Camera Carrying in Disney World

[Gig 'Em Mickey]

Maybe should go on photo forum? Trying to get some more response though.

In our past trips I have always had a point and shoot. Upgrading to something a little larger, slightly smaller than a DSLR. Wondering how y'all carry larger caermas. Strap over shoulder? Bag? Backpack? I'm just so used to dropping it in a cargo pocket and whipping it out and snapping a pic when I want to.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

I would stick with your same strategy, I use a D700 dSLR for almost all my shooting EXCEPT when I go to Walt Disney World...

I only take a Canon s95 in my cargo pants pocket and go -- and guess what, the shots are as GOOD AS or better than any shots I have taken with a DSLR at Walt Disney WOrld.

Everything is lit up at night, and there's a lot of bright color - so everything looks pretty noiseless and clean with the P&S. On the couple occasions I have brought the dSLR with me, I used it for a few hours and then left it back at the resort. They are just always in the way at WDW.

When I did bring mine, I brought it in a backpack I had adopted for it and one other lens (and a rocket blower -- you can't find them anywhere down at WDW if you need them). I got a Domke foam camera insert pocket from a local camera store meant for a system, but used it in the backpack...

But seriously, my advise? Get a good P&S like the Canon s95/s100 or the Panasonic LX5, and forget bringing any other camera and enjoy WDW>

I will never bring a dSLR with me again.

All of these were taken with an S95 -- in fact, if you look at my full galleries, all the Disney 2010 were taken with the LX5, all the Disney 2011 were taken with the Canon s95 --

http://ronannarbor.smugmug.com/Other/WDW-2011

 

[KeithVH]

+1. Over the years, I have gone from carrying a kit, to a single body and a couple of lenses, to one body and one lens, to a P&S. This evolution is largely due to the fact that I want to enjoy the park, not really trying to create "art" on vacation.

A decent P&S with a larger than standard sensor that provides high image quality will do as well as any DLSR for purposes of vacation memories. You wait until your first warm day when you have to schlep around a ton of equipment. Or that you've missed some experience 'cause your busy screwing with the camera. If you only plan on shooting in Auto mode to possibly prevent that, then why bother with the bigger camera.

If you must take the DSLR, get either an OpTech or Zing compression foam strap. And/or a DSLR hoslter bag (use the shoulder strap around the waist like a pack). Otherwise something like an S95, G12 or similar. Check DPreview.com to verify sensor size (there aren't that many models).

 

[tehSAC]

I use my black rapid rs-7 strap whenever I am out shooting. Going to see how well it works in Disney in may. I most likely will only be carrying on lens too.

 

[ArtieJim]

I carry my throw my DSLR over my shoulder and keep it in front of me to make sure no one bumps into me and more importantly I don't accidentally swing it into some little kid's face. Don't you just hate when people with backpacks don't realize that something is attached to their back and they just swing around and you get rocked in the chest with a ten pound bag?

 

[dreamscometrue]

Just a few years ago, I carried around my SLR 35mm film camera, and a camcorder. My, how times have changed. If I want to just take a day for photos and video shots (not a play day, but a photography day), I will take a DSLR and go do that. The vast majority of the time though, I just take my Canon Powershot p&s. It's super practical, and that's what's important when going to the parks to play. The snapshots turn out fine and it takes decent HD video too. I know the sensor is small, but the video I take (and dump on my laptop each night), looks very good after editing, even when shared on a 50 inch flatscreen.

 

[Gig 'Em Mickey]

Yeah I'm not getting a DSLR. It's either going to be a superzoon or a larger point and shoot. The superzoom I'm looking at is styled like a DSLR, but it a bit smaller in size to a DSLR.

It's almost like I want both. The bigger camera that takes better pictures and has more features. And the P&S for random quick pics.

Ugh...decisions.

 

[71dsp]

I only take a Canon s95 in my cargo pants pocket and go -- and guess what, the shots are as GOOD AS or better than any shots I have taken with a DSLR at Walt Disney WOrld.

All of these were taken with an S95 -- in fact, if you look at my full galleries, all the Disney 2010 were taken with the LX5, all the Disney 2011 were taken with the Canon s95 --

http://ronannarbor.smugmug.com/Other/WDW-2011

We took an S95 with us on our last trip, and some photos came out great, but most were not as good as yours. Do you use full auto mode, or any of the other programmable modes?

