off finding a place to set it down to get the camera out just to find the shot I wanted was gone and then reverse the process when done. Also, I'd be in a hurry for a shot and forget to zip it up and have to pick up camera equipment that got scattered on the ground.

 

[marmar]

DH has the standard neck strap. He tacks about 500-600 shots on a 5 day trip to WDW. He doesn't carry it on rainy days. But since we always go back to the room for a nap, he will leave it there for the normal afternoon thunderstorm. It does give him an excuse not to do Splash Mountain as he hates getting wet at the end of the ride. I sometimes carry his extra lens in my purse, but he only uses it when he is going to take close up of flowers at the Flower & Garden festival or telephoto at the Animal Kingdom.

 

[GC&S]

I've carried one every time we go. Much better pics than my cell phone. I don't have a fancy bag. I found a swiss army camera bag that looks like a purse so that's usually what I use. But I often carry my camera in my hand which isnt always great because I have dropped it before. I don't bring any extra lenses. I used to carry a zoom lens but it was pain switching the lens. I have a Nikon. I love taking pics on rides and I've gotten great action shots that way.