The perfect camera for fireworks/night parades at WDW?

[DisneyGirlie]

I want one that can take excellent pictures of fireworks and like SpectroMagic parade.
Before I've used a kodak and a canon powershot A680.
Both of the cameras produced not so great pictures.
my friend suggested the Olympus Stylus 720SW because it is also waterproof.
But, i'd just like to ask what you think and what kind of camera you use to get good shots of night parades and fireworks shows.
If you get good shots of fireworks, night parades, and the interiors of rides, please please let me know what camera you use.
Thank You.
I've been searching for quite a while.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

This is not an endorsement of any camera, but rather an endorsement of knowing how to use the camera one has. So often the problem is not with the hardware of the camera, but the "software" operating the camera.

The best way to take great pictures, with most any camera, is to have read the particular camera's manual thoroughly. So often there are features available on a camera that one might not know about, fully understand, or appreciate the significance of them.

DW is a lovely lady and she deserves some Nobel prize for putting up with me for so long -- however, DW cannot take a picture to save her life. It's not her fault -- she just doesn't understand how the camera works. Meanwhile, I can take our camera and get rather nice shots in the same situation where DW could only get blurry and dark shots. I'm quite positive that another person with an even greater understanding of our Fuji Finepix S5000 could take that camera and get even more amazing shots.

Just because someone else has had good (or bad) results with a particular brand or model of camera doesn't necessarily mean that you will experience the same success or frustration with that camera. I would hate to see you go out and spend good money on a camera when either of the cameras you already have might be perfectly fine for the photo situations you're in.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

because it is also waterproof

I'm not sure how that would help with the fireworks or parade.

Your request is rather broad. A camara like the Canon 1DsM2 would probably do a great job with both but at a cost of around $7,000 + lens. I'm guessing that you don't really want to spend that much.

Just about any DSLR and many digital P&S cameras can handle the fireworks and parade. For the fireworks, I'd take a cheap camera and a decent tripod over an expensive hand-held camera. The key to getting good fireworks is a moderately long shutter speed (in order to capture trails of exploding fireworks) and an extremely stead camera. If you don't use a tripod, at least balance the camera on a monopod or on a stationary object. If you can't do either of those, get one with a good stabilizer.

For the parade, I think you would want a camera with good low light sensitivity. I would look for one that could take relatively high ISO shots with relatively low noise. You would probably want a lens with a relatively wide aperture to let in a lot light.

Any current generation Canon or Nikon DSLR could easily handle both tasks when used properly. I'm sure that many others could do so as well. If you are using a good, modern camera, getting bad shots of these events it is more likely to be an operator problem rather than a hardware problem.

 

[DisneyGirlie]

Can anyone else just tell me what kind of camera they use when they go to WDW?

 

[boBQuincy]

Can anyone else just tell me what kind of camera they use when they go to WDW?

Sure, I use a Canon 10D with a Canon 24-105 lens. It is just great for fireworks and night parades. For photos inside rides I use a Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens to get more light into the camera.

I used to use a Canon D30 with a Canon 24-85 lens, and this also worked very well for low light although it did not focus as well in low light as the 10D.

Both of these cameras are discontinued, Canon's most recent equivalent is the 30D but some older 20D models are still available for a lower price and would be a good choice.
Also, Canon's Rebel XT and XTi have most of the same features, again for a better price.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

This is not an endorsement of any camera, but rather an endorsement of knowing how to use the camera one has. So often the problem is not with the hardware of the camera, but the "software" operating the camera.

The best way to take great pictures, with most any camera, is to have read the particular camera's manual thoroughly. So often there are features available on a camera that one might not know about, fully understand, or appreciate the significance of them.

DW is a lovely lady and she deserves some Nobel prize for putting up with me for so long -- however, DW cannot take a picture to save her life. It's not her fault -- she just doesn't understand how the camera works. Meanwhile, I can take our camera and get rather nice shots in the same situation where DW could only get blurry and dark shots. I'm quite positive that another person with an even greater understanding of our Fuji Finepix S5000 could take that camera and get even more amazing shots.

Just because someone else has had good (or bad) results with a particular brand or model of camera doesn't necessarily mean that you will experience the same success or frustration with that camera. I would hate to see you go out and spend good money on a camera when either of the cameras you already have might be perfectly fine for the photo situations you're in.

