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Post by lostwithout2peas on Jan 26, 2020 17:19:04 GMT
In a few weeks I will be going on trip to Disneyland with a good friend of mine and it will be my 1st trip to Disney without DH and kids. I love Disney, but being that it isn't a family trip where I don't need to take great photos that will be printed out to be framed and hung on the wall, I'm feeling inclined to leave the big camera at home. I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and I love the camera, but I am feeling a little leery about depending on it solely for pics at Disney! I will be getting a photo pass for pics of myself with the characters and rides and stuff so that is covered.
Being that it's a girls weekend trip I keep telling myself it will be ok, but then I'm like this is your 1st solo trip, you can take as much time and pictures as you want!! Ugh, I'm so torn!
Any one BTDT going to Disney with just their phone as a camera and where happy with the results?
UPDATE 4/5/20
I just realized I never updated this! We went on our trip right before things went south, in the middle of February. Anywho, I only took my phone and had Photopass and was not disappointed! I loved the photos my phone took and not having to carry around my big camera. It was an odd experience not being with the kids, I enjoyed it, but don't know if I'd do it again. I loved the Maxpass with the Photopass, soooooo worth it! It's kinda embarrassing, I've never had so many good photos of myself!
But, I think it all depends on the phone you have as well. My friend has an older iphone and was not happy with her photos and began to rely on me taking the photos cause of this! So for me, it was a happy ending! Hopefully this will help someone when the parks open back up and they too are trying to decide to leave the big camera at home!😊
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Post by MalleyCat on Jan 26, 2020 17:44:05 GMT
I would leave the SLR at home and enjoy yourself. But, I don’t take my SLR anywhere anymore, since my IPhone 7 with portrait mode, takes such good photos.
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Post by Citygirl on Jan 26, 2020 18:09:11 GMT
Yes, we took our daughter there for her first birthday last year (so I wanted good pictures) and only took our iPhones (X) and got the photo pass. I have no regrets and got tons of great pics....some I even enlarged and framed just from my iPhone. Portrait mode has been a game changer.
I can’t remember the last time I even took my DSLR out which is sad.
ETA: I echo bringing a portable charger if you go the phone route.
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Post by boymom5 on Jan 26, 2020 18:18:21 GMT
In your case I’d leave it at home. And if you all really want nicer pictures then chip in for photopass together (assuming Disneyland has it like Disneyworld).
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msliz
Drama Llama
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Post by msliz on Jan 26, 2020 18:44:27 GMT
I just use my Note 4, as I don't have a DSLR. I'm actually editing photos from last year's Universal trip today, and honestly they're not great quality. On the other hand, because I was able to grab my phone and shoot quickly, I was able to get some funny expressions on my kids' faces.
DH and I talked about getting a better camera, but neither of us wanted to lug it around. If your friend moves slowly enough that you can take your time and set up your shots, it might be worth it to you.
I feel like, if I had an iphone I'd have the best of both worlds. The photos are so much better.
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Elsabelle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,612 
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Post by Elsabelle on Jan 26, 2020 18:54:10 GMT
Is it possible to use your dslr for a half day to get the pics you want? Maybe go back to the hotel for some rest and pick it up or drop it off if you used it in the morning. I have taken my dslr and it was so heavy to lug around all day. A half day would have been better. One time I only used my iPhone and wasn’t thrilled with my pictures. Our Disney trip is is also coming up soon so I’m trying to make a decision on this too. I have a newer iPhone now so that would help. I also have a Canon G16 which is much smaller but still takes great pictures so that’s probably my best bet.
Also keep in mind that if you want pics for scrapping there are tons of pictures online that you can use. I don’t bother taking pictures of entertainment anymore, especially nighttime entertainment. Someone has already done it way better than me and I can just enjoy the fireworks or parade.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 26, 2020 18:58:29 GMT
I was really torn when we went to Disney - I really didn't want to carry it around or worry about it getting splashed on water rides. But I was with a kid and it was his first trip (and MY first trip) and I really wanted great photos. I left the fancy camera at home and it was fine. I wished I had even less stuff with me than I did. I love taking photos, but that wasn't really what the visit was about. Photo Pass is a great option. It sounds like you've been before and will go again, so I'd just go minimal and have fun.
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Post by BSideCrafter on Jan 26, 2020 19:09:17 GMT
I don't take my SLR to Disney anymore. My phone camera is great and much easier to carry and I'm always super happy. Plus with Disney Photopass you can get group pictures. I get Maxpasss so I can download all the photos from that each day.
