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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Deciding between a new camera or a lens for a trip
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03/11/2012 01:05:12 PM · #1
I will be taking my two children to Disney World in a month for a vacation. Initially I had intended on renting a 24-105 lens for the trip as my 50mm is too limited, my 17-40 is too wide and the 70-200 is a beast and a bit long. So the rental for the time frame is just over $100. But I got to thinking I could spend a little more and get a waterproof point and shoot and I would get some use out of it at the pool and would have a light carry around lens.

Will I be happy with a p&s after strictly using my 5DMII? Will the images be good enough?

My thinking is if I go with the p&s I won't be as focused on trying to get artistic shots and perfect light but will get more snapshots and won't worry as much on the photography. The camera is lightweight, fits in a pocket and I won't have several thousands of dollars in equipment hanging on my neck and worrying what to do with it on rides. But will I regret not having the 5D at all? If we go to seaworld I will pack along my big camera and the 70-200 and possibly the same for the Animal Kingdom. So what do you all think? And which camera would you suggest as a waterproof p&s? I was thinking of the Panasonic Lumix TS-3.

So thoughts? P&S or rent a 24-105 lens?
03/11/2012 01:13:11 PM · #2
Well, it's a pain to carry around a large camera and if you just want fun family shots, I'd go with the p&s as long as its a pretty good one.

And do you really want shots of the animals? I mean, for me those shots are kinda useless. The point is to get pictures of your family. Use something that will let you easily do that so you don't have to worry about camera gear.

There are photographic outings and then there are family outings. 10 years from now, I won't give rat's ass about the whale at Sea World but I would kill for great shots of my kids while they enjoy themselves...

At least that's just my opinion. :-)

Message edited by author 2012-03-11 13:17:55.
03/11/2012 01:21:22 PM · #3
I found many uses for my 5d at Disney. Even submitted a few challenge entries from there that did well. You cam get great hd video as well from your mark ii. The lens will be a great addition you will constantly use. I would go for that.
03/11/2012 01:35:18 PM · #4
I'd go with the p&s. Those rides can be rough on a camera (and do you want to rent a locker to put it in?), especially the wet ones. A month from now it will be pretty hot there.

eta: Unless you're going with a group, and plan to hang out with someone willing to hold your camera while you go on rides with the kids, then I'd take the big gun.

Message edited by author 2012-03-11 13:36:56.
03/11/2012 01:35:50 PM · #5
you are trying to capture memories, so choose the gear that will do that for you. for me its a no brainer, this is why i bought this stuff.

i have tons of family photos of places like Disney world and to be honestly rarely go back to look at them, they just take up space on my hard drive.

when i go to these types of places now i try to bring the good gear along and make a really nice photobook afterward that captures the memories of the trip, not just the people but the places too. i leave the photobooks out and my kids and family and friends always look at them when they see it when they are just sitting around hanging out.

i don't spend the whole time getting pictures, but i do dedicate a few hours to getting some good shots. at the the pool i would bring out the camera get some shots of the family then put it away in the room and enjoy the fun. most rides you are able to drag along a back pack so protecting the gear shouldn't be an issue, even on some the wet rides there are enclosures to protect it, just bring zip locks to store it in.

while the family is waiting in line is a great time to step out and grab some shots of the scenery and hop back in when you get what you need.

I agree with Kristin in that the shots of the animals are useless. if you want shots of animal go to a zoo. I don't know if you've ever been to Disney but go on the safari first thing as soon as it opens, race to the back, the line is very, very short and the animals are being fed at that time so they are out and not seeking shelter from the heat. its nearly impossible to get good shots, the safari ride is very, very bumpy. Sea world is different, i'd grab a few shots of the whales, you don't get to seem them that often.

if you want good shot of the fireworks you will have plenty of time to get them, and a point and shoot wont help you at all, you want the good gear for those.

i wouldn't rent a lens, buy a used one and sell it when you no longer need it, if you break it or damage it you need to buy it anyway.

take out an insurance policy on your gear, so if you do break it, no big deal.

also i'll try to dig up a blog i came across, this girl has amazing photos of disneyland, really captures the essence of it.

edit: not the one i was thinking of but its a good read. //www.disneyphotographyblog.com/



Message edited by author 2012-03-11 13:37:52.
03/11/2012 01:36:27 PM · #6
I am going through this decision constantly. I hate lugging a big camera and moreso, big lenses. That's why my favorite all around lens is the Nikon 18-200. I that I wouldn't even consider a full frame camera until they came out with the 28-300.

