Family outing question?

[brianxlt]

When you go out on a family outing do you bring your big camera and plan every shot, check settings, comp and all or do you have an alternate camera (P&S) type? I went to the renaissance festival this weekend with my wife, daughter and grandson and although there were many interesting subjects there was also hundreds of people roaming around getting in the way of a well thought-out (planed shot) and it was mid-day Arizona sun so bad lighting as well as no way to move the subject. I did get a few good (IMO) shots but not many and with my family wanting to go over here or over there not much time to plan out anything.

Sometimes I feel it would be better just to get a high end P&S camera for these types of outings and leave the boat anchor at home.

What do most of you all do in this type of situation?

[NgaiHill]

I would take my camera with me but in the situation you've described there is a good chance I'd leave it in the car. Depending on how your family feels about your hobby, you may end up spoiling a family day out by concentrating on your photography rather than being with them and enjoying the day.
A P&S can be a good idea for quick grab shots to create memories and I would shove mine in my pocket and take it with me.

[Hill Country Hack]

I take the DSLR with my kit 70-300, or my other kit lens and adjust my expectations to obtaining quality snaps not works of art. Do I sometimes get images of things growing out of folks heads? Sometimes, but I'm usually the only one who notices. I get more grief "chopping off" the tops of folks heads with the PP crops. Go figure.

I usually shoot apeture priority to control the DOF. I will go to shutter priority if the need arises. I will go to the M if I have the time and it is something special. If I'm ever in the pic and a stranger is taking the pic, I set it on the green rectangle. I instruct the picture taker about the back button focus and to use the viewfinder, not the LCD.

[zona5101]

Task-Target-Terrain
based on those 3 elements, I'll decide how to gear up.
Sometimes it's the P&S, sometimes the hip bag, sometimes the backpack...

[candidrachel]

I take both cameras. I like to capture the day as it happens. My family do get frustrated with me because they either rush off 10 paces ahead because they are bored of waiting or they get in the way of my shots. My son is the worst for that and I have been known to yell "out the bloody way" oops

If you have time on your hands you can get an idea of my style on my flickr. Be warned there are lots of pics.

[brianxlt]

This is one of the few that turnd out somewhat good.
[IMG][/IMG]

[RichardTaylor]

I take what I need for the day and a good P&S as well so when my wife starts telling me what to take and how to take it I just give the P&S to her.

[mshockley]

Great shot of the woman playing the violin.

I would take both, give the p+s to my husband, and use mine as mentioned above knowing that most likely I will at least end up with some high quality snaps, because Lord knows, my husband cannot shoot the broad side of a barn, let alone actually get someone's head in the frame!