[Question] Calling all photographers!

[MarenBoBarren]

Hey guys! So after looking at all the gorgeous photos on here for the past few years I thought I would pose the question that is always lurking around in my mind. I have always wanted to have a better camera than my little point and shoot digital camera. But the thing always holding me back from taking the plunge and getting a better one is the size of them. Do any of you photographers find it difficult or cumbersome to carry around a larger camera? Not just while walking around the parks, but in trying to get on and off rides, not to mention trying to protect it on Splash Mountain?

Any tips?

Also if anyone has any tips to aid in my search for a better camera (while not breaking the bank) I would gladly accept those!

Thanks!!

[disneylandreport]

Re: Calling all photographers!

Yeah, I can't lie...I don't like dragging my camera around. It's certaily heavier than I want it to be. Not to mention the fact that if you want to do anything resembling good night time photography, you have to bring a tripod with you too.

---------- Post added 08-23-2012 at 12:37 PM ----------

As for tips, you may want to think about buying a used one.

[brenden]

Re: Calling all photographers!

I used to carry around my DSLR, but no more. It gets heavy!

[Hot Sauce 1]

Re: Calling all photographers!

I feel naked without my DSLR around my neck and I'm usually wearing a camera bag that weighs about 15-20 lbs. I completely understand why you wouldn't want all that stuff with you. It DEFINITELY gets cumbersome and can make it difficult to get on and off rides as well as go to the bathroom or sit down in a restaurant.
If you go to iTunes and download the latest ISO5571 podcast, Tom Bricker and Cory Disbrow discuss two brand new Point & Shoot cameras that are amazing and darn near as good as a top of the line DSLR. You will be very interested in what they have to say.

[dictionary]

Re: Calling all photographers!

I keep my DLSR in a back pack..I think you kind of get used to having it with you. So I just pull it out whenever I am in line or walking around the park. Sometimes I will leave my camera in the room and scout things I want to shoot then next day follow up with what I wanted to take picts of. Honestly there are really some good PNS if yours is kind of old but if you really want to get a DSLR and get into photography then it is a good investment, but if you just want to take better photos you don't necessarily have to get a DSLR.

[alphabassetgrrl]

Re: Calling all photographers!

I'm pretty used to having it around my neck, even when going to the bathroom and all. Sure, it's a little cumbersome, but I so constantly see shots that I want, that I don't want to wait to dig it out of my backpack.

One tip for night-time photos: gorillapod. It's a little flexible tripod that you can put on top of trashcans or anything else flat, or can wrap around anything else. I got the one with a ball head, so one twist and I can get it moved any direction I like. Much less to carry around than a regular tripod and it's pretty sturdy.

Buying one: definitely look at used, especially if you can find one with fewer shutter-actuations. Or look at what CostCo has.

[mouseknotts]

Re: Calling all photographers!

I thought about getting a DSlR camera but I did not want to have to carry the extra lens around. So I found a point and shoot that would fit the bill. It can do long zoom and many other things. I know that their are trade offs but to be honest I am still trying to learn how to use all of its functions. It is as big as a DSLR and I have been very pleased with it. It works well in low light conditions and it can reach out and bring things in closer.
You will have to choose what functions you want and then choose the camera that is best for you.

[Macro]

Re: Calling all photographers!

A lot of effort has gone into tuning camera bags to make your life easier. A good bag makes SLRs way easier to deal with. You can find tons of them at Adorama and B&H. You can get ones with velcro separators which allows you to configure the internal compartments in the bag: one for body& lens, one for telephoto, one for PB&J. There are slingbags which allow access to the side of the bag. You to pull the camera out, take some pictures, and pop it back in the bag without ever taking it off your back. A good bag makes all the difference. And the camera can hide in there when it's wet.

Heaping gobs of oversimplification follow... DSLRs take better pictures for two main reasons: bigger image sensors, and interchangeable lenses. Big image sensors can take good images in less light which makes pictures possible in conditions which small sensors can't handle. Like this. Full-sized interchangeable lenses give you tons of flexibility. After carrying them for a while you'll think they actually weigh a ton. Here's my favorite lens. Oooouuuucccchhhh!!!!

You might consider a kind of camera which has a big sensor which doesn't have interchangeable lenses. A Canon G1 X is an example. There are quite a few others but not near as many as DSLRs. They also make big sensor cameras which have small interchangeable lenses. They're generally called mirrorless cameras. They're for people who want good-sized sensors but don't want to lug around a big heavy camera. They cost about the same as a low-end DSLR. You might look into those. They're small enough to carry around on your neck but still work in challenging conditions.


By the way, the big luggables do have their uses (click for a larger version):

.

[Sambo]

Re: Calling all photographers!

I got a sling bag that rotates from my back or side to directly on my chest. The easy open in right there and my DSLR slides right out and ready to roll. The bag does not seem as heavy as just carrying the camera all day by itself. Better weight distribution I guess.

[Mac Daddy]

Re: Calling all photographers!