I don't know what Canon offers, but I think the Tamron 18-200 is well regarded, as is the Sigma equivalent. Check those out.

EDIT: Oops, here's the full frame one:

//www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/506046-REG/Tamron_AF020C_700_28_300mm_f_3_5_6_3_XR_Di.html

Message edited by author 2012-03-11 13:39:00.
03/11/2012 01:41:22 PM · #7
oh and pay attention to the details, the people that design that place have designed every inch on purpose, everything was planned, everything is intentional. I have never seen a place like it.
03/11/2012 02:10:51 PM · #8
Thank you for all of the advice. Honestly I don't think I would like such a small camera and while it may be a burden at times I like Mike's idea of the photo book. Most of my photos stay on the computer or in a few frames, starting to get some large canvases done as well but for vacation I think the book would be a great idea and I would want my camera with me. I think I will rent the 24-105 and may haul the 70-200 in my backpack as well. Between moving and the vacation I don't want to buy one at the moment and have been very happy with lensrentals.
03/11/2012 03:40:56 PM · #9
I have been to Disney among other parks a few times, living in Florida. I always bring my SLR, although I do not ride any rides, so I can keep it with me at all times, and don't have to worry about much. While the P&S is handy, we have a waterproof one, the quality is horrible in comparision. I can't stand to look at the pictures most of the time they are just that bad, although we do get some occasional good shots, and it is nice if it is raining at the park, but I'd rather still bring my SLR with 1 all around lens.
03/11/2012 08:24:10 PM · #10
I carry a high end P&S (Canon G10) when I don't want to lug a full kit. Not pocketable but very convenient and does a good job. If water is an issue a zip lock bag or similar will do.
03/11/2012 09:19:11 PM · #11
I've dragged almost everything I can think of, to go see the mouse. A Canon 30D modified for IR, a 40D, a Mamiya 645 medium format (boy was that heavy), and the last rip a Lumix ZS10. The latter was light, good zoom, and fit in my pocket.
03/11/2012 09:40:56 PM · #12
I'd rather take a small waterproof P&S than my 5DmkII. Why? I want to go on the rides, run around and play with my kids. That's why I'm there. Not to create the best photos technically possible. Not to carry around pounds of gear.
03/11/2012 10:05:13 PM · #13
My wife an I took our our kids on a Disney vacation last May. Here's my advice all around Minso.

1. Look into buying a Southern California adventure pass(I think that's the name but not exactly sure. I'll ask the wife and tell you for sure later). It costs about $250 per person but is well worth it if you plan on going to more than one place. You get 3 Days at Disney, 1 SanDiego Zoo trip, 1 Universal Studios admission, and 1 Sea World admission. Also you get a break on a daily shuttle passes. Obvisously if you're just doing a one day thing or something then this won't apply.

2. Close the joint down. My wife and I Took the Kids to Disneyland three straight days. We would go early then go back to our Hotel and nap and eat. We would make sure the kids were. Ice and rested then go back to Disneland before the fireworks and ride rides til they closed the park. After the fireworks most people leave so the lines are so short, some rides don't even have waits. It's awesome. Some might say it's bad parenting to keep your kids up til midnight 3 nights in a tow but that was about 1 year ago and my kids still talk about it all the time. They especially loved the nights.

3. I don't know if you've already booked lodging but if you haven't I strongly suggest yoh look at a Hotel called the Hotel Menage. That's where we stayed and it is awesome. Great pool and we would leave to walk to the park and be at the front gates of Disneyland 16 minutes later. We paid somewhere in the neighborhood of. $110 a night which IMO is cheap to be within walking distance of Disneyland. A bonus is that you can actually watch Disney's fireworks from the pool.