 

[britdaw]

All of these were taken with an S95 -- in fact, if you look at my full galleries, all the Disney 2010 were taken with the LX5, all the Disney 2011 were taken with the Canon s95 --

http://ronannarbor.smugmug.com/Other/WDW-2011

These are amazing pics!! Great camera!


I have a Sony Cybershot DSCw-350 that I would love to be able to just slip in and out of my pocket while we're walking around in the parks, but it takes horrible pictures unless you're outside. Low-light pics are a no-go with this camera.
I have a Canon Rebel XS that I got this year and I am planning on taking it into the parks with me. I'm going to have to look for a smaller bag than my current camera bag, though, 'cause that thing gets tiresome to carry around after a while; I recently took it to the Nashville Zoo and my shoulder was in such pain after we left!

 

[wdwcandice]

I was recently "turned on" to the same type of harness straps that the Disney photographers use. Oh my gosh, what a life saver this is. This enables me to take my DSLR in the parks without killing my back or shoulder. I usually wear it so the camera is right in front of me and safe or sometimes I sling it over to one side. It has easy clips that detach it for a quick moment, like to hand it to a PhotoPass photographer and then just clip it back on. I am not computer savvy enough to link you to a picture but it is a strap that criss crosses across your back, you put both arms through it and then the camera clips on in front. I bought mine at Adorama.com for about 13 bucks. If you do a search for a harness camera strap, I'm sure you'll find it. Love this thing....

That being said, the last trip to WDW I took, I ended up leaving my DSLR in the room about half the time, relying on my Nikon p&s or even my droid HTC EVO phone...which took great pictures.

When I go solo, I lug the DSLR around because I want to take the pictures, when I am with others, I like the ease of p&s.

I bought a great Ameribag backpack/shoulder sling and usually just wrap my DSLR up in a cloth and put it in that if I am not using it.

 

[everestnut]

Well this may not be much help as I shoot with my Dslr, but I use a Lowepro slingshot and its a great bag for Disney. Big enough to get my gear in but small enough that I can carry it on every ride. I found it easy to carry on the last trip as it wasn't a full backpack.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

We took an S95 with us on our last trip, and some photos came out great, but most were not as good as yours. Do you use full auto mode, or any of the other programmable modes?

I take everything in JPG. I never use auto mode. I use aperture mode most of the time, but usually leave it at the largest setting so I get sharp back to front photos, changing it only if I want to do something artsy -- not really advised with a PS and not really much that lends itself to that at WDW....

I take everything with flash forced off....I can't remember the last time I took a photo with flash...and I use image stabilization.

In post processing, I boost the color since I love colorful shots; I decrease the highlights; and I sometimes sharpen a bit, usually not.

That's about it.

I've found that shooting with a point and shoot really relies on two things: one, make sure you hold your camera in such a way that it doesn't move while you press down the shutter....and make sure you compose your shot the way you want using rule of thirds and leading the eye.

 

[ddbowdoin]

wait a second... not to call you out, but are you actually telling me images produced from your S95 are the same and sometimes better than your professional full frame (fx) Nikon D700?

I just can't see that... there is absolutely no DOF with a Point and Shoot, you can eliminate any bokeh from any image. The old F8 and you're great is a safety net to nail focus, but it creates rather boring and plain images.

 

[ddbowdoin]

just buy a leica... (I wish!)

 

[CP_alum08]

That being said, the last trip to WDW I took, I ended up leaving my DSLR in the room about half the time, relying on my Nikon p&s or even my droid HTC EVO phone...which took great pictures.

Have you tried printing those pictures out to put in an album to have for the rest of your life? They're not great.

I just can't believe that the s95 took as good as photos as the D700 either. There is no way. One can only assume then that you don't really know how to use your D700. Even if both were in full Auto modes, the color and contrast would be so much better on the (full frame!) D700 that you would never glance back at the s95 shots. I've used the s95, it's a very nice little camera, but by no means does it out preform my D90, which is a 'lower end' camera than the D700.

 

[ddbowdoin]

Have you tried printing those pictures out to put in an album to have for the rest of your life? They're not great.

I just can't believe that the s95 took as good as photos as the D700 either. There is no way. One can only assume then that you don't really know how to use your D700. Even if both were in full Auto modes, the color and contrast would be so much better on the (full frame!) D700 that you would never glance back at the s95 shots. I've used the s95, it's a very nice little camera, but by no means does it out preform my D90, which is a 'lower end' camera than the D700.

I also did a double take on that....

