What camera(s) did you bring to Disney?

[bestjsg]

I see all these nice pictures posted on the board and wonder what kind of cameras you all bring to the parks (brand model # perhaps ?)

....maybe it is just me, my little point and shoot Canon SD600 seems to only handle daytime and bright background pictures fine but at night or indoors or objects in distances it produces very dark image...

thinking about buying a digital SLR, but concern with 2 kids , stroller, on rides etc , it is hard to handle vs the little one in my pocket....any experience you can share ?

thanks a lot.!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

If you are even THINKING about doing a DSLR....DO it! You'll never regret it. I carry my Canon with me (and all the lenses and gear) and have never had an issue. I would much rather have nice pictures than worry about a little back/shoulder strain. And if you want decent pics of the rides/fireworks...it's really the only way to go.

 

[Heidi Loves Disney]

Just wondering, are DSLR cameras large or a pain the butt to carry around?
I'm looking for a camera, too, but I was wanting something slim. I have a Sony Cybershot that is slim, but I didn't know until after I bought it how bad the time delay was on it.

 

[leeshiebean]

I'm going next week and I'm bringing my dSLR and a few lenses, as well as my Diana+ film camera for some fun, retro looking pictures. I'll be wearing my Northface backpack with all of my gear in it. I'm even going to lug my tripod around when I go to EMH in the MK next Sunday night.

For those looking into dSLR cameras, my advice is this - buy it far enough in advance of your trip so that you can learn to use it. What I think some people don't realize (at least some people I know personally, myself included a few years ago!) is that just having a more advanced camera won't make the pictures come out better right away. There are auto features on a dSLR, and they come in handy sometimes, but if you plan to shoot auto, you're not taking full advantage of what the camera can do and might as well stick with a less bulky camera. 10 megapixels vs 15 mp doesn't make too much of a difference if you only plan to print out 4x6's or upload pictures to Facebook. The good thing about point and shoots is that they do they hard work for you - exposure, aperture, focus, etc. They even sharpen for you which is something a lot of folks using dSLRs do later in post-processing. That said, if you are the slightest bit interested in improving your photography, I absolutely encourage you to get a beginner level dSLR and play around with it. Read up on how to use settings, and practice, practice, practice. Point and shoots can only do so much - and from what the OP has said: "maybe it is just me, my little point and shoot Canon SD600 seems to only handle daytime and bright background pictures fine but at night or indoors or objects in distances it produces very dark image...", it seems like you'd really benefit from the manual functions of a dSLR. Longer shutter times, wider aperture, etc. This post was my really long way of saying that a dSLR is worth the money so long as you learn to use it outside of auto mode, IMO.

 

[Pongo53]

And if anyone still shoots on tape rather than digital media (Pongo is an old dog and does not do "new" tricks), be sure to allow anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour for your camera and tape transport to adapt to the humidity after getting it out of the hotel room. We missed a lot of early morning shots due to that problem.

 

[Pongo53]

PS Leeshibean, I just saw your Princess 1/2 Marathon logo at the end of your post. Good luck with your run! My wife, Perdita, will be doing the Princess this Sunday. We did the Mickey this January and it was great, if cold. Hope you finish well and get a personal best!
--Pongo (and Perdita)

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Just wondering, are DSLR cameras large or a pain the butt to carry around?
I'm looking for a camera, too, but I was wanting something slim. I have a Sony Cybershot that is slim, but I didn't know until after I bought it how bad the time delay was on it.

Well as DSLR is going to be way bigger than that. The Canon XT, XTi, XSi are the smallest bodies on the market BUT it's really the lenses that tend to add the weight. I would go to a camera shop and try holding them and see how your feel about the weight. I would not buy from a camera shop. Amazon is the cheapest place to get them. (it will automtically search online camera sellers and find you the best deal).

 

[crewmatt]

Hey I brought a Nikon D3000 DSLR camera. Took amazing pictures. One thing we're doing next time around is bringing another smaller point and shoot digital camera for pictures on the ride/other quick pix opportunities. Breaking out the big Nikon was just too time consuming for some of the rides.

 

[mommylovesdisney]

This is an older model, but it's my first and only digital camera: Canon Powershot A610. I LOVE this camera, had it for about 4 years. It's a little heavier than some smaller models but it takes awesome pics day or night. but the best part is the swivel LCD screen. I can take shots from virtually any angle and see what I am shooting. Worked out great on Kilmanjaro when I wanted to capture what I just passed! When this camera goes, I will be getting another swivel LCD. Can't do without it now! Also, I like having a camera that I can replace the batteries in a pinch, not have to worry about charging, chargers, etc!

