Disney World Trip

[msuben]

I am taking my wife and 2 children to Disney for a whole week soon and have a camera question. Should I take my Canon Mark II N and a few lenses (listed in profile below) or should I invest in a good Canon pocket cam? I have never been to Disney and this our one shot to go. I want to capture some memories but don't want the bulk that goes with it. Thanks for any advice.

Bennett

[SuzyView]

I have gone there many times, and at first, thought I needed the best of the best. Then after being always the one holding the extra bags, jackets (if needed) and food, etc., I got tired of it. I bring the Domke 5XB and 5D2 with 24-70 and that's it, or the P&S if the weather is bad. Don't need it all except for the evening fireworks or parade shots. So, if I am going again next spring, I will take the P&S and run around with my 2 boys.

[datadump]

i went there recently... brought SLR and two lens and g10 point&shoot... its all fun but too much gear. not as agile. too many things to worry about (kids and strollers , gear theft etc..) at the end of one day, i preferred just G10 and be done with. i dont think disney scene is my "type of photography" anyway. also, G10 takes good standard definition video, and spouse can use the g10 easily.

[CastMemberJames]

If this is your one shot to go I'd go with the pocket camera. You can always bring the other stuff and if you feel like bringing it after the first day then you have it, but I'd suggest the pocket camera if it's your first time so you can have fun with your family and not worry about your camera gear.

[msuben]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I am going to go with a pocket camera. After the trip, my wife can use this as her camera. Now what camera? Would the Canon Powershot SD1200 IS be a good choice? I am trying to stay in the 200-300 range.

[mbellot]

We go regularly (every 2-3 years) and I always bring the DSLR (20D the first time, 1d3 last two times), especially since we do character meals.

For lenses I'd take the 17-40 and 24-70. I haven't found a huge need for tele lenses and the ones you have are substantial additional weight. If you had a cheap and light 70-300/5.6 it might be worth dragging "just in case".

Make sure you bring a flash for outdoor fill and indoor bounce.

EDIT: Nevermind

[RobNYC]

I have brought my dSLR and would do so again. Whenever I go somewhere and don't bring it I end up regretting it later!

[FrostQ]

I'll be going end of November...are there lockers at every ride? I'd hate to just leave my gear sitting around...I'll be going with my g/f...no kids to worry about

sorry for the potential thread hijack

[davidfig]

Given my camera list. I would take the 28-135, 50mm 1.8 and a flash. That's it. The 28-135 is the walk around. The 50 is the indoors and the flash is for fun.

If I had a brand new crop 7D. It would be similar. Take the EF-S 16-85, 28 1.8 and a flash. Hum! off camera flash is sounding real interesting now.

I would try to find the smallest bag to carry this so my hands are always free.

[timbop]

I'll be going end of November...are there lockers at every ride? I'd hate to just leave my gear sitting around...I'll be going with my g/f...no kids to worry about

sorry for the potential thread hijack
no lockers. Take a small camera backpack; you can place it between your feet (all the rides allow this). To the OP, I always take my dSLR - for me the photography is part of the enjoyment. Most of the rides are pretty tame, and Disney spends a lot of money on the scenery - no detail is overlooked. I guess it depends on how old your kids are, but you can certainly enjoy the rides with them while the cam is put away, and ten take it out afterward.

As for long lenses, I regretted not taking my 70-200 when I went to the kennedy space center last time. I went on the behind the scenes tour while the shuttle was being prepped, and got only mediocre shots of it on the pad with my 24-70. It is also very handy for seaworld or for the shows at disney. True, it did get heavy by the end of the week, so I didn't take it to blizzard beach - nothing to photograph there and nowehere to keep it safe anyway.

