Mickey Fliers said:
YEKCIM-
Those shots are all great. I just ordered my S5200 and I can't wait to get in my hands. I have a lot of work to do. Let me ask, if I may, how do you get such great shots inside the attractions ie: COP? What settings are you using? Same thing goes for parade shots. I am going to need all the help I can get.
Thanks again!!!
Well for starters, with apologies to Kelly, Read The Fantastic Manual which, by the way, you can download in pdf format, if you want to get a jump start on the learning curve, while waiting for the brown truck. Just google "S5200 manual pdf".
Next, spend a lot of time getting to know your camera (true for any camera you buy). Since you are not buying film, you can shoot all the "test" shots you want, and not spend an extra cent (you *have* bought adequate xD memory cards and rechargeable 2500MaH AA's haven't you???). Read the manual, and try different settings, focal lengths, ISO's, macro, you name it. I especially recommend the "CHROME" setting, accessed via the "f" button on the back of the camera, along with ISO and something else...I forget what; guess "f" is for "forgetful". All my WDW pix were shot in Chrome mode; in fact, I just leave it on that setting...gives more "punch" to your colors. Another useful goodie that the S5200 offers, IMO, are the optional "grid" lines in the viewfinder, that help you keep things straight. The default vf setup is w/o the grid, so you'll have to activate it in the menu system, if you want to use it. Once activated, it is always in place unless and until you turn it off.
Be prepared to do some minor PP (post processing). I currently use Picasa2 (free d/l) for cropping, straightening, auto-contrast, and sharpening. Use whatever photo editing software you wish, but use it enough to get familiar with its capabilities.
Finally, concerning the low light (COP and others) pix, I use ISO 800 max, and try to stay at 200 or below if the lighting permits. The 5200 has ISO 1600 but it is very noisy...not bad for a $225 point and shoot (most P&S don't even HAVE 1600), but still noisy, unless you are just going to make tiny prints.
As an example of what digital allows you to do, see the Epcot shot below. I've seen better examples on this board, but I've seen lots worse, too. Two things I did to get this shot, and both were b/c I did not carry a tripod. First, I used ISO 800; second, I took about 15 identical shots, on the assumption that I'd have some camera shake in all of them, but if I got lucky, maybe one would be less "shaky" than the others. This is the result:
Not a great shot, to be sure, but I'm happy with it and, w/o digital, I'd never have done this well. No way I'd have shot half a roll of film (if I even had used ISO 800 film) on one subject like this.
One final note on the S5200, and I'm done for (Wilbur). The popup flash does produce some good results, *sometimes*, but I have not found it to be too reliable in exposure accuracy, and the range is very limited. Again, test it...it won't cost ya nothin'. Try the slow shutter sync flash, too. It works well, most of the time, and WDW at night is a great place to use it, with something like Mickey's Castle or SSE behind the person whose picture you are taking.
Whew...my carpal tunnel is kicking in, so I'll stop here. If I can help further, lemme know.
~YEKCIM
As my DH used to say "dude, you're good!" 
). So you can use the easy auto settings if you are not up to messing with the camera or go more in depth with other settings. 
.
