which do you prefer in the parks? PnS, or DSLR?

[mickeem]

OK, if you are reading posts in this forum, you must be somewhat interested in photography.... So many of you may have more than 1, and both types of cameras.

Which do you prefer to carry around in the parks?? DO you carry both PnS, and DSLR if you own them??? Do you whip out the PnS to get the quick shots??? And leave the DSLR for more formal shots??

As much as I love photography, and the quality of the photos.. I am not sure I would want to lug around a DSLR to the parks...

I was looking at the Nikon Coolpix P90, but that's almost as large as a DSLR!!

I just wondered what people preferred to do with their camera time...

Thanks!!!


___________________________
Traci

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I would definitely not be without my dSLR, I'd miss it too much. I would try to find the easiest way to carry it, though, perhaps leaving as much stuff in the room each day as I thought I could do without.

After my first dSLR trip to WDW, I can understand why some would want to bring just a point and shoot, especially if they've already had several trips with a dSLR and have gotten the types of shots they want with it already. It sure would be a lot easier, but definitely less fun and challenging, too, if that's what you're into.

 

[JoeDif]

We usually take both. DW uses the P & S exclusively and I'll use the DSLR exclusively. Normally I'll take the body, 2 lens, extra battery, extra cards, a filter or two. Also , one of the most important extras in my opinion is a comfortable strap. I use the Op-Tech pro loop.

 

[Frantasmic]

My 2 cents.

I haven't been to the parks since 2006 and had been bitten by the bug then. I think we only took P n S with us.

If I were to go today, I'd take my Canon S5 and my Canon XSi. In the day, I'd use the S5 as it gets good shots in the light and would do pretty much what I wanted. At night and for fireworks, parades, etc. I'd have my XSi.

It's going to depend on what your family "standard" is on "good" photography. So many people these days only use their cell phones and for them, that is "good enough." There will be some on this board who take quite a lot of photography equipment with them on their Disney trips.

 

[KarenAylwood]

Last September was my first trip with my dSLR. I brought my PnS too, and spent at least a day in each park with my dSLR, and carried my PnS otherwise (definately lightened the load, but I didn't have a great bag for travelling at the time).

Although, I had just bought my dSLR about two weeks prior to the trip. I had learned manual modes and used them, but wasn't 100% on what to do in certain situations.

Now, my dSLR is my baby. I've bought/received 3 more lenses for it and am a lot more involved in photography. I will bring my PnS with me, but I am guessing I'll spend most of the time with my dSLR. I'm planning on buying the Crumpler 5MDH so I can fit an extra lens. I have the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 that I'm looking forward to using on dark rides, and all in all I think I just have a lot more interest in my dSLR.

If I go a few days with the dSLR and it's really bugging me (lugging it around) I'll have the PnS to fall back on. I can't go without a camera

 

[coloneldebugger]

PnS (Panasonic tz3) for the daytime and anything lit enough for night time. Otherwise I use my trusty Konica A200 for night time stuff.

I couldn't imagine hauling a dslr around all day. But that's my preferrence.

 

[Sewfun]

On our last trip we took both. I took the PnS to the water parks and the dSLR to the regular parks. Both cameras are Sony, and the PnS is almost as big as the SLR. My kids had their own PnS cameras but didn't take them into the parks like I thought they would. My SLR got a huge work out as it was my first trip to the parks with it. I hope to go again in December, and will definitely take the SLR again.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My kids had their own PnS cameras but didn't take them into the parks like I thought they would.

Yes, speaking of kids. I've decided that for our next trip I'll be buying them each their own bag so they can haul their own stuff like cameras, jackets, maps, etc. They've had their own fanny type packs/drink holders, but last trip they weren't enough, and both of them had their own camera equipment to use (which wound up in our bags and added to the difficulty of carrying them around).

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I think that people lugging around those big SLRs in the parks look like dorks.

 

[zackiedawg]

I've been a two-camera strategist since 2003, when I was upgrading to my second digital camera (first was a floppy-disk-based 1MP digital which was my debut to the world of digital photography). I wanted what was at the time a pretty serious digital 'prosumer' camera, the Sony F717...a large, heavy, metal, swivel bodied $1,000 camera. As I was buying it, and browsing the site looking at other cameras, something caught my eye - it was a Sony U20, which was positively the smallest, cutest, most miniscule little camera I've ever seen, and in bold electric blue metal body (even by today's ultra-compact standards, this thing was SMALL!!!). I immediately decided that I wanted both - the big camera for when I was serious and wanted to take photos, and the tiny one to bring with me any other times, when I just wanted to have a camera on me for when the moment struck. The strategy worked wonders, and I even found times when I just didn't feel like bringing the bigger cam, and stuck with the little one for the day.