I travel to Disneyland about 6 times a year and my last SLR trip was 3.5 years ago. I now just carry a battery pack to make sure my phone stays charged
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Post by sleepingbooty on Jan 26, 2020 19:12:39 GMT
Annual pass holder here. I refuse to carry more than I need around Disneyland. Nope, not happening. Disneyland is a happy place for carefree roaming and enjoyment in my book. We don't have kids. We're free to do whatever we want and to soak it all up. I place the actual pleasure of the experience over the quality of the photos.
As long as your phone camera performs well enough for you, it's good. Splurge on the PhotoPass (and share the cost together as a group) if you really want some nice photos from your stay + ride pics. Otherwise, you'll be just fine.
If you have a mirrorless that can bridge the gap between phone and DSLR, you can always look into bringing that along with you. I don't even bother with that except if it's for a very special occasion and if I'm certain the weather is going to be super nice. Instead, the best photo tips when going to a Disney park is to make sure you know how to work your phone camera in darker situations without the flash, especially if you've made reservations at one of the dimly lit restaurants, figure out where the good spots to take group/portrait photos are without having loads of people in the background (there are special spots around the castle that ought to allow for this), carry around a light-coloured/transparent umbrella in case it rains (even if your phone is waterproof to avoid drops falling all across the foreground of your pic) and bring a decent power bank along!
Have loads of fun!
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julie5
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,611
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Post by julie5 on Jan 26, 2020 19:32:29 GMT
We went to Disney world for the first time last summer. My phone and the photo pass were more than enough for me. I stopped lugging my dslr in 2015 when I realized I wasn’t even downloading those pix when I got home. I’m 100% iPhone pix now. My dslr is for portraits now.
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Post by Skellinton on Jan 26, 2020 19:42:57 GMT
Wow, I am in the minority I guess.
I wouldn’t leave without my DSLR. Granted, my phone takes good photos in the daylight but the lag time is bad so I often get blurry children. I have a super comfy sling backpack that I only have to take off for upside down rides. I am an all day park goer and walk very briskly and my backpack doesn’t bother me at all. I wouldn’t take it without my sling backpack though. I also like to take photos at night and in the dark rides without using a flash, obviously. My phone camera can’t do that.
I am sure you will be fine, but maybe just take it with you on the trip and lock it up in the hotel. DL it is so easy to go back to your hotel and grab it if you want.
In any event, have fun!!!!
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dawnnikol
Prolific Pea
'A life without books is a life not lived.' Jay Kristoff
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Sept 21, 2015 18:39:25 GMT
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Post by dawnnikol on Jan 26, 2020 20:09:44 GMT
I am with you Skellinton . There is no way I'd go to DL or DW or Universal without my dSLR. However, I love photography and enjoy taking the photos very much. I also am habitual about removing them from my camera and using the photos. I can do things with just my iPhone, but I prefer the photos from my dSLR and it's not a nuisance to me to have it. I even bulk it up for some trips with the extra battery pack/grip. I also utilize the PhotoPass Photographers so I'm in shots and the more shots, the better IMO. I enjoy my time and I don't feel bogged down or overwhelmed by it. If you're going to be happy with your phone photos, go for it! There's no way I'd be happy doing that though. |
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amom23
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Post by amom23 on Jan 26, 2020 20:19:05 GMT
I haven't used my DSLR in a few years. It's just too much to lug around. I just upgraded to the iPhone 11 Pro Max and the camera is amazing (and I thought my iPhone 7+ was great)! Over the weekend I took some BB photos with it and they look real good and no blurry photos.
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Post by cmpeter on Jan 26, 2020 21:02:32 GMT
I don’t take my DLSR to Disney anymore either. My phone does just fine.
Don’t buy Photopass. But Max Pass. Much cheaper and then you can also use it to pull digital fast passes. Max Pass includes photos the Disney photogs take plus all your ride photos.
Have a great trip!
