Trips With Cameras
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I just got a digital camera for Christmas. I was wondering if any of the camera veterans have any tips on how to manage your camera while at a park. How to take pictures on rides, the safest way to carry it while on a ride but not taking pictures, stuff like that. Any help is really appreciated as I don't want to break this thing!
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Veni, vidi, coasteri!
(2000 - PKD, Dollywood, SFA, BGW)
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Veni, vidi, coasteri!
(2000 - PKD, Dollywood, SFA, BGW)
I never take my camera on the actual ride. I will put it on the unloading side of the platform and hope no one takes it.
Whatever you do, don't risk it. Not for the money you spent on getting it is it worth taking a chance and having it broken.
Whatever you do, don't risk it. Not for the money you spent on getting it is it worth taking a chance and having it broken.
Well, I have a pair of khaki shorts with a pocket right down by my knee. They work great for a camera, since it won't fall out, (the pocket is Velcro) and it is easily accessible while on a ride, should the urge to take an on ride photo arise.
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-Dave Rutherford
*If things seem under control, you're just not going fast enough*
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-Dave Rutherford
*If things seem under control, you're just not going fast enough*
Well, I have a regular Advantix camera I take to parks. When on rides I put in a fannypack and in a protective case. The only park that gave me a problem with the fanny pack was SFA but they even made me take my glasses off too.
As for on ride photos I usually ride the coaster a few times to get the feel for rough spots and other things that could ruin a picture or make me loose my grip on the camera. When taking the pics I wrap the around chord my wrist to help me keep ahold of it.
I try to carry a ziplock bag with me too for if I decide to go on a water ride or for a rainy day. Putting film and an extra battery in it is also a good thing.
I believe I did runin a camera by taking it on coasters. (I think Hercules was the culprit) All the vibration of woodies I don't think is too good for the camera either but I still carry it on with me. Or you could always leave it with a nonrider like the parks say over and over.
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2000 stats: 135 coasters in 26 parks
Not Too Shabby For A Summer
AOL & MSN IM Name: coasterpunk
As for on ride photos I usually ride the coaster a few times to get the feel for rough spots and other things that could ruin a picture or make me loose my grip on the camera. When taking the pics I wrap the around chord my wrist to help me keep ahold of it.
I try to carry a ziplock bag with me too for if I decide to go on a water ride or for a rainy day. Putting film and an extra battery in it is also a good thing.
I believe I did runin a camera by taking it on coasters. (I think Hercules was the culprit) All the vibration of woodies I don't think is too good for the camera either but I still carry it on with me. Or you could always leave it with a nonrider like the parks say over and over.
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2000 stats: 135 coasters in 26 parks
Not Too Shabby For A Summer
AOL & MSN IM Name: coasterpunk
Old Navy cargo shorts are your friend.
Of course, they'll do you little good when you have an SLR and a big lens.
When I shoot with my SLR, I've just got a smooth system down for carrying it (even if I do look like a dork). I can easily swing the bag around me and change lenses and film quickly. The bag has a latch so I can close it and secure the lenses without zipping it every time. Ditto for the film. I keep it in the car when I'm riding.
This year, I've got Time's device of the year (the Nikon 990), but I'm not sure how much I'll carry it. I really like to have my big lens.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Of course, they'll do you little good when you have an SLR and a big lens.
When I shoot with my SLR, I've just got a smooth system down for carrying it (even if I do look like a dork). I can easily swing the bag around me and change lenses and film quickly. The bag has a latch so I can close it and secure the lenses without zipping it every time. Ditto for the film. I keep it in the car when I'm riding.
This year, I've got Time's device of the year (the Nikon 990), but I'm not sure how much I'll carry it. I really like to have my big lens.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Let's not forget the flying projectiles from last summer. They could have easily been cameras instead of cell phones.
(****, my .sig doesn't work right in this browser)
Well, I have two basic configurations that I use these days. My video camera is small enough that it fits into a very small waist pack, securely zipped into place. The bag is secured with both a waist belt and a shoulder strap. The old "belts and braces" idea, y'see. I've had Fastex buckles fail on me on coasters; dropped my 8mm camera bag on Jack Rabbit that way.