When I upgraded the 717 to an H5 superzoom P&S, I also decided to upgrade the 2MP U20 to a 4MP L1, which was nearly as small, but better featured. The same strategy continued to work - with the L1 the all-the-time camera and the H5 the photography-day camera.

Along the way, I upgraded the L1 to my still-current T100 ultra-compact - again an upgrade in features but still small enough to carry anywhere anytime...and in a nice bold red metal body just for fun. Then, the H5 sequed into the DSLR.

I love bringing the DSLR to Disney - usually at least once to each park each trip. The T100 goes with me to dinner, walking around Marketplace at night, or any other casual moment where I just bring along a camera in case something strikes me...and every once in a while when I just don't feel like bringing the bigger cam along (such as when I was in Disney in March 08 at a conference, and would pop into the parks after the conference meetings...I could go right from the convention center to the parks since my T100 was sitting in a pocket ready to go).

 

[MICKEY88]

I think that people lugging around those big SLRs in the parks look like dorks.

I agreee 100%,. especially if they wear photography vests, or modular harness systems..

 

[kaffinito]

I bring two cameras to WDW (or any other trip), my Nikon d90 and my Panasonic Lumix Tz5. I use the Tz5 for DTD so I don't have to carry a lot of stuff with me, and I use the D90 the rest of the time. I just can't go to a park without my DSLR now. It's a blast to use in the parks, although the camera and the lenses that I "have to" take with me are a bit heavy.

 

[YesDear]

Call me a Disney Dork.

I know Mark looks cool when he takes his cameras to the parks!

 

[handicap18]

I've been to Disney 5 different times. Each time I have brought an slr (film twice and digital 3 times). Our 2nd trip in '05 I brought my film SLR and my digital PnS. I mostly used the PnS. Took 600+ pics with it. Only took 3 rolls of film with the film SLR. After getting home and looking at all the pics, I much preferred the pics from the SLR. Less than 2 months later I bought a dSLR.

Each of our last 3 trips I've only used a dSLR. Our most recent trip (last month) I used my D300 with battery grip attached. I bought the Black Rapids strap and even though it was $60 it was worth every single penny. I had zero issues carrying around the camera all day long in the extreme heat. I like it better than the Op-Tech strap. For extra lenses I use a lens pouch that attaches to my belt. Works great for me.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

Everyone in our family brought there own camera to get pictures from different angles and age groups. I used my DSLR the wife and both kids have p&s. We use them all. I did leave my dslr in the hotel one day and regreted it.

 

[jfinke]

I think that I have the PnS on me at all times. I usually carry the DSLR earlier in the trip. If I am anywhere near AK, I am definitely bringing the DSLR.

 

[boBQuincy]

I think that people lugging around those big SLRs in the parks look like dorks.

Look like, act like, or just plain are? Count me in, I always have a SLR with me in the parks.

Did you know that one of the performers in HSM3 at the Studios uses the word "dork" in his performance? Did you notice how many SLR users looked like someone called their names when he mentioned "dork"?

 

[tjl1388]

Call me a dork as well. My D300 is with me the whole vacation.

 

[Groucho]

This question seems to have been coming up a lot lately!

I'm always surprised that the PnS gets the reputation for a "quick shot" when a DSLR with an autofocus lens will generally be much faster at getting the same shot. If you use a lens hood (so no need for the lens cap for protection) and leave it on all the time, you can raise the camera to your eye and fire off a shot while the PnS is still extending its lens.

Of course, if you have completely the wrong focal length, that's another issue; but that comes with the territory.

Speaking of vests, I used my new-to-me Bob Krist/LL Bean photo vest while camping last weekend and was fairly impressed - of course, my wife was less than impressed! Regardless, it may need to at least come along to the next Disney trip and maybe make an occasional public appearance.

 

[MICKEY88]

This question seems to have been coming up a lot lately!

I'm always surprised that the PnS gets the reputation for a "quick shot" when a DSLR with an autofocus lens will generally be much faster at getting the same shot. If you use a lens hood (so no need for the lens cap for protection) and leave it on all the time, you can raise the camera to your eye and fire off a shot while the PnS is still extending its lens.

Of course, if you have completely the wrong focal length, that's another issue; but that comes with the territory.

Speaking of vests, I used my new-to-me Bob Krist/LL Bean photo vest while camping last weekend and was fairly impressed - of course, my wife was less than impressed! Regardless, it may need to at least come along to the next Disney trip and maybe make an occasional public appearance.

once you get used to the convenience of a vest it's hard to leave home without it..