 

[MickeysFans]

And if anyone still shoots on tape rather than digital media (Pongo is an old dog and does not do "new" tricks), be sure to allow anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour for your camera and tape transport to adapt to the humidity after getting it out of the hotel room. We missed a lot of early morning shots due to that problem.

Never knew- thanks! We have our first trip in the summer coming up, so we never thought about it during our past trips.

 

[MickeysFans]

Tough call on cameras. I have a Canon 40D that I never bring for my own sanilty factor. I often wish I had it but I also think more of the time I am glad to not carry it. I do bring a Canon G9 pocket/digital that I love and a digital videocamera. I videotape a lot and have not wanted to deal with downloading during a trip.
DH takes the VC and I have the camera, then I never have to choose if I want video or a still or mess with settings. Until I can stop taking trips to Disney, I won't be able to afford what I want all in one!

 

[leeshiebean]

This is an older model, but it's my first and only digital camera: Canon Powershot A610. I LOVE this camera, had it for about 4 years. It's a little heavier than some smaller models but it takes awesome pics day or night. but the best part is the swivel LCD screen. I can take shots from virtually any angle and see what I am shooting. Worked out great on Kilmanjaro when I wanted to capture what I just passed! When this camera goes, I will be getting another swivel LCD. Can't do without it now! Also, I like having a camera that I can replace the batteries in a pinch, not have to worry about charging, chargers, etc!

I used to have the Canon Powershot A95 before I got my dslr and I loved that camera! The swivel screen was so awesome! I was bummed when I went to buy a new 'small' camera (I um, broke my powershot after a few years), I couldn't find any with a swivel screen. It was definitely a convenience!

Thanks Pongo! As long as I finish, it will be a personal best because it's my first half!

 

[jujuberry]

Sony Cybershot. =]
It's small, has a great battery life, and takes great pictures.

 

[momof3Disneykids]

wow, all we have is a $100 walmart digital camera its 8.5 mp and does good for us at home, I dont think I would be able to take a expensive camera, if we ever got one Im also gonna take my Video camera.

 

[dphie28]

I used to have the Canon Powershot A95 before I got my dslr and I loved that camera! The swivel screen was so awesome! I was bummed when I went to buy a new 'small' camera (I um, broke my powershot after a few years), I couldn't find any with a swivel screen. It was definitely a convenience!

Thanks Pongo! As long as I finish, it will be a personal best because it's my first half!

A swivel screen was very important to us too when our Nikon 5700 died. We paid about $2000 for that camera back in 2001 and took it to WDW 3 times. The last time we were there the humidity really got to it. When we powered it up in the morning, the lens would not come out...the lens was foggy...etc. We ended up buying a Sony Cybershot for $275 about a year ago that is similar to this: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+...lack/9327105.p?id=1218085897854&skuId=9327105

LOVE the mega-zoom cameras!

 

[bestjsg]

If you are even THINKING about doing a DSLR....DO it! You'll never regret it. I carry my Canon with me (and all the lenses and gear) and have never had an issue. I would much rather have nice pictures than worry about a little back/shoulder strain. And if you want decent pics of the rides/fireworks...it's really the only way to go.

I don't know anything about Photography really, I was hoping to use the DSLR in auto mode most of the time to take better pics in darker places (e.g. resturant, rainy days etc) and most importantly is the 'clear kids in the frontground and blur at the background' type of picss... (sorry for lack of proper terms... )

Checked out some review, Canon XS seems a like a good entry level one and reasonably priced , also just saw Canon SX20i (or Sony Cyber shots..) this seems to be 'regular' digital camera but offers great 20 x optical zoom.....what to choose...

 

[MissionMouse]

I don't know anything about Photography really, I was hoping to use the DSLR in auto mode most of the time to take better pics in darker places (e.g. resturant, rainy days etc) and most importantly is the 'clear kids in the frontground and blur at the background' type of picss... ...

A DSLR automatic mode is capable of taking photographs in low light conditions, but to get the good results you are most likely referring to you do need to understand some basic principles of your DSLR. Automatic mode normally will not be the setting you will use in exisiting light/low light conditions. You need to really understand the relationship between aperture, ISO, shutterspeed, lense focal length and fstop to advance. The entry DSLR are a good start, but as your skill set advances your desire to move up to a more advance DSLR is the normal progression as you identify camera shortfalls.

If this is not an interest they are making more advanced compacts and pocket cameras that have greater capability to take in low light conditions, but they will not match a DSLR. You might consider Canon Powershot G11, Nikon Coolpix 6000...both under $500 or Canon Powershot SD970IS or Nikon Coolpix S1000pj...both under $430. Portrait settings will provide the subject focused with the blurred background.

I normally bring a Nikon D200 or D300 with a set of fast Nikon lenses. It is also nice to have a high end advanced compact to carry on a day where I want to travel light.