Which camera at the park dilemma????

[IBLarsen]

You all are so helpful about other details, so here's another question I need advice for. We have a large DSLR (Canon Rebel) camera. We are very amateur photogs and do not use it to its extent at all. I am not wanting to lug it through Disneyland for our upcoming trip, we will have 2 little ones and have to carry snacks/water....and well...you know the drill. So I am buying a small camera for our trip, (I also just want one for everyday use to throw in my purse for outings with the kids). Here is my dilemma: the small cameras don't have much zoom power and I'm wondering if this is a problem for regular everyday picture taking at DLR? I'm considering either a Canon powershot (3x zoom), or a Sony cybershot (5x zoom). These are both the 'pocket' size cams. I'm just worried this is not adequate, but has been so long since i've used anything other than our Rebel. I could do a medium size Sony cybershot with 10x zoom, but i'm giving up the 'pocket' size that I was going for. Anybody have any experience with these small cameras at DL and has the zoom been an issue???

I know it's silly, but I am seriously stressing over the camera situation!

 

[hartyrollins]

Hi, don't feel silly for stressing about what type of camera! For me that is one of the best parts of the trip, I am an avid scrapbooker so trip pictures are very important to me!

I have a "pocket" sized Nikon that has a 3.5 zoom and I have never had troubles or not had pictures turn out because of the zoom (or lack of zoom).

My sister has a "fancy" Cannon Rebel too, she has brought that to the parks on countless trips, but finally made the decision to bring a "pocket" sized one this time on our trip next week. Her "pocket" one has a 5x zoom. She is also a professional photographer and felt that the 5x zoom would be fine for the trip.

Hope that helps!

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, my main experience with a little camera at DL was that I set it down with other things I was carrying in my hand, and almost lost it! Well OK I did lose it, but luckily it was the CMs at the hat shop who found it, and still had it when I ran in after realizing my loss.

I have a Canon S3 (point and shoot but looks fancy, LOL) and I like that much more. Can't carry it in my hand like a pocket camera, and I'm much less likely to set it down and forget about it.

But I'm kind of opposite others in that way...in another way, I will lose a million cheapie sunglasses b/c they don't mean much, but when I buy spendy sunglasses I keep them for years and years, never losing them. That's opposite of many people!

 

[blackjackdelta]

I use both but I take many more casual photo's with the Sony Cybershot I carry in my cargo shorts pocket. Make sure you have a reasonably size memory card and your off and running. Most folks never go over 4 x 6 prints so you could crop and enlarge with no problems 8 mp or above. I would look at Canon's 1100IS, very nice and easy to use.

Jack

 

[pinktink83]

I have a Sony Cybershot and a Canon Rebel, and I have retired the Cybershot. I used to feel the same way about the Rebel, being big and bulky, but I'm used to it now, and the pictures are just SO MUCH BETTER compared to the Cybershot. I compare the pics between them now and just shake my head.

However, the zoom will be fine. That is plenty for normal picture taking, even at DL!

I also agree with Bumbershoot, I find that I lose my smaller cameras much easier than my Rebel. I just throw it in the stroller or the backpack while not using it (I know, I know....its our family camera, and boy does it get abused!!!) so I dont have to carry it around on my neck.

 

[wazowskiLOVER:)]

If you are going around with your significant other, I say bring both. Thats what I do. You hold a camera, and the other hold the other. In the end, when you're trying to take a semi-descent picture that you would like to show off on Picture of the Day, you really don't want a point and shoot. It just does NOT do the job. Its up to you though. If you're not going to be taking any interesting non tourist pictures, then just go with a point and shoot. I have a Sony Cybershot and am satisfied about it for group photos.

 

[JaneJetson]

Last year we bought a Canon Powershot SD1000. What canon are you looking at? Ours says 3x zoom on the front and I think it zooms quite a bit. When we zoom a lot it looks blurry on the screen but after you take the photo and look at it, it's actually quite clear. We love it.

We also have an older Sony cybershot that says 3x zoom but I don't think it zooms nearly as close.

Wait...I just looked at our Canon. You hold the zoom button down and it goes to 3x. If you let go, and then hold it down again, it actually zooms to 12x.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

our canon will be powershot a470 i think its the best at the price i was looking at. (not gona fit in thin pockets i have read some ppl not happy couse it was as thin as they want, for me and dh this is perfect we dont want credit card size way to little)
it has everything i wanted includeing movie modes and stuff. I cant wait to get it (we might order it tonight if bank says check cleared by now lol
we cant wait to get it my dh hates it coming though the mail but hay no stores have them yet.

Its one the things im looking forward to on the trip the most is playing with my new cam..mine all mine not borrwing but my own nice cam

 

[IBLarsen]

Thanks for all the input so far! I appreciate seeing different perspectives, that's what I'm looking for.

We are looking at the new Canon Powershot 1100 series. It does say 3x zoom. It has good reviews, I just don't want to be disappointed with it for our Disneyland trip of all things! So I was just hoping that people could let me know if they are generally happy with these smaller cameras....

I mean I know it won't compare to the Rebel, part of me is thinking that I should just take the Rebel because I trust it. But I just really really don't want to lug it around. See my dilemma?

 

[JosieGirl71]

I totally understand your dilemma. I gave up my mega zoom Olympus for the compact Canon SD870IS. I couldn't be happier! The SD870IS has a huge LCD screen and image stabilization so no more blurry pics from hand shake (or ride shake). It is a great camera and it fits in a pocket very easily! The best camera I have ever owned. Period.

Let us know what you do!

 

[IBLarsen]

I totally understand your dilemma. I gave up my mega zoom Olympus for the compact Canon SD870IS. I couldn't be happier! The SD870IS has a huge LCD screen and image stabilization so no more blurry pics from hand shake (or ride shake). It is a great camera and it fits in a pocket very easily! The best camera I have ever owned. Period.

