Digital camera vs. film About This Page:

[TxDisMom]

Hiya! Here's another question for you wonderful people [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Which do you use/prefer, and why? Digital cameras, or regular 35mm film cameras? Also, as an extra question, I know you can get film developed on-site, but is there somewhere that you can get your digital pictures put onto a disc to clear out some space on a memory card?

TIA for your input [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Carol

[Tara O'Hara]

I totally prefer digital, Carol. You can get prints as well very easily these days too. I have heard there is a place at the Imagination pavillion in Epcot to get your pictures put on a disc but I haven't used it personally. A large memory stick holds tons of pictures as well. We only needed one for our whole trip and I took lots of pictures! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ILuvDisney]

Before I got my digital camera, I took a TON of 35mm pics but it's pure heaven with my digital camera and I love being able to preview my shots.

[jim_demaio]

Another vote for digital camera. I love being able to preview the pictures and upload them to the computer.

[statelady01]

I sure was hesitant about the digital camera at first, as I scrapbook, and having prints is super important- if that is also of concern to you- you can upload digital pics to a site like Snapfish and order reprints as well as take them to your processing store- most can make prints off digital pics in a short time.

I am asking for a really good digital camera for Christmas!

[WillCAD]

For the average vacationer, digital is the way to go. Film still has the edge in color perception, resolution, and flexibility, but digital means no more buying film, instant preview, delete any pics you don't like, and you can take a couple of hundred pics between battery or memory card changes, but with film you have to change film every 24 or 36 shots.

To download and print your digital pics, the only place on site to do this is the Kodak Imaging center at Journey Into Imagination in Epcot.

Details and costs here:
WillCAD OnLine: Internet Access and Digital Picture Downloads at WDW

[chezp]

We bought a digital camera six weeks ago and took it with us last week to Disneyland Paris, along with our 35 mm camera. I figured we'd use both, but no - we took 3 shots with the 35 mm and 300 with the digital. I love digital and I doubt I'll take very many more shots with the 35 mm.

[mattjs]

I agree, digital is amazing. And so true Cheryl...where you'd once take maybe a roll or two of film, you take litterally hundreds and hundreds of pics with digital. And I think more pics (and quick review of em) really helps your eye for, and understanding of photography/light etc. Much quicker learning curve I think. Digital's A LOT of fun [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Which one did you and your husband end up getting Cheryl? Also looks like a great camera based on your great DLP trip report pics.

[101 Dalmations]

I have to agree with WillCAD. One other advantage of 35 MM is capture speed. There is no delay when you press the shutter button. Digital has a small time lag (but getting better). Also, I wouldn't take my digital anywhere where it could very easily get wet. Water will fry the electronics, though I understand that some digitals are even overcoming this now.

I think the best camera depends on the situation. For most pictures, which will likely be people shots, digital is more than adequate.

I believe there is also a place in MK where you can drop off memory sticks, but they send them over to Epcot for the transfer.

[JoanW]

I bought a digital camera in June 2002 (Fuji Fine Pix 2600Z) when we were heading to Hawaii. I loved it. It was very user friendly and I was able to download my photos everyday to my brother-in-law's computer. Some of the photos I emailed to myself and some my brother-in-law just put on a cd for me. (He lived in Hawaii, thus we had access to his computer).

I have an SLR 35 mm camera that I use sometimes for specialty photography like fireworks and other unique opportunities (other than ordinary family shots), but last July 4th I used the digital at night and it worked just great. I also took it to Europe last year and did some night photography on the Danube River with the digital and they came out great (but required a little reading before I headed out at night to make a few lighting adjustments).

This was not a top of the line digital, and I probably did not pay more than $200 for it but did enough research before I bought it to see what I needed in a digital camera (3x optical zoom, 2.0 mega pixtels, etc)

I have purchased a USB memory card reader that I can pop the disk right in and it is like a minifloppy drive. This was easier than downloading out of the camera onto the computer. I also have two 128 mb Smart Media cards, which I think hold almost 400 pix each, depending on the camera settings. Again, read the manual, it tells you how to adjust the camera to store more or less photos

For beginning digital photography, it is a fun camera and was easy to learn. I love checking the photos at the end of the day and my kids know how to use it too.

And WillCAD, I got my laptop and it is ready to go (15 more days!) [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[GATechGal]

It's funny, but I have the opposite experience of Mattjs. I take fewer pictures with digital than I did with my 35mm. It's because I KNOW that I've got the shot. I always took at least 2 of everything cause I didn't know if the picture I took was ok. So it's actually cheaper for me to print out my digitals in the quantities I want at 19 cents a piece at SAMS. Also check out SAMS or Costco for memory sticks. They are pretty cheap.

[Dumbo]

I'm going against everyone. We have a Cannon 2000 and I would never consider digital. We take a lot of pictures with a 300mm lens. We live out where we have a lot of oppunities to take animal pictures. We can be close to the house and still get great pictures of turkeys and deer.

[wheatenwalker]

I love my digital camers. I brought a memory card with lots of space so I wouldnt have to print while there. Today I am taking a class in digital photography and I hope I can post some of my pictures later from my trip- I think I took much better pictures- previewing is awesome! Sheila

[DaveH]

In the long term digital is cheaper. The questions to need to ask yourself is, what do I want to do with my pictures. Depending on what you want and need depends on what is best. If you are looking towards just taking nice pics and printing some as normal print up to 5x7 I would go with a 2MP digital. If you think you want to print some 8x10's I would recommend at least 3MP. 2MP pics can do 8x10's but you have to use the frame. I have a 2MP digital I bought 2 years ago. It has more limits to it than the 2MP cameras today. I love it. I bought extra memory cards. I also found a portable hard drive that is no longer made. I download the pics to it every night. If you have a laptop you can do it there also. As far as downloading pics to CD at WDW, it is very expensive there compared to say going to a Kinkos or some other place like it. You can get prints there at WDW also but it is also expensive compared to WalMart. 35mm is still a better quality product than digital Digital has gotten much better and is still improving. If you are thinking about getting a digital I would search the web for info on them so you can make an informed decision.

BTW the pic of me with the living statue was with my digital and CM took it on automatic.

[disneyprincess]

Personally I just purchased a digital camera two days ago. The original one that I had was only a 1.3 mega pixel. I would not recommend anything under 2.0.

I researched Best Buys site as many of you suggested before I purchased. I found out a lot of helpful info since I know nothing about digital camera's. Since I have been playing around with it. I LOVE IT and don't think that I will be taking many pics with my 35mm!

After finding all the info I needed I then went online to various stores. (so that I wouldn't have to drive from store to store comparing) I finally ended up buying it at Walmart. They had a very helpful staff and good prices. I paid about $200.00 and bought a Canon Power Shot. Can't wait to show you all my pics!

Good luck!