2 Days Til The World! - 2/10 With the snow comes an update!

[annnewjerz]

As most of you have probably been made aware.....

I'M GOING TO DISNEY!!!!!



I would have started this thread sooner, but since Laura basically posted one for me a week or so ago, I thought five days in advance of the trip was sufficient.

Today I received the lens I rented from ziplens.com, a whole two days early! And so, the Disney magic begins. I rented the Nikon 80-200 f/2.8 two-ring version to try out during this trip, since I am considering buying one. It's not too heavy, which is nice. Originally I planned to cart it around only half the day, but after determining it weighs just under three pounds I've decided that if I can't lug it all day I'm a complete wimp! I carry more weight than that in my purse on a daily basis, after all.

Again, I probably won't be doing a gear pic because between now and Friday, I have about a million and a half things to take care of. Work, Christmas, trip stuff---it's all a bit exhausting.

What I plan to bring is:

• Nikon D90
• Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8
• Nikon 18-55 VR
• Tokina 11-16 f/2.8
• Sigma 30mm f/1.4
• Lensbaby 2.0
• Holga (with film)

The 18-55 I am only bringing to use my NDx400 with and will probably only carry that one or two mornings of the trip. The Holga I am bringing and plan to putz around with around the Boardwalk, etc. but don't necessarily plan to bring it around the parks with me.

Other things I plan to bring would include:

• Tripod
• BlackRapid RS-4 strap
• Optech strap (for night shooting)
• Approx. 52GB of SD cards
• Extra battery
• Lens pen
• Rocket blower
• NDx400 filter
• Laptop

For those of you who may be looking at my 52GB of SD cards and wondering how many pictures I plan on taking---the answer is a lot, but not nearly that many. I am bringing all the memory I own just as a CYA in case any of my cards are lost/damages or become corrupt. I would probably be okay with only half as much, but I like to play it safe.

Missing anything?? After packing all of this junk, what do you want to bet that the whole time I end up carrying the D90, Sigma 30 and Nikon 80-200 and that's it?

 

[scoot241]

It's probably a given but be sure to grab the battery charger.

 

[VVFF]

I wouldn't bring the lensbaby or the Holga but I may be crazy

I haven't had the opportunity to take my DSLR to Disney yet but I imagine when I do I probably would travel pretty lightly with just it and my 17-55mm....we'll have to see. I DO feel like I'd want a backpack style bag for Disney with all the walkin to be done there as opposed to the shoulder bag I have now.

 

[Todd_H]

All right, Ann! The countdown is officially on!

Don't forget the remote shutter release. Also, I bet you'll end up using the Tokina more than you think.

 

[annnewjerz]

It's probably a given but be sure to grab the battery charger.

You are correct, good sir. That's what I get for trying to slap together my gear-list in the middle of the work day.

I wouldn't bring the lensbaby or the Holga but I may be crazy

The Lensbaby will have to come---because I have some experimenting to do. The Holga doesn't have to come, but why not? It'll go in my backpack and if it never comes out---it was a whole .5 pounds wasted probably.

Don't forget the remote shutter release. Also, I bet you'll end up using the Tokina more than you think.

Ah, yes. I don't use my remote release---but I do have a cable release that is just delightful. Another thing that I have packed in my bag but just forgot to list.

I'm going to be shocked if I use the UWA all that much. At this point, I'm not feeling so psyched about photography while I'm down there, but I'm sure that'll change once we arrive.

 

[Todd_H]

Ah, yes. I don't use my remote release---but I do have a cable release that is just delightful. Another thing that I have packed in my bag but just forgot to list.

That's what I meant. For some reason, I use those names interchangeably despite them being slightly different animals. I also have a true remote shutter release and have yet to use it.

At this point, I'm not feeling so psyched about photography while I'm down there, but I'm sure that'll change once we arrive.

I hear ya. #1 priority should be to enjoy your trip and not live it through the viewfinder .

 

[boBQuincy]

Ah, yes. I don't use my remote release---but I do have a cable release that is just delightful. Another thing that I have packed in my bag but just forgot to list.

I'm going to be shocked if I use the UWA all that much. At this point, I'm not feeling so psyched about photography while I'm down there, but I'm sure that'll change once we arrive.

I really like my wireless remote, when I get ready to pick up and move the camera & tripod there isn't some wire dangling and waiting to get caught on something.

Stand in the lobby of Wilderness Lodge, look at the tree, and tell me you don't feel like taking a photo. Stand in MK's Main Street at dusk... Now try it at Grand Floridian, Boardwalk, Yacht, Beach, etc. If that doesn't work, hang around with us for 10 minutes and you will feel out of place *not* taking photos!

Live life through the viewfinder, memory fails even faster than a cheap hard drive!

 

[NLD]

Have fun, Ann! Can't wait to see your pics and hear what you think of the 11-16 and especially the 80-200 2.8.

 

[disneyboy2003]

Ohhhh, 5 days! Soooo close...and yet soooo far. Can't wait to see the pictures you bring back!

Do you have a portable hard drive? I'm not sure how much hard drive space you already have in your laptop, but you can get 500GB portable hard drives for about $125-$150 now. I find it very handy since my own laptop hard drive is pretty full and especially since I'm shooting RAW. Those RAW files can sure take up a lot of hard drive space really fast!

Do you need blank DVDs to back-up your photos on your laptop?

Do you need to download any of your manuals on to your iPhone? You can probably find PDF versions of your DSLR's instruction manual online. Download that onto your iPhone as a handy "just in case" reference.

I didn't see that you mentioned an external flash. Do you already have the Nikon SB-800 or Nikon SB-900? I end up using my external flash a lot, especially at night. It's lots more powerful and lots more versatile than the pop-up flash on my DSLR.

Are you into geotagging all your photos? If so, having a GPS receiver is really really handy. Although