Disney World Pictures – Our Photography Guide for Walt Disney World

Disney World Pictures – Our Photography Guide for Walt Disney World 

Cameras          

Iphones 

On the flip side, iPhones in particular perform surprisingly well in well lit environments. So much so in fact that often times you can rarely tell the difference between an iPhone shot and one from a DSLR without really cropping in to see all the details. For most applications, phones do surprisingly well and continue to get better with each increasing model. The kicker to it all is price. The new iPhone costs what? $1000 for the base model! Sure, it does more that just take pictures but an entry level DSRL can cost less that half of that! 

Point and Shoot Cameras

In my opinion, until mirrorless cameras started to become more cost effective for the average consumer (thatks Sony!), point and shoot cameras were making a come back. Almost ironically, (since they were the ones that started making mirrorless more affordable and worth having) Sony’s RX100 series was incredibly popular despite costing near $1000. Even at $1000 it’s the only point and shoot camera I’ve ever even considered buying and that is because of the image quality it can produce. Sony was and is smart in creating a point and shoot camera with almost full “manual” functionality similarly to what you’d find in a DSLR. As a result, it is likely the best point and shoot camera for night photography due to the added benefit of long exposures and being able to set exactly what you want the camera to do and the ability to override what the camera “thinks” is right. 


Super zoom cameras are good (the ones with the massive reaching extendable lenses that are attached to the camera body), but the Sony tends to be a cut above the rest and is the right blend of usability and image quality while remaining pocket size. There are more budget friendly options but the main goal is to buy a camera with the ability to shoot in full manual mode. You may not understand it at first but it’ll be worth it in the long run!   

DSLR Cameras 

DSLR cameras are my personal preference for anyone really looking to make the most of their Disney photos. Inevitably, DSLR’s tend to be more difficult to use and in all reality you’ll have to learn the ins and outs of aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual modes to get the most out of your camera. If you don’t want to fool with all (despite how much I recommend that you take the time to learn) of that, stick with your iPhone or a point and shoot camera. The advantages of the DSLR only really shine through when you take control of the camera and get it out of the”auto” mode. 


Almost ironically, you can pick up an entry level DSLR from Nikon’s refurbished (outlet) site for around $400 ($398 on Amazon). Compare that to the RX100 and the cost vs. performance benefit is better in both regards. Sadly you lose out on some of the added benefits in the video realm of things as well as the form factor of the Sony as well. The camera world tends to be a game of trade offs. My personal recommendation, and the $400 one mentioned, is the Nikon D3400. The 3400 is a great deal for the money and truthfully the image quality is pretty superb for the price due to an extraordinary sensor. Every single image in this article was taken on a Nikon D3400. Of course, any entry level camera is going to have its downfalls and after using a 3400 for about a year I have to say one of its greatest weaknesses are medium to high iso situations. For the non “camera people” iso is essentially artificial light introduced into the image so that the exposure is corrected (that is a vast over simplification but the best way I can describe it) in very dark scenes while keeping your shutter speed high to “freeze” the scene you’re trying to capture. 


If your budget allows I’d recommend a higher end model, but for most theme park guests a d3400 or even the Canon or Sony equivalents should be more that adequate. If money was no problem (I’m a college student so money is always a concern for me lol) I highly recommend Nikon’s full frame lineup. Full frame cameras are going to always be more capable that crop sensor cameras and far superior in dark situations when equivalent lenses are being used. 

Full frame cameras utilize a larger sensor that the lower tier “crop sensor” alternatives but also accompany a much more aggressive price point. If you can afford it, Nikon’s D750 and D850 are some of the best cameras ever made. Tom Bricker even called the D750 The Best Camera For Disney Photography before the D850 hit the market. Obviously, he’s a far more accomplished and experienced photographer that I, but to say that’s high marks is an understatement. Tom is the go-to guy for Disney photography tips!


Last but certainly not least, you have mirrorless cameras. Sony is the pioneer for mirrorless and if you want the ultimate in performance the A7R III is a mind glowingly capable camera. The downside to the A7R III is that the camera body itself costs around $3,000. Up until a few days ago, Nikon had no real mirrorless alternative, but if your budget allows Nikon’s new Z6 and Z7 cameras look like they will be quite impressive once they ship! Mirrorless cameras offer up the blessing of a compact size while retaining incredible image quality. Truthfully I see mirrorless cameras as the next big thing in photography if the price continues to fall. The compact size is unmatched and the weight savings is a bit shocking. For Disney parks photography, light weight and compact size is a huge blessing when carrying around camera gear all day. (As always, if you do want to pic up a camera before your trip, buying through these links really helps us out here on the site and costs you nothing more!)     
                

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Lenses   

If you’re looking to take photos of your kids or even simple scenery around the parks, a stock kit lens that comes with most DSLR cameras and Mirrorless cameras from the factory will more that exceed your expectations. If you really want to up your photo game and develop the sharpest images possible, I highly recommend investing in a better lens that the one included with your camera purchase. Nicer lenses tend to be better in low light due to faster apertures and the results tend to speak for themselves. In the case of dark rides, a lens with an aperture of f/1.8 or lower is ideal for capturing light but no lens is going make you a better photographer without first learning to shoot in manual mode. It is the cornerstone for any great photo and makes all the difference in the end result – especially at night! 


In perhaps the greatest oversimplification possible, to get great shots at night ideally you’ll need three things. A tripod, time, and some patience. The darker conditions you shoot in the longer you tend to need to keep your shutter open, and the tripod is used to keep the camera as stable as absolutely possible during the longer shutter speeds. For areas like Pandora after dark, a shutter length upwards of 30 seconds is often required to retain a proper exposure for the image. If the camera is bumped or moved while that shutter is open, the image becomes blurry and basically unusable. The patience part of the equation tends to be waiting out the crowds. 


You’ve likely all scene the empty park shots, and they’re some the best shots around, but oftentimes we’re taking those images up to two hours after the park officially “closes.” If you wait around, Disney will let you mill around main areas for quite some time after officially closing while guests finish dining or riding those last minute attractions. The lighter crowds that late at night coupled with long shutter speeds (know as long exposure shots) essentially turn the individuals in the photos into “ghosts” if the keep moving continuously while the shutter is open for upwards of 30 seconds capturing the image. It’s a crazy concept and one that I’ll readily admit is hopelessly nerdy, but the results tend to be spectacular. Once you try late night photography, you’ll be hooked after you capture that one image that takes your breath away. 

The Average Guest

If you’re an average Disney parks guest, your iPhone is likely going to serve you quite well, but chances are if you clicked on this post you’re looking for more out of your photos and hopefully this answered a few questions. People ask me about my photos all the time, and truthfully I’m probably not the best person to ask. I’m admittedly new to this and don’t always get it right. However, to me this just goes to show that you can get a lot of neat shots (even if they’re not technically perfect – I still have a lot to learn!) with very little technical experience and on a relatively tight budget. My entire camera setup wasn’t all that expensive and if you’d like me to do a full overview of all the gear I use, feel free to let me know and I’ll make it happen! On the other side of things this article may not be all that popular and is likely the least “Disney specific” post I’ve ever written. It’s a bit tough to explain too much in detail in writing one article, but hopefully this answered a few questions and may help you in starting your road to taking show stopping photos that far exceed mine! 

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