4. As far as photos go what I did was set aside 1 night session and 1 day session as photo ops and took my good camera and lens (D700 and 28-300VR). The rest of the trip I stuck a small P&S in my pocket. I bought the P&S at a pawn shop begore I left home. I paid $40.

For reference my kids at the time of our trip had just turned 5&7.

Edit: sorry about all the spelling errors. Iphone and fat fingers don't mix.

Message edited by author 2012-03-11 22:08:39.
03/12/2012 05:55:01 AM · #14
Thanks for the continued advice. I will be going to Orlando and it is all paid for, I think I don't have to worry too much about the rides since the age difference in the kids but I will take a ziplock for splash mountain and the rapids for added protection. I think with my black rapid strap and if I stick to just one lens it should be manageable. I will check out the pawn shop to see if there is anything but I played with my dads p&s and honestly the small camera felt awkward to hold and frame. Plus there is a good chance we will be moving to FL so future trips are likely.
03/12/2012 06:37:03 AM · #15
Since you note being worried about protecting your camera.... If you want to really protect it, get the thinktank hydrophobia series. If you're just looking for some periodic protection, check out the Optech Rainsleeves. I've used them in rain snow (both falling and heavily blowing) as well as high winds and extremely fine sand and had no problems. They take a little bit to size/fit over your camera, but they pack extremely small, are pretty cheap, and work pretty damn well.

Beyond that though, I would say that there are smaller camera options that do feel good, but they'd costly enough that you'd have to have an interest in a P&S camera anyway. I'd strongly recommend the LX5, for instance, but it's too costly just to get for a vacation or two.
03/12/2012 07:01:50 AM · #16
I vote point and shoot.

Simply because I find myself avoiding candids these days. I worry too much about background, quality of light, etc. I looked through my pictures last year and realized that I had hardly any slice of life pictures. While good photos are wonderful, when I look back at the photos of my children when they were young, it's not the setup shots that I enjoy. It's the quick captures that show who they really are.

With a good camera in my hands, I think I need to take good pictures.

Are you looking for good pictures? Or are you looking for memories.

Also, we spend too much time moving kids around to the perfect spot. It's disney world. They don't want you to be taking the time to get good pictures, they want to have fun!
03/12/2012 07:06:59 AM · #17
Originally posted by vawendy:



Are you looking for good pictures? Or are you looking for memories.



both :)

Even with the 5D I can do candids, I quite enjoy street photography and while I will likely get the kids to pose some I find I enjoy getting a location and letting them do their thing, I get a good shot and it isn't as forced looking. Maybe I will go to BB and handle some p&s but they feel awfully small in my hand lol
03/12/2012 07:25:43 AM · #18
Originally posted by MinsoPhoto:

Thanks for the continued advice. I will be going to Orlando and it is all paid for, I think I don't have to worry too much about the rides since the age difference in the kids but I will take a ziplock for splash mountain and the rapids for added protection. I think with my black rapid strap and if I stick to just one lens it should be manageable. I will check out the pawn shop to see if there is anything but I played with my dads p&s and honestly the small camera felt awkward to hold and frame. Plus there is a good chance we will be moving to FL so future trips are likely.


Oh jeez. I read your OP and just went Disneyland in my head when you clearly wrote Diney World. Oops. I guess a lot of my advice won't apply then. But, some of it still stands. You should still try to enjoy the park's late night hours as much as possible and I think setting asside certain specific times for photos and sticking a cheap durable P&S in your pocket for the rest of the times is a good way to go for a photog.

The main thing is have fun. Your kids should remember this for a long time.

Oh and some form of entertainment (iphone games, nintendo DS, something like that) is very helpful and keeps the kiddos from losing their minds in some of the longer lines. Another thing we did was buy our kids P&S cameras for their B-Days right before we left so a lot of the time while we were waiting in line the kids would go around (where we could still see and head them mind you) and take pictures of their own. They had a blast taking pictures and some actually came out pretty nice. We bought them some Kodak P&S from WalMart. They work well and are built like a tank. They're waterproof so the kids can actually take them to the pool.