[REL1203]

My wife and I go to Disney World every year, and when I first got my 300D years ago, i took it, had the kit lens, and the 38-135 and a Flash, and took that bag with me everywhere, even on the upside down coaster while wrapped tightly around my leg (the g-force keeps the bag on the ground anyway).... After selling the 300D, i went with just my PnS for 2 years, and always hated the pics. I just got the 7D, and we are going to Orlando in Dec for 8 days, and cant wait to take it. I will probalby only take my soon to be released/purchased 17-50 2.8 VC Tamron, my EFS 55-250 for parades and outdoor long range shots, and my 50 1.8 just to have in case... Disney Scenery is top notch and I would want the best I could have for pics.

[kini]

1st time. One time shot. 2 kids. A good P&S. Something with a decent range lens and decent movie mode. There will be PLENTY of Disney hired photogs to take shots of you and your family at all the events, hot spots, rides, with all the princesses etc... You can buy the whole CD afterwards too if you want. The best part of that is that you get to be in some of the shots too.

The other thing is, you want to enjoy your kids enjoying the park. You don't want to be Mr. Photographer, stopping all over the place, trying to get "THE" shot while your kids just want to have fun.

Spend the time with the kids, ride the rides with them, watch them have fun, take some snaps with the P&S but...

Family first, everything else including photography is secondary.

Gene

[CanonHowitzer]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I am going to go with a pocket camera. After the trip, my wife can use this as her camera. Now what camera? Would the Canon Powershot SD1200 IS be a good choice? I am trying to stay in the 200-300 range.

Look at the newer SX200IS. I got my wife one for her birthday. It has a lot of features, including manual. 12 mp / 12 optical zoom.
Check B&H and amazon for a good price.

Good luck.

:)

[Celtic Tiger]

...True, it did get heavy by the end of the week, so I didn't take it to blizzard beach - nothing to photograph there and nowehere to keep it safe anyway.

I don't know, some of the moms were lookin' pretty good the day I was there;)

My 2cents on the debate...The first time I went I took my brand new 300D and I worried about it on rides etc a lot of the time. When I look at the shots I took, they are all of the snapshot variety anyway.

Last couple of times I just took a P&S...slipped it in my pocket between shots...didn't worry at all and had a great time. This is my recommendation.

(actually Bizzard Beach does have lockers)

[Jeff Costantino]

You don't mention the important part - how old are your kids? We're going to go in December but my kids are 4 and 2. We're going to have a bag of crap for the kids and a stroller, plus whatever we end up buying while we're there. If your kids are out of diapers, you won't have as much junk to tote around so that might free you up for your gear.

Since the lockers are at the main gate, which isn't near any rides, you're carrying all your stuff with you or on your stroller. People push their strollers up to a ride and leave their stuff on/in it while they queue up. I've never had a problem leaving the diaper bag and walking away but YMMV with expensive items. Don't forget you'll be walking - a lot - going on rides, waiting in line, getting on/off the bus, eating, etc... so your 2.6 pound body and lens will probably get heavy. If you decide to take it, I'd suggest bringing your 24-70 and the 17-40, probably the 70-200 but there really isn't a lot of telephoto stuff unless you go to Animal Kingdom and go on the safari tour.

I think I'm just going to bring my SD800 instead of my 300D and lenses, For me, the equipment gets in the way if I'm with my family.

[Tee Why]

If it was me and this is primarily a vacation trip, I'd take a very small dslr like an Olympus E 450 with a kit lens or a micro 4/3 camera. I do think a p/s is more portable, but I cannot tolerate their slow AF speed, lack of responsiveness, and low image quality.

Have fun though.

[shomat]

I'll be going end of November...are there lockers at every ride? I'd hate to just leave my gear sitting around...I'll be going with my g/f

There are no lockers at the rides. There are lockers at the front of each park.

I've been to Disney World twice - once with a P&S and recently with my 5D. I brought just one lens - 24-70/2.8 - and carried the 5D slung over my shoulder. I left it in the hotel room when I went to the water parks.

I brought my camera on nearly every ride. The only times I was worried were Splash Mountain where we got soaked, and the Aerosmith roller coaster which is very fast and goes inverted a number of times.

Whenever I return, I'll probably just bring a p&s. Easier to carry, less to think about.