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Post by boymom5 on Jan 26, 2020 21:03:38 GMT
Wow, I am in the minority I guess. I wouldn’t leave without my DSLR. Granted, my phone takes good photos in the daylight but the lag time is bad so I often get blurry children. I have a super comfy sling backpack that I only have to take off for upside down rides. I am an all day park goer and walk very briskly and my backpack doesn’t bother me at all. I wouldn’t take it without my sling backpack though. I also like to take photos at night and in the dark rides without using a flash, obviously. My phone camera can’t do that. I am sure you will be fine, but maybe just take it with you on the trip and lock it up in the hotel. DL it is so easy to go back to your hotel and grab it if you want. In any event, have fun!!!! I agree with you if it were for myself and a family vacation but as it sounds it’s a girls trip that she doesn’t necessarily care to print pictures for framing and such. Since she said she was going to do photopass I think that’s enough. For me I lugged it around every single day (ok we had a stroller and a mil pushing it around when we were on rides but still) and am happy I did. Those pictures even during the day outdo my phone pics and photopass. I plan on framing many and use so may for scrapbooking it’s worth it and I wish I used it more than I did. |
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Post by sleepingbooty on Jan 26, 2020 21:06:00 GMT
Don’t buy Photopass. But Max Pass. Much cheaper and then you can also use it to pull digital fast passes. Max Pass includes photos the Disney photogs take plus all your ride photos. Wait, PhotoPass in the US parks doesn't include both rides and photographers? |
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Post by ecvnj58 on Jan 26, 2020 21:20:41 GMT
I’m a photographer and brought mine but had so much trouble using it. I ended up using my film camera a tiny bit. I actually hired a photographer and it was the best thing ever. I realize on a girls trip that’s probably not a great idea but I would just bring the iPhone.
Although my iPhone photos always suck and I can’t leave behind the dslr
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Post by natscraps on Jan 26, 2020 23:04:10 GMT
Been to Disney World quite a few times and always brought my DSLR. Of course that was before kids and my sons first trip that I had a stroller to keep it in. We went back to Disney in June and I left it at home. DS is now 4 and with my health issues I knew I’d never manage hauling that thing around with me. Best. Decision. Ever. I have an older iPhone6s and between that and Photopass it was fine. I can see how the leisurely trip would make you want to bring it though. We’re planning our first Disneyland this summer for my 40th birthday. For that I’m upgrading my phone to a newer one with a better camera.
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Post by lostwithout2peas on Jan 26, 2020 23:38:34 GMT
So many great tips and insights!! I love hearing 1st hand experience, especially from scrapbookers like myself who know how important pics of the trip are. I think you girls have calmed my fears about my initial instinct to just take my phone. My phone takes awesome pictures and family members are always commenting that they can't believe I took those pictures on my phone. My camera on my phone also has pro mode where I can adjust all the settings like my dslr, so I think I need to just relax and trust that I will be fine with my phone. cmpeter Thanks for the heads up about Max Pass, we where already planning on getting it cause of course we NEED to ride the new Rise of the Resistance ride in Star Wars Land and you need to get in a boarding group as soon as you get there or you will be out of luck as the fill up for the day within minutes!! So if photopass is part of Max pass we will be good to go!! Gosh, I don't know what I'm more excited about, going to Disneyland, or scrapbooking the trip!! 😂 I've already started looking at albums and planning outfits to go with certain lines of paper I wanna use!! |
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Post by prettyprettypaper on Jan 26, 2020 23:38:52 GMT
I did and didn't regret it one bit! We didn't even pay for PhotoPass because :
1) The only "big" ride we went on was Splash Mountain, and we really didn't need to have the photo of us going over the falls.
2) The photographers also used our phones to take pics after they took a picture with their camera.
3) I didn't really care for the special effects that they add in to some photos such as Tinkerbell flying around us, etc ...
I did view all of the photos they took during our visit, and there were only maybe 2 or 3 I would have paid for -- certainly not worth paying the cost of the entire package. I was quite content with the photos I took with my cell phone. I had a Samsung at the time, and I thought it took great pics.
BTW: I did take my DSLR to Disney when DD1 was young and, while it may be better in some situations, I don't think it was worth the hassle of lugging it around.
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Deleted
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May 18, 2024 13:50:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2020 0:03:52 GMT
I used only an iPhone 10 on a recent trip to WDW. The pictures were awesome and we also used Photopass. No need to lug around a DSLR.