I couldn't agree more - Even if your camera has a "fireworks" setting, you will still be disappointed with the pictures - monopod, tripod will help you out extremely - But play around with your camera before you go, get to know it and the settings - you'll be glad you did!

 

[Master Mason]

Can anyone else just tell me what kind of camera they use when they go to WDW?

I use a canon Rebel XT I have a sigma 18-125 lens for a walk around, a cannon 50mm f1.8, canon 75-300, and the new baby a cannon 70-200 f2.8L, monopod, tripod, 2 types of remote shutter releases, circular polorizers for a few different lenses etc.....

But the reason folks weren't telling you what to get is you didn't give enough information about what your looking for. There are hundreds of cameras that can do what you want, ranging in price from a couple of hundred to many many thousands......

What else do you need, ie pocketablity, dSLR, what are you used to, what else do you like to do with your camera etc..... there are tons of factors that go into it.

 

[Jeanne B]

Can anyone else just tell me what kind of camera they use when they go to WDW?

I used my Canon A620 during our trip in April, I used the fireworks setting on the camera, 2 second delay as well as a tripod. I got some fairly decent shots but I wasn't in the best area, I was off to the side and the castle wasn't in full view.

As previously posted, getting great pictures of the fireworks also comes down to the user and knowing HOW to use the camera and it's settings. I'm a beginner, generally use auto mode, but from reading these boards I learned a few tips that helped improve my fireworks pictures. But the parade was a different story, I didn't get good pictures of that but probably a more advanced photographer could have taken very good pictures with my camera. Taking fantastic night shots can be difficult, especially with p&s cameras.

 

[CleveRocks]

Can anyone else just tell me what kind of camera they use when they go to WDW?

I'm afraid you're missing the point of what everyone above told you, and what I told you on another thead. For the most part, it's the photographer and not the camera. We're all trying to help you, really, but it seems you don't want to accept the answer.

There's not going to be a magic camera out there that will do a great job for you all by itself. Any decent camera operated properly will do the trick. Any decent digital camera will allow you to set it for a slow shutter speed and a high ISO setting.

If you went into a world-class camera store and asked for the best camera to take shots of fireworks with, and then bought it and used it, your photos STILL wouldn't look like what you want them to look like if you don't employ the proper technique.

You're much better off checking out info here on this board, on other sites, and buying a book or DVD or something like that. And of course, practice practice practice.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[DisneyGirlie]

I am accepting what everyone is telling me (practice, practice, practice...blah blah blah) but I'm in the market for a new camera anyway, so I'm just looking for what kinds of cameras you all use.
What you would reccomend.
How many mega pixels, how much optical zoom, etc.

 

[handicap18]

Can anyone else just tell me what kind of camera they use when they go to WDW?

I am accepting what everyone is telling me (practice, practice, practice...blah blah blah) but I'm in the market for a new camera anyway, so I'm just looking for what kinds of cameras you all use.
What you would reccomend.
How many mega pixels, how much optical zoom, etc.

I've used a Nikon N70 film SLR with a 28-80mm and 70-300mm lens, a Canon S30 point and shoot digital camera and most recently (and currently using) a Nikon D50 digital SLR with an 18-70mm, 70-300mm and 50mm lens. I also carry around a travel size tripod

Spending a lot of time on this particular board I've come to realize that camera's are like cars. There are to many makes and models for one person to say which one another should get. Budget is a huge factor for choosing. What kind of options do you want. Something easy to handle or something with a lot of bells and whistles. In the end all a camera is and all a camera has been is a light tight box thats captures an image.

Maybe its best at this point to start from scratch. Ask/answer the correct questions. Such as but not limited to:
What is your budget?
What kind of camera have you used in the past?
Outside of getting better fireworks/night parade pictures, what do you expect out of a digital camera?
Other than Disney trips, what else will you be using the camera for?
How often do you use your camera?
What features in cameras you've used/owned in the past did you like/not like?
What is your photography experience?
Do you plan to enlarge a lot of pictures, only a few pictures, never enlarge pictures?
Do you print out your digital pictures or just view them on the computer?

There are a lot of great resources here on the photography board. People are more than willing to help out and give suggestions, but I'm (and I'm sure others) not going to recommend you spend $2000+ on a camera body, lenses and flash if come to find out you really only wanted/needed something that retails for $200.