Let us know what you do!

I'm glad to hear someone has been happy with 'down grading'.... and you didn't miss the bigger zoom?

 

[JosieGirl71]

I'm glad to hear someone has been happy with 'down grading'.... and you didn't miss the bigger zoom?

Occasionally for sports but not really at DL. But I have to say that I didn't have DSLR and my Olympus was worn out. The SD870IS has lots of different automatic settings (portrait, kids and pets, night shots, snow, water, etc.) and I think you can even manually set the aperture, etc. And I absolutely LOVE the image stabilization!

Hope this helps!

 

[silence]

OK, I have way too many cameras, it is just one of my obsessions.

We have the Canon 35mm and Canon Digital Rebel, love the quality and ZOOM.

I have both the Canon S2 and S3. LOVE THIS CAMERA (well both of them!). Love that it takes video and stills at the same time. Also like the zoom on these (12x).

My only "complaints" about all these cameras is the SIZE and the fact I wanted a camera I could carry in my purse or pocket and just go...

So, I got the Canon Powershot SD750. Perfect pocket camera with huge screen (3 inches). This is my new favorite toy. It's 7mp too. =

When we are on vacation, I take all 3 cameras. I typically only take in the Rebel 1 day. I love this camera with my large zoom lens and just get some awesome pics of the kiddos on rides and such.

For another 2 days, I probably take in the S3. It isn't quite as bulky and still takes great shots, plus the video feature is nice too.

I take the Elph in every day, since it is so small. I use this for mostly for posed shots, not so much for any action photos.

Hope that helps.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

This has been something I've been going back and forth on for awhile, and one I probably won't decide on until the day before we go. I'm a semi-professional photographer and I use the Nikon D80 with several different lenses. If I bring this one, I'll likely just bring one standard lense with me.

However, it's big, it's bulky, and it's expensive. I don't want anything to happen to it while we're there. Also, I don't want the monster of a camera to be IN my pictures the photopass CMs will take. It'll be distracting.

But I keep thinking this will be the camera to bring, because the shutter speed is fast, I rarely have to use a flash, and the picture quality is leaps and bounds better than any point and shoot I would bring in its place.

If someone could reccomend a good point and shoot with a QUICK picture speed and an option to turn off the annoying flash (it ruins your pictures. trust me), I may just bring a smaller point and shoot....

 

[joeysmommy]

I have the same dilemma.

When I bring my smaller Fuji camera the zoom is not enough and it works terribly for night shots.

So I also bring my Olympus which is bigger and bulkier but great for night time shots, parade and motion shots.

I don't even bother bringing the Sony camcorder anymore- Too big ( ours is 6 years old) and I am the worst videographer. Just call me "jiggly-cam"

Just be sure to bring enough memory cards!
I took 900 pictures last year and I could easily have taken more!!

 

[jlparedes]

So I was having this dilemma too and after my posting a couple months ago I've decided to bring both. We can fit the point and shoot (Sony W100 which I love!) in the Nikon D50's bag with the extra lens and everything. We'll have our stroller, so I plan to utilize it's basket for the cameras. I think I will regret not bringing it.

 

[JosieGirl71]

The Canon SD870IS is super fast (at least it is WAY faster than my Olympus was) and also has video.

FWIW - Our boys don't come to DLR with us anymore so I never thought about wanting the mega zoom for taking photos of a child on a ride. That might make me want to get a very small point and shoot for the pocket and a mid-size mega zoom camera like the Canon S3!

 

[wazowskiLOVER:)]

So I was having this dilemma too and after my posting a couple months ago I've decided to bring both. We can fit the point and shoot (Sony W100 which I love!) in the Nikon D50's bag with the extra lens and everything. We'll have our stroller, so I plan to utilize it's basket for the cameras. I think I will regret not bringing it.

I feel that way too. I have 12 other people who will be with me to help carry the load, so I think it will be fine

 

[drgalyen]

I had the same dilemma before our last trip. I knew I did NOT want to carry my big SLR around DL esp with 2 little ones who had never been before. I researched every camera on the market 3 years ago. And I will have to say that my 3 year old little point and shoot will out shoot most of the newer small cameras of today. I wanted image stabilizing and good in low light- without a flash!
I was so happy with this camera that when my Moms Canon point and shoot quit working on her- and it was only one year older than mine- I bought her the newer version of mine for Mothers Day.
The camera is a Fuji F10 - the first model in the F series. Now they have an F40. I got my Mom an F20 and she loves it- got it for $100 on-line (new).
This little camera is excellent in low light- even better than my Canon 20D SLR at times! I have never been disappointed in this camera. Actually we used it on our boat this last weekend and my 13 year old DD got some awesome shots of people wakeboarding!
You can turn off the flash!
It also has the movie feature which is great for DL and little ones.
I've taken my SLR in the past but never use it so I'm not sure if I will even bring it this time- I don't want to leave it in the room and take the chance of it getting stolen!
One tip with a digital camera.... download your pictures each night when you get back to your room if you can. If anything happens to your camera then you have not lost all of your pictures just one day!
Sorry one more tip......if buying a new camera, always use it before the trip to get use to how it works!

Hope this helps and wasn't too long!!!!

 

[cseca]

If you're big on low light shots then bring your DSLR at night time. During the day you'll be fine with the compact dig camera. But only a handful of compacts can handle low light.

A PP mentioned Fuji. The best Fuji was and is still F30/F31 for low light. Unfortunately no more are being produced since they have gone with the mass market pressure and keep increasing the megapixels instead of improving their sensors. The newer versions F40 and F50 did not have as good a sensor as their predecessor unfortunately. So still bring your tripod for low light pics for any compact dig cameras if you need to get night pics!