Most Americans have fond memories of their Disney vacations over the years. When I was a kid, Disney’s partnership with Kodak was prominently displayed and often mentioned throughout the parks. Cast members would explain how the colors and paints were chosen to complement Kodak film stock so that every photo would pop. After Kodak’s decline, Disney developed a close relationship with Nikon for their PhotoPass service.
From 2013 to 2021, Nikon was the official camera provider for Disney PhotoPass, supplying cast members with cameras like the Nikon D7500—an APS-C body. Disney wanted cameras that “just worked” so people with minimal training could serve as photographers, and for a while, that approach was effective.
I had an interesting conversation with a PhotoPass manager during the opening of Galaxy’s Edge. I’d asked a PhotoPass photographer to use my GFX to capture a photo of my daughter and me in front of the Millennium Falcon. The photographer seemed a bit nervous handling such an expensive camera but wanted to show it to their manager, who happened to be nearby. That conversation was eye-opening: most employees involved in Disney’s PhotoPass service had only basic training, and while they were considering a switch to mirrorless in 2019, managers felt the cameras weren’t quite as point-and-shoot as DSLRs yet. However, the GFX100 really impressed them.
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When Disney’s exclusivity deal with Nikon ended in 2021, the Nikon branding started to disappear, and I began noticing a wider variety of cameras in the parks, including Canon DSLRs. Now it seems Disney is shifting toward Sony, particularly the Sony A7 IV paired with the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS lens and a Sony flash. This move from DSLRs to the Sony A7 IV—a full-frame, easy-to-use camera—is a major upgrade from the D7500 and arguably one of the best point-and-click professional solutions available today.
Visitors seem satisfied with their phone cameras, and Disney could have leaned into that, since the pro cameras are largely for show. The Sony A7 IV should give PhotoPass photos a bit more pop, helping guests feel better about splurging on Disney’s pricey photo packages.
Sony a7IV: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony 24-105mm: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
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