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Post by BSideCrafter on Jan 27, 2020 1:40:38 GMT
Don’t buy Photopass. But Max Pass. Much cheaper and then you can also use it to pull digital fast passes. Max Pass includes photos the Disney photogs take plus all your ride photos. Wait, PhotoPass in the US parks doesn't include both rides and photographers? Disneyland is just weird that they offer a daily easy booking FP thing called Maxpass and one of the perks is all the Photopass photos from that day + ride photos. You can book for FP from your phone vs going to a machine, has a shorter cooldown period, and you can get one for say Soarin' while you're standing at the Castle in the other park. It's $15 a day per person. Photopass is $39 for a day |
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julie5
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by julie5 on Jan 27, 2020 2:07:09 GMT
Don’t buy Photopass. But Max Pass. Much cheaper and then you can also use it to pull digital fast passes. Max Pass includes photos the Disney photogs take plus all your ride photos. Wait, PhotoPass in the US parks doesn't include both rides and photographers? DisneyWORLD in Florida includes both. I’ve never been to land in California so I can’t speak to that. We paid $169 and got around 300 photos and videos! Best money I ever spent! |
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Post by gale w on Jan 27, 2020 2:18:16 GMT
The last time I took mine I got tired of hauling it around and put it in a locker. Next couple times I used my point & shoot but the last couple times I just used my phone. I don't need perfect pics. Just pics.
Last time we had max pass and got pics walking around but I don't remember anything about ride pics. This was Disneyland.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
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Post by scrapnnana on Jan 27, 2020 16:15:09 GMT
Since you are getting the Photopass, I would use it to the max and just leave your DSLR home. Your phone pics will be sufficient for supplementing the Photopass.
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Post by sleepingbooty on Jan 27, 2020 21:50:46 GMT
Wait, PhotoPass in the US parks doesn't include both rides and photographers? DisneyWORLD in Florida includes both. I’ve never been to land in California so I can’t speak to that. We paid $169 and got around 300 photos and videos! Best money I ever spent! Oh ok, that explains it. Thanks! We only have the PhotoPass in Disneyland Paris (like WDW). I believe it's currently 75€ (US$ 82.65) if you don't have an annual pass. |
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Post by sleepingbooty on Jan 27, 2020 21:56:25 GMT
Disneyland is just weird that they offer a daily easy booking FP thing called Maxpass and one of the perks is all the Photopass photos from that day + ride photos. You can book for FP from your phone vs going to a machine, has a shorter cooldown period, and you can get one for say Soarin' while you're standing at the Castle in the other park. It's $15 a day per person. Photopass is $39 for a day Thanks for the detailed explanations! We don't have combo packs like these in Paris. However, we have the Super and Ultimate FP. Ultimate allows you to go cut the line at the FP entry without booking for it or getting a ticket in advance. You just hop in at any FP line whenever you feel like it, unlimited. But it's crazy expensive (120€ or US$132/person, ouch). |
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Post by 950nancy on Jan 28, 2020 0:17:43 GMT
Disney, no. I love to take pictures of lots of things in Disney. The colors are so bright and bold. I took my son in 2016, and I brought my camera and Tamron lens (it does it it all for distance and close ups). We were going to HP world in Florida and I knew I wanted specific pictures of the buildings and rides. My camera bag was just large enough to hold my DSLR with the attached lens and charger. It was small enough that if I didn't have to get locker for the ride, it would travel well. For me, half the fun of going to these places is the pictures and scrapping them.
I have a iPhone X and it takes great pictures. I like to have them both on me if carrying a camera isn't a big hassle.
Going with friends to Disney? I might be good with just my X. (It is awesome, but it doesn't compare to my lens on my DSLR.)
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Post by grammadee on Jan 28, 2020 4:29:19 GMT
When we went to Disney 18 months ago (21 of us in our family), we did not take any cameras to the park. I signed up for one photo pass that we could all connect to, and we took our own photos with our iphones. Set up a shared icloud photo album and all contributed photos when we either took them ourselves or got the official ones sent to us. (Set up a text group on iphones too so everyone could post quick notes when they discovered something fun or were going to be delayed for expected meetups.) Came home with over 600 photos that captured our memories really well, and didn't have to worry about the camera getting wet, stolen, dropped, or misplaced.
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Post by caspad on Jan 28, 2020 16:51:43 GMT
I just don't love iPhone photos. I bought a Sony RX100 iv last year for a European trip where space was limited and I wanted excellent photos without worrying about a camera bag. I used it in Disney last year and I'm glad I brought it. If you decide to bring the dSLR, a BlackRapid women's strap makes it so comfortable to wear all day. I just popped it in a backpack when on rides. Another recommendation is a pancake lens like the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 which is a great walk around lens. So sharp and vibrant. |
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