Dave Answers Disney Digital Photography Questions

by Dave Marx, Author of PassPorter Travel Guidebooks

Villefranche at Sunrise... by Dave Marx

Author Dave Marx is a veritable font of knowledge, information, and experience -- and he loves to share it with fellow vacationers. Here are common questions about digital cameras and digital photography while travelling, especially at Walt Disney World. You can get more general information on photography in his article on Taking Great Photos.

Question: Are digital cameras OK to be sent through x-ray with carry ons? I realize the battery may be zapped of its charge, but I will have time to re-charge it before use. I'm concerned about the memory sticks, of course.
Dave Answers: Security will require that you send your digital camera and other electronic devices through the x-ray. They won't be hurt by it, and batteries will survive just fine. It won't hurt memory sticks or other digital storage devices.

Question: How many rechargeable batteries would you take on a 14 day trip that includes 10 days on a cruise ship?
Dave Answers: My suggestion is to have three full sets of batteries (six batteries in your case) - four can be charged overnight, and I've rarely needed to change batteries more than once a day, no matter how many shots I've taken. Three sets in a day should be more than enough.

Question: When you go on a beach excursion on a cruise, is there somewhere to keep cameras safe?
Dave Answers: Good question. Sand may be a bigger risk than theft. Whatever else you do, take steps to protect it from sand -- a ziplock bag works well when you're not actually shooting (although shooting through the plastic generally won't degrade your image quality too badly). Include a dry cloth in the bag to absorb any condensation. One way to protect against theft is to take your photos early in your day (before you swim), then return your camera to the ship.

Question: I've had my digital camera for 2 years and never had a problem with it. Today, I went to take pics and they were all coming out as purple streaks. When I have the LCD screen displaying, I don't see what my camera is pointed at, it's just the purple streaks. I changed the batteries and also tried all 3 of my memory cards. Any ideas?
Dave Answers: This sounds similar to a problem I've been having with one of our cameras. I've found that working all the various dials and switches eventually fixes things, but it does not bode well for the long-term life of the camera. Unfortunately, an actual repair these days tends to cost more than most cameras are worth, so I've begun researching our next purchase (mine's a Minolta, and that company is no longer around). [Update: I got a new camera!]

Question: I am looking for the perfect digital camera. The need a very basic, easy to use camera. But I want a camera with good quality photographs and good zoom capabilities. If I have about $400 to spend, do you have suggestions?
Dave Answers: Alas, there is no one perfect camera, digital or otherwise. That's why there are so many of them -- so many needs, so many personal preferences. Canon is a very good choice. They've got a lot of models so it can be hard to choose, but you can't go too far wrong. I can't name a particular model, as they change so frequently. Your description covers most cameras out there. Even the cameras with lots of fancy features include a simple point-and-shoot mode that performs very well. If you've taken photos all your life and know that your needs haven't changed much, then you'll probably be happy with a camera with fewer features. On the other hand, there are a lot of folks who catch the photography bug, only to learn that their simple camera can't grow with them. $400 should be plenty for your needs -- maybe even more than you need to spend these days. If it costs more than $400, you probably are getting more features than you'll ever need. Most cameras in the $400 range have very similar zoom lens capabilities. What that means is, a slight wide angle to a moderate telephoto "optical" zoom (the actual lens) and a digital "zoom" that simply gives you a blow-up at reduced quality.

Question: About how many high resolution photos can be put on one CD?
Dave Answers: You'll be able to put hundreds of photos on a single CD - far more than fit on most memory cards. The real trick is having enough shots to fill the CD. You'll pay about the same price for a CD with all those shots as you would for a single roll of 35mm film processing with double prints - you'll be coming out way far ahead.

Question: I really, really want to post my pictures online. What is the easiest way to convert them for the web?
Dave Answers: There are sometimes compatibility issues, but it's rare. The main thing to know is whether your camera uses Compact Flash (CF), SmartMedia, Memory Stick,SD/MMC, CD-R, floppy disk, etc., so you don't buy the wrong one (my dad did just that a couple of years ago, but it did fit my camera, so it wasn't a huge problem). Some cameras that use Compact Flash may not be compatible with IBM MicroDrive, which is a high-capacity Compact Flash Type II storage device (slightly thicker than Type I Compact Flash). Check with your camera's manufacturer if you're considering a MicroDrive. Several years ago Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com) did a study on the performance of various brands of Compact Flash in various popular cameras. It's a bit technical, but you may find the article interesting.

Question: I have a new digital camera, and would like to buy a memeory card. Are all the memory cards the same, or do only certain brands of cards fit in certain brands of cameras?
Dave Answers: No, you don't have to use the credits for everyone. Just be sure you have a plan for using the unused credits -- Signature dining, Hoop de Doo, eating at additional Table Service restaurants (and using the counter service for the third meal of the day), etc. A dining credit is a terrible thing to waste.

Question: When I take photos of the Osborne Lights at Disney-MGM Studios, the colored lights look white. Why?
Dave Answers: that Osbourne Lights problem is called Auto White Balance. Check your camcorder controls for a way to temporarily disable the feature. You may not find it, as simpler camcorders tend to lack this option. (You'll find auto white balance in digital still cameras, too.) In most cases, auto white balance is a good thing. Otherwise, faces would have a green tint when photographed under flourescent light, and be too red when photographed under incandescent light. Unfortunately, auto white balance also decimates dawns, sunsets and the glorious tints they add to scenes, and takes some of the color out of nighttime locations like the Osbourne Lights.

About the Author: Dave Marx is the co-author of PassPorter Walt Disney World, as well as several other PassPorter titles. He's been a photographer for over 30 years. Many of the photos that appear in the PassPorter travel guides are his work.