 

[RonAnnArbor]

I said FOR THE SHOTS that I took...Why would I want to take dof shots at Disney?....I also take exception to the "can't get dof shots with an s95" comment -- it does some amazing dof work in manual mode -- sure, it's not creamy bokeh blur in the background, but you still get some great blur, if that is what you are looking for and take the time to set up your shot. But again, I repeat, why would I want that at WDW?....I don't take people photos, so I really have very little interest in DOF shots....

But I stick with what I said -- if I used my D700 to take the exact same shots that I took with the s95, you would see virtually no difference in the shots taken at the same apertures, nor any difference in noise level.

Seriously -- it's not about the camera, it's about the photographer. The s95 is a great little P&S...but you also need to know how to use your equipment no matter what it is.

The point is that at WDW, I absolutely will NOT lug a dSLR along ever again for the shots that I can get with a high-quality PS like the s95 (or LX5)

 

[CP_alum08]

I guess we can agree to disagree, but I still don't believe it. If a P&S can produce the same quality as a high end DSLR then why would DSLRs exist? it just doesn't make sense. I agree completely that the photographer makes the shot not the camera, but at a point that big of a difference in gear becomes very noticeable.

Again, agree to disagree. I cary my DSLR and multiple lenses with me everyday I am at WDW and have no problem doing it.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I said FOR THE SHOTS that I took...Why would I want to take dof shots at Disney?....I also take exception to the "can't get dof shots with an s95" comment -- it does some amazing dof work in manual mode -- sure, it's not creamy bokeh blur in the background, but you still get some great blur, if that is what you are looking for and take the time to set up your shot. But again, I repeat, why would I want that at WDW?....I don't take people photos, so I really have very little interest in DOF shots....

But I stick with what I said -- if I used my D700 to take the exact same shots that I took with the s95, you would see virtually no difference in the shots taken at the same apertures, nor any difference in noise level.

Seriously -- it's not about the camera, it's about the photographer. The s95 is a great little P&S...but you also need to know how to use your equipment no matter what it is.

The point is that at WDW, I absolutely will NOT lug a dSLR along ever again for the shots that I can get with a high-quality PS like the s95 (or LX5)

I guess we can agree to disagree, but I still don't believe it. If a P&S can produce the same quality as a high end DSLR then why would DSLRs exist? it just doesn't make sense. I agree completely that the photographer makes the shot not the camera, but at a point that big of a difference in gear becomes very noticeable.

Again, agree to disagree. I cary my DSLR and multiple lenses with me everyday I am at WDW and have no problem doing it.

People can agree to disagree, but it doesn't mean your opinion is correct... you are 100% wrong.

If you want me to list out EVERY difference I could certainly do that... I was using DOF as an example. Why would you want smooth, creamy bokeh? Because you're making art, that's what separates you from the loads of crap on the internet people took with their cell phones. Why else would you spend the money on a 700? What is your current rig?

With such comments I'm trying to figure out if 1.) you're an artist, 2.) you're a professional, or 3.) you just went out and spent a crap load of cash on a camera.

The full frame sensor is 20X larger than the sensor in the s95 (which I have used). It's a handy little thing but how can you admit that the cameras images are identical? The mere fact that the sensor is larger means pixels are larger, which brings greater color range and retention of texture.

I know how to properly compose, expose images... guess I can run out and shoot an NFL game with a kit lens because I know how to use the lens... oh wait, I'm not on the field because I don't have 10 grand to spend on a 400mm f2.8. Gear starts to matter at some point, unless you're just a soccer mom.

 

[WDWFigment]

I said FOR THE SHOTS that I took...Why would I want to take dof shots at Disney?....I also take exception to the "can't get dof shots with an s95" comment -- it does some amazing dof work in manual mode -- sure, it's not creamy bokeh blur in the background, but you still get some great blur, if that is what you are looking for and take the time to set up your shot. But again, I repeat, why would I want that at WDW?....I don't take people photos, so I really have very little interest in DOF shots....

But I stick with what I said -- if I used my D700 to take the exact same shots that I took with the s95, you would see virtually no difference in the shots taken at the same apertures, nor any difference in noise level.

Seriously -- it's not about the camera, it's about the photographer. The s95 is a great little P&S...but you also need to know how to use your equipment no matter what it is.

The point is that at WDW, I absolutely will NOT lug a dSLR along ever again for the shots that I can get with a high-quality PS like the s95 (or LX5)

Not even close to true.