Some years ago I came up with a too-complicated rig for my SLR that involves a pair of straps attached to a belt-loop in the back, extending over both shoulders to the camera. That is to keep the weight of the Pentax off the back of my neck; a standard neck-strap would work just as well. The accessory I added was a 1/4"-24 eye-bolt threaded into the tripod socket on the bottom of the camera. A short snugger strap with a loop on one end (wrapped around my belt) and a snap-hook on the other attaches to the eye-bolt on the bottom of the camera. This gives the camera 3-point securement, so it can't bounce around, can't go over my head, and can't get away. Unfortunately, I also can't stand up until I release the snugger strap... :)
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Well, I have two basic configurations that I use these days. My video camera is small enough that it fits into a very small waist pack, securely zipped into place. The bag is secured with both a waist belt and a shoulder strap. The old "belts and braces" idea, y'see. I've had Fastex buckles fail on me on coasters; dropped my 8mm camera bag on Jack Rabbit that way.
Some years ago I came up with a too-complicated rig for my SLR that involves a pair of straps attached to a belt-loop in the back, extending over both shoulders to the camera. That is to keep the weight of the Pentax off the back of my neck; a standard neck-strap would work just as well. The accessory I added was a 1/4"-24 eye-bolt threaded into the tripod socket on the bottom of the camera. A short snugger strap with a loop on one end (wrapped around my belt) and a snap-hook on the other attaches to the eye-bolt on the bottom of the camera. This gives the camera 3-point securement, so it can't bounce around, can't go over my head, and can't get away. Unfortunately, I also can't stand up until I release the snugger strap... :)
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
I don't take pictures on rides, but I DO take the camera with me (I don't want to leave an expensive digital camera in the station ;) ).
I already walk around with a belt bag ("fanny pack") for my diabetes stuff (glucose meter, emergency candy), so I I just toss sunscreen and my camera in there.
Optionally, if I'm in the mood to protect the camera a bit, I have a small padded clip-on camera bag, which only cost like $10 at Target. It protects the camera, and provides pockets for spare batteries and memory cards.
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--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/
I already walk around with a belt bag ("fanny pack") for my diabetes stuff (glucose meter, emergency candy), so I I just toss sunscreen and my camera in there.
Optionally, if I'm in the mood to protect the camera a bit, I have a small padded clip-on camera bag, which only cost like $10 at Target. It protects the camera, and provides pockets for spare batteries and memory cards.
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--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/
I do take pics on rides (top of lift hills and the like) and I've found that khakis work the best by far. However, you can always use that "look I'm a tourist!" fannypack which comes in handy at times.
I too have a digital camera (looking at it right now. Kodak DC215 ZOOM) and while I have taken it with me I hardly ever use it due to the fear of losing it. Disposable Cameras are probably your best bet (its what I usually use) as its much easier on the old ticker if it gets stolen.
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Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it...eventually
I too have a digital camera (looking at it right now. Kodak DC215 ZOOM) and while I have taken it with me I hardly ever use it due to the fear of losing it. Disposable Cameras are probably your best bet (its what I usually use) as its much easier on the old ticker if it gets stolen.
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Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it...eventually
I agree with Randy, I take many photos will on coasters, and disposables are your best bet. The pictures are decent and if you lose them you probably payed the same price for a hot dog at the snack bar
I do take pics on rides, any part, drop, turnaround, ect. I use disposable cameras. They aren't that expensive and they actually put out some high quality pictures. I like getting a jacket with a breast pocket. Then it is VERY easy. Even better than the pocket.
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Millennium Force all the way!
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Millennium Force all the way!
I too do a lot of filming, video (MiniDV) and still (small Canon camera or my school's sweet zoom camera if I can borrow it).. Whenever I want to get both I usually have to carry around a big camera bag. This makes it impossible to go on rides so what I do is set aside time for filming. If, however, I only have one of the above (just the camcorder, for example), it is small enough to fit in any pocket so that is not much of a problem.