I feel naked without my DSLR around my neck and I'm usually wearing a camera bag that weighs about 15-20 lbs. I completely understand why you wouldn't want all that stuff with you. It DEFINITELY gets cumbersome and can make it difficult to get on and off rides as well as go to the bathroom or sit down in a restaurant.
If you go to iTunes and download the latest ISO5571 podcast, Tom Bricker and Cory Disbrow discuss two brand new Point & Shoot cameras that are amazing and darn near as good as a top of the line DSLR. You will be very interested in what they have to say.

This is what I was going to suggest, but it feels wrong to call them point and shoots somehow. Probably because their price tags aren't that far from DSLRs. I think the two cameras in question are the Sony RX100 and the Olympus OM-D-E-M5. Both these SMALL cameras are insanely good. If size is an issue, you might want to check into these two cameras as the DSLR and lenses can get heavy really quick. Between my D800, 70-200 and 14-24, my camera bag now feels like it's around 50 pounds. I'm sure it's not really half of that, but it sure feels like it after a walk to the park from the structure. That Sony is looking better and better each time I go to the park.

[chris001]

Re: Calling all photographers!

THAT bag is hot, thank you for posting that Sambo!

Yeah it is, how many lenses can you fit in there with your camera Sambo?

[MarenBoBarren]

Re: Calling all photographers!

Thanks everyone for your advice so far! I'm now starting to delve into research mode since I'm hoping to give myself one as an early birthday present before my trip to the parks net month! I appreciate all the advice so far and love to have it keep coming

[Sambo]

Re: Calling all photographers!

Yeah it is, how many lenses can you fit in there with your camera Sambo?

75-300mm
50mm prime
18-55mm IS kit lens - usually on camera
Wide Angle Conversion Lens 0.42X

That's on top of 6 SD cards, spare batteries, 4 filters, cables, remotes, flash and diffuser, two tripods, and more... Trying to figure out how to put my Gorillapod in there comfortably.

[MRaymond]

Re: Calling all photographers!

A good DSLR for the budget conscience is the Sony Alpha series. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the Nikon or Canon but it's easily half the cost. If you are migrating form film SLRs the Sony can also use the older Minolta lenses. I have a first gen Sony A300 and it still works perfectly.

For the tighter budget look on Ebay or the Pawn shops. The equipment won't be new but the prices are better. If you go the Pawn Shop route you can actually try the camera out before you put down the cash, just be ready to buy new batteries.

Unless I go to the park strictly to shoot photos I cut myself back to two lenses, a tripod, a flash, batteries and a few memory cards. I leave everything else in the car in case I need it. I also recharge batteries in the car and take a laptop to transfer the memory cards if they get full.

[RAMKAM]

Re: Calling all photographers!

When I know I am going on rides where I might get drenched I bring a zip lock sandwich bag. Sandwich size is fine for a point and shoot or phone and quart size usually works for my DSLR. Just throw your camera into the bag before you get on the ride ad you are good to go.The bags are even better for WDW where you also worry about an afternoon downpour.

[MRaymond]

Re: Calling all photographers!

When I know I am going on rides where I might get drenched I bring a zip lock sandwich bag. Sandwich size is fine for a point and shoot or phone and quart size usually works for my DSLR. Just throw your camera into the bag before you get on the ride ad you are good to go.The bags are even better for WDW where you also worry about an afternoon downpour.

I keep a few ziplock bags in the camera bag for that same reason. I also found a bag specially designed to use the camera while in the bag. A little cumbersome but the hardware stays dry. I use it for my Video camera as well.

[CritterCountryGirl]

Re: Calling all photographers!

Instead of starting a new thread I'll just ask my question here.... For those with point n shoot cameras or have used one before, is there a trick to getting good non-flash dark ride photos? Does it help at all to have it on the night setting, or another specific setting? Same for world of color photos because last time I attempted it they turned out horrible! Or are good pictures of these things hopeless with point n shoot?

[mouseknotts]

Re: Calling all photographers!

A lot of it depends on the type of camera you have and what its settings are. For things like world of color make sure you are using a vivid color setting. If you can you will have to play with the light source settings. It will take a lot of work but you can get good photos with the right settings and the right camera.
One trick that I have used well is manual focus and then messing with the iso settings.
It realy differs a lot camera by camera, what worked well on my old camera does not work well with my new camera, granted while it is a point and shoot, (the lens does not come off) it is a high end one with more functions than I have learned to use.
I used a Cannone sx40hs and I was able to get this one from fantasmic.


this one from cars land.



all were hand held.

[alphabassetgrrl]

Re: Calling all photographers!

Dark rides are tricky. With a P&S I would kick the ISO up as high as it is still functional (if you get too high you get visual "noise), and see if you have a setting called something like exposure compensation, and drop that down to -1 or more. This allows your camera to take pictures that are a bit darker than it would otherwise like, which can maybe keep your shutter speeds up a bit.

Night settings will usually use a flash, or long shutter speeds, neither of which are good for dark rides. You might try the sports setting, see what that does. It might keep the shutter speeds faster. Try a lot of things, but keep an eye on the flash so it doesn't fire (you'll have to turn it off every time you go to a different "mode.")