Should I rent a fast lens for Enchanted Tales

[meuseman]

Hi fellow Shutterbugs.

I'll be leaving for a trip to WDW next week, and I'm thinking about renting a lens for the trip.

I shoot a Sony A700 with a Sigma 18-250 f3.5-6 as my walkaround. I also have a 50mm f1.8 prime that I'm planning on taking.

I really want to get good indoor shots, especially at Enchanted Tales with Belle. Should I rent a 30mm f1.4 or a 17-50mm f2.8 to enhance my indoor shots? Should I stick with the 50mm for shots as needed? I would definitely like to reduce reliance on flash for the trip.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[havoc315]

Hi fellow Shutterbugs.

I'll be leaving for a trip to WDW next week, and I'm thinking about renting a lens for the trip.

I shoot a Sony A700 with a Sigma 18-250 f3.5-6 as my walkaround. I also have a 50mm f1.8 prime that I'm planning on taking.

I really want to get good indoor shots, especially at Enchanted Tales with Belle. Should I rent a 30mm f1.4 or a 17-50mm f2.8 to enhance my indoor shots? Should I stick with the 50mm for shots as needed? I would definitely like to reduce reliance on flash for the trip.

Thanks for your thoughts.

The 50mm 1.8 will be nice and bright for indoor shots and dark rides. The downside is that it may be a little "long." So you will have trouble getting wide dark ride shots. I suspect it would do just fine at Enchanted Tales.
But a 30mm 1.4 would certainly allow you to go wider.
I use the Tamron 17-50 f2.8, and it is very good for indoor "normal lighting" shots. (I haven't done Enchanted Tales,but I suspect it isn't very "dark."
But the f2.8 will not be fast enough for truly dark rides -- it would probably be useless on something like Peter Pan.

If you're renting for the Sony.... I'd consider the Zeiss 16-80 as the perfect "walk around" lens, plus a fast prime as your low-light backup. (Either the 50mm you already own, or the 30mm 1.4).

I'd keep the Sigma super-zoom in the bag, and just pull it out for the Animal Kingdom Safari, and for stage shows.

 

[boBQuincy]

There was a post about this topic on the general park touring board. Mom2Rtk posted a lot of good information on photographing in Enchanted Tales With Belle, try sending her a message. I would have some info but I was busy playing a suit of armor.

 

[wiigirl]

There was a post about this topic on the general park touring board. Mom2Rtk posted a lot of good information on photographing in Enchanted Tales With Belle, try sending her a message. I would have some info but I was busy playing a suit of armor.

lol...suit of armor?

 

[meuseman]

There was a post about this topic on the general park touring board. Mom2Rtk posted a lot of good information on photographing in Enchanted Tales With Belle, try sending her a message. I would have some info but I was busy playing a suit of armor.

The first time I experienced ETwB, I was also a suit of armor. It's a no-flash attraction. Here are the best shots my wife got (on auto, 18-250 3.5-6 lens). I'm hoping for better sharpness and higher shutter to stop action this time.

 

[meuseman]

The 50mm 1.8 will be nice and bright for indoor shots and dark rides. The downside is that it may be a little "long." So you will have trouble getting wide dark ride shots. I suspect it would do just fine at Enchanted Tales.
But a 30mm 1.4 would certainly allow you to go wider.
I use the Tamron 17-50 f2.8, and it is very good for indoor "normal lighting" shots. (I haven't done Enchanted Tales,but I suspect it isn't very "dark."
But the f2.8 will not be fast enough for truly dark rides -- it would probably be useless on something like Peter Pan.

If you're renting for the Sony.... I'd consider the Zeiss 16-80 as the perfect "walk around" lens, plus a fast prime as your low-light backup. (Either the 50mm you already own, or the 30mm 1.4).

I'd keep the Sigma super-zoom in the bag, and just pull it out for the Animal Kingdom Safari, and for stage shows.

Thanks for your thoughts. Part of me wants to rent the 17-50 as kind of a test drive. I find the superzoom heavy and very rarely do I use the full zoom capability.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I don't have any online yet to be able to show them, but I had good luck in Enchanted Tales in Tv mode using a Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. An ultra-fast lens isn't as important in here as it is in a dark ride. Altough the lighting has a blue tint to it, the room is fairly bright. (Or bright enough, anyway.) The PhotoPass photographer (who shoots during the entire show) doesn't use a flash either.

My friend was also a suit of armor during the show, and between the PhotoPass CD and the shots I took from my seat, we got some good pictures of him marching around and being silly.

BTW, if you're taking kids in with you, make sure they volunteer for a part. It's a great way to get pictures of them with Belle. She poses individually with each cast member at the end of the story.

 

[MolonLabe]

I used a sigma 17.50 f2f.8 and got better shots than the photopass guy did for enchanted tales.

Biggest problem is getting a decent seat to get your shots.

The 50mm could work if theybket you stand against the back wall.

I still have run those shots thru Lightroom, too busy and nearly 7k raw images to deal with. I need to set aside an hours night and get that trip done.

 

[havoc315]

Thanks for your thoughts. Part of me wants to rent the 17-50 as kind of a test drive. I find the superzoom heavy and very rarely do I use the full zoom capability.

