Just back and a big THANK YOU! (plus stuff that worked!)

[KarenAylwood]

I'll be posting pictures later because I just got back last night (I think I took about 12-16 GB of pics, I can't even remember how many memory cards I used!). I wanted to thank you all for your advice and tell you some things that really did come in handy!

I have the Canon XSi, and have had it about a year. I got it two weeks before our last September trip- and boy does it pay to know your camera! There was a huge difference between this year and last!!

The best tip I got from this board... was to buy the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. Now, I knew this was a great lens because I had played around with it before, but WOW is it good at WDW!! I had so much fun taking shots indoors, on dark rides and of merchandise! It was really a fun lens, and I think I used it 50% of the time. I had originally thought of getting the 50mm f/1.8 but there were a good number of times that I thought to myself that the 50mm wouldn't be wide enough (same for f/1.8).

Other great tip was to compliment this with my 18-200mm lens. It was great to catch Fantasmic- I got some really great shots there. As well as some good ones of the castle show at MK, parades (closeups of characters) and of course, animals at AK.

Crumpler 5MDH- I bought this from recommendations here as well, and it was surprisingly easy to carry all my stuff all day with it! Everyday I carried my camera w/ my 18-200mm, 30mm f/1.4 and memory card holder, remote shutter release, extra battery and lens cloth. Two days I attached my gorillapod to the side.

Shooting dark ride thread- ISO 1600, f 1.6 and 1/50 sec shutter speed pretty much hit it most times. I usually took a few practice shots to see if it'd over or under expose and adjusted the shutter speed a little.

Shooting fireworks thread- I got some great shots just knowing when certain moments were coming up (this is from trying to get wishes a few times over the years). A 2 or 3 second shutter speed and a tripod was great- although definitely stake out a spot early- I had a nerve wracking experience with my tripod setup in a bad spot and spent most of the show worried someone would knock it over!

Stopping down my 30mm f/1.4 for some great starburst shots (thanks Gdad!)!! I got some awesome ones at downtown Disney and AK after dark (another great idea from here- I think also from Gdad).

Bring your extra lenses! I never used my kit but brought it just in case. It was actually nice to have a backup, and I brought it along towards the end when the 18-200 was too heavy in my bag (I ran into a nasty case of heat exhaustion that lasted two days at the end of our trip).

I know there was some other stuff I wanted to write but can't remember. The main thing I wanted to say was Sigma 30mm, Sigma 30mm, SIGMA 30mm!!!!! Awesome lens for WDW!!

Thanks guys! I'm excited to start going through my pictures. I didn't get home until 10pm last night and had to get right back into work this morning

[spinetnglr]

Sounds like you had a really awesome trip. I can't wait to see some of your shots. I am leaving in a month to go to WDW for a week on a solo trip and have been making little notes on shots I want to try and certain camera settings to start with for certain situations. This board for me is the most valuable tool I have in my photo arsenal just for reasons you stated. So many tips and tricks here to learn from those who know what does and doesnt work when shooting in the parks.

[C&B Young]

Awesome tips!! We're heading down to WDW in a month and going to go with the Crumpler 5MDH as our walk-around bag, glad to hear it worked out well for you (as we've never lugged it around fully loaded for any longer than an afternoon so far). We've been thinking about the Sigma 30mm too... have to see if there's any funds left in the vacation budget to swing that!

[Gdad]

Excellent- I love the Sigma 30! (and now the Sigma 50!) Glad you had a good time and got some pictures. I am really looking forward to seeing them.

[Steve's Girl]

Looking forward to your photos!

[handicap18]

yeah, lets see those pictures. We LOVE pictures... hehehe