Just thought I'd bring up the simple idea of devoting a certain time to filming. It is a pain at parks with long trips to the parking lot (CP, BGT) to name a few but if you are really into it it is worth missing out on a few rides.
Oh yeah, if the camera is annoying and you don't want to do the walk, just get a locker! IoA is really great about that and offers free lockers for a period of time (around an hour).
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Clayton Hauck
webmaster RCotW - http://rcotw.coaster-network.com
Just thought I'd bring up the simple idea of devoting a certain time to filming. It is a pain at parks with long trips to the parking lot (CP, BGT) to name a few but if you are really into it it is worth missing out on a few rides.
Oh yeah, if the camera is annoying and you don't want to do the walk, just get a locker! IoA is really great about that and offers free lockers for a period of time (around an hour).
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Clayton Hauck
webmaster RCotW - http://rcotw.coaster-network.com
I know I'm a geek on this, but if you're "filing," it implies you are shooting on film, which is not correct if you're using a video camera. To say that you're "shooting video" or "taping" would be more correct.
Film is dead. Long live film.
While I doubt many can appreciate this, I had a college instructor that insisted TV stations still had film chains, despite the fact that video tape had been around for decades by that point.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Film is dead. Long live film.
While I doubt many can appreciate this, I had a college instructor that insisted TV stations still had film chains, despite the fact that video tape had been around for decades by that point.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Well Jeff, you are correct. I just like using the term "filming" to cover all the aspects.
Then again, you do capture images on FILM when taking pictures, am I wrong? So technically, couldn't that be called "filming"? =)
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Clayton Hauck
webmaster RCotW - http://rcotw.coaster-network.com
Then again, you do capture images on FILM when taking pictures, am I wrong? So technically, couldn't that be called "filming"? =)
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Clayton Hauck
webmaster RCotW - http://rcotw.coaster-network.com
Jeff,
Actually I'm going to disagree. George Lucas is going to "film" pick up shots this year for his next movie, and yet he's using digital cameras to do so.
If the fellas in Hollywood still refer to taping with digital cameras as filming then what would be wrong with using the term?
Actually I'm going to disagree. George Lucas is going to "film" pick up shots this year for his next movie, and yet he's using digital cameras to do so.
If the fellas in Hollywood still refer to taping with digital cameras as filming then what would be wrong with using the term?
I usually have a backpack that I carry around. I can fit the camera in the bag then take the bag with me on the ride. Either by placing the bag between the legs or on my chest on a coaster with OTSR's. Or I just leave it on the platform.
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BMCOASTER
bmcoaster@wi.rr.com
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BMCOASTER
bmcoaster@wi.rr.com
Oh yeah! I forgot all about the backpack method!! =)
It is actually very convenient and a good way to do it. That's what I did quite often last summer.
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Clayton Hauck
webmaster RCotW - http://rcotw.coaster-network.com
It is actually very convenient and a good way to do it. That's what I did quite often last summer.
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Clayton Hauck
webmaster RCotW - http://rcotw.coaster-network.com
Thanks for all the great help guys! Here's my plan: I'm gonna look into getting some disposable cameras for onride photos and will use my digital camera for ground shots. I'll probably get a fanny pack to hold it.
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Veni, vidi, coasteri!
(2000 - PKD, Dollywood, SFA, BGW)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Veni, vidi, coasteri!
(2000 - PKD, Dollywood, SFA, BGW)
Actually, Jeff, a couple of things...First of all, if you are "filing" it implies to me that you are either doing clerical work or trying to make parts interchange. Second, there are a few television stations out there that have film chains. Not very many, but they do exist. And for the most part, said film chains aren't doing much...rusting a bit, gathering dust...
Heck, I was surprised when I visited a Toledo television station and found out they had a 2" Quad machine. They had to set an air compressor on the floor behind it to make it work 'cause the station's central system was long gone, but they had one, and they still used it.....!
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Heck, I was surprised when I visited a Toledo television station and found out they had a 2" Quad machine. They had to set an air compressor on the floor behind it to make it work 'cause the station's central system was long gone, but they had one, and they still used it.....!
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
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