I bought my Tamrom 17-50/2.8 used in good condition on ebay for $300. At that price, I certainly don't regret it. And it will work well in Enchanted Tales, and it will be a pretty good walk around lens. It is a bit faster than the Zeiss, which might make a difference in Enchanted Tales.

If you use the 17-50 as a walk-around at Disney, I think you'd be fine most of the time, but there may be moments where you wish you had a bit of extra reach, thus the Zeiss 16-80 would give you that, without having to change lenses.

Outside of stage shows and the safari, you never really need anything more than an effective 100mm reach. (which would be 70mm lens on the Sony crop body).
So.... The 17-50 2.8 for slightly faster, or the Zeiss 16-80 for a bit sharper and a bit more range. Don't think you'd go wrong either way.
But I would also pack a prime lens for truly Disney dark situations. (In fact, I'd try to get good at changing lenses quickly, so you could switch to the prime lens in Enchanted Tales if you find your shots aren't working).

Big point --- Make sure you manually set your ISO in those challenging situations. I feel like the Sony bodies won't let the "auto" ISO go above 1600.... but there are times you will be willing to go higher to get sharp pictures. (Even with a fast lens, you need a minimum of 3200 on truly dark rides).

 

[mom2rtk]

There was a post about this topic on the general park touring board. Mom2Rtk posted a lot of good information on photographing in Enchanted Tales With Belle, try sending her a message. I would have some info but I was busy playing a suit of armor.

....... and we're all still waiting to see the photo!

Here are some of my random thoughts on photographing ETWB:

1) Be prepared for a variety of limitations from CM's. My first trip through I sat, but then got up and moved around the back and side of the room and didn't even get a sideways glance from the CMs. The second time through they said I could stand but had to take a back row seat and stand from that seat.

From a back row seat, I got WAY too many heads in my shots. My preferred seat would be toward the back but on the inside aisle.

2) The lighting in that room is quite variable. When Belle poses at the end for photos with the participants (she only does photos with participants) she has great stage lighting, so the lack of flash isn't a problem. As you take photos of her interacting with various participants though, some will be in far worse lighting.

3) If you can, shoot RAW. It was nice to have maximum latitude to adjust exposure and white balance.

4) I really wouldn't want to be tied into a fixed length lens in here. I shot the following back behind the photopass photographer and still shot at 17mm. I cropped a little,but not much. EXIF: f/5.6, 1/160, ISO 1600


IMG_9842_1 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

5) If you hang back, you can get a photo with the wardrobe. The "no flash" rule is pretty limiting though since it is not lit for portraits. But if you do hold back, be prepared for a very limited choice of seats when you get to the library.


IMG_9808 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

6) When taking photos of Lumiere, either turn down your exposure compensation, or use spot metering on his face so you don't overexpose. Your camera can misinterpret all the darkness in the shot and overcompensate.


IMG_8547 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

7) I used a variety settings trying to find the right one. But I do agree that the flexibility of having a bit of zoom, along with a 2.8 aperture was very helpful. I used my Canon 17-55 f/2.8 for most of these shots. But I did swap out for my Canon 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 for some shots as well. That was just for experimenting though. I would have been totally fine just sticking with the 17-55.


IMG_8606 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


IMG_8582 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


IMG_8573 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[mom2rtk]

I used a sigma 17.50 f2f.8 and got better shots than the photopass guy did for enchanted tales.

Biggest problem is getting a decent seat to get your shots.

The 50mm could work if theybket you stand against the back wall.

I still have run those shots thru Lightroom, too busy and nearly 7k raw images to deal with. I need to set aside an hours night and get that trip done.

I totally agree. Our photopass pictures were terrible. I was really glad I took my own.

I also agree the 50mm would not work here. I even think the 30mm would be too tight for my taste. But I tend to want to capture the entire scene, including characters in full length, so the 17-55 was perfect to me. That's also on my camera 95% of the time at Disney, so I urge recommend going that direction.

 

[boBQuincy]

....... and we're all still waiting to see the photo!

Be careful what you ask for.

As we walked into the wardrobe room my friend Scott was chosen immediately to be a suit of armor. I was laughing so hard I became an easy target and was the next one chosen. Now we are down to DW and Scott's wife Mandy to take photos, when DW (also laughing) was chosen to be a picture frame. There are no small parts, only small players!
Mandy took photos but we haven't seen them yet, some excuse about having a job...

Janet, I sure wish you were there to take photos of us, yours are gorgeous! Looking at your framing and all I think our 12-35 f/2.8 is going to be the setup for next time. I just have to hide in the back and not laugh this time.

 

[mom2rtk]

Be careful what you ask for.

As we walked into the wardrobe room my friend Scott was chosen immediately to be a suit of armor. I was laughing so hard I became an easy target and was the next one chosen. Now we are down to DW and Scott's wife Mandy to take photos, when DW (also laughing) was chosen to be a picture frame. There are no small parts, only small players!
Mandy took photos but we haven't seen them yet, some excuse about having a job...

Janet, I sure wish you were there to take photos of us, yours are gorgeous! Looking at your framing and all I think our 12-35 f/2.8 is going to be the setup for next time. I just have to hide in the back and not laugh this time.

That's awesome! And what a spectacular Disney memory! Thanks for sharing.