Anyway, hope you have fun and your kids will love it.
03/12/2012 07:34:26 AM · #19
Definitely NOT P&S.

If you never saw Disney at night you would be kicking yourself once you got down there. P&S cameras generally do quite well when there is a lot of light but not so well in the dark. There are some fabulous restaurants you can eat at for which you'd want some great pictures better taken with a better camera.

I went to work on business to Germany once for 2 weeks and went back again 2 years later. Both times I took my 20D, 2 lenses, and the 580EX flash. I just carried it around in my backpack. Granted, it wasn't as hot and humid there is it will be in Florida, so you should take that into consideration.

But, I did try to take note of the types of cameras people were taking on vacation. For the most part, they were not P&S cameras.

Finally, you could simply do both. Bring the P&S and 5D and make the decision then. My guess is you'll be bringing the 5D and forgetting about the P&S.

Now, I would never suggest to my mother that she bring the 5D and not a P&S...but then again, she isn't a member of DPC. :)
03/12/2012 07:42:28 AM · #20
Originally posted by PGerst:

Definitely NOT P&S.

If you never saw Disney at night you would be kicking yourself once you got down there. P&S cameras generally do quite well when there is a lot of light but not so well in the dark. There are some fabulous restaurants you can eat at for which you'd want some great pictures better taken with a better camera.

I went to work on business to Germany once for 2 weeks and went back again 2 years later. Both times I took my 20D, 2 lenses, and the 580EX flash. I just carried it around in my backpack. Granted, it wasn't as hot and humid there is it will be in Florida, so you should take that into consideration.

But, I did try to take note of the types of cameras people were taking on vacation. For the most part, they were not P&S cameras.

Finally, you could simply do both. Bring the P&S and 5D and make the decision then. My guess is you'll be bringing the 5D and forgetting about the P&S.

Now, I would never suggest to my mother that she bring the 5D and not a P&S...but then again, she isn't a member of DPC. :)


Disney at night. Good point.

Bring both.

:)
03/12/2012 08:26:21 AM · #21
If you are making a separate purchase for the trip, why not a used dslr, a cheap rebel or something. you could slap a light lens on it, or a prime, and get decent quality and near pocketable ease.

This thread brings up a good point. As photographers, amateur or professional, when it is time to live your own life, its great to have memories, but you have to make them first, and you want to be in them not watching from the sidelines like a journalist. Sometimes I have to tell myself to put down the camera and live.
03/12/2012 09:30:38 AM · #22
Originally posted by blindjustice:

As photographers, amateur or professional, when it is time to live your own life, its great to have memories, but you have to make them first, and you want to be in them not watching from the sidelines like a journalist. Sometimes I have to tell myself to put down the camera and live.


We have a winner.

Do you want to document your family's Disney experience or be a part of it?
03/12/2012 09:37:18 AM · #23
Personally, when we go on family trips, I'm always behind the camera, so a p&s is worthless to me.
For the very few pics that I'm in, I set up my gorilla pod, which was one of my best investments. Wrap it around a rail, a tree branch, or set it up on a high location. Run. Smile. There ya go. :)
But that's me. Works well.
But then again, I don't go on rides either.... used to LOVE them, now I get sick. So, I'm not really missing out either.
03/12/2012 09:44:24 AM · #24
Originally posted by blindjustice:

If you are making a separate purchase for the trip, why not a used dslr, a cheap rebel or something. you could slap a light lens on it, or a prime, and get decent quality and near pocketable ease.

This thread brings up a good point. As photographers, amateur or professional, when it is time to live your own life, its great to have memories, but you have to make them first, and you want to be in them not watching from the sidelines like a journalist. Sometimes I have to tell myself to put down the camera and live.


that's why we have green box mode and significant others.
03/12/2012 02:50:02 PM · #25
Well now that I have solved the camera dilemma it is on to the next one. Currently I live in Va but will likely be living in FL and good chance Orlando by July. So do I buy the 5 day tickets ($800 with parking) Or drop an extra $700 on an Annual Pass. It would be a gamble if we don't move but if we do it would be another $1500 for the passes. Drat, wish I would know where we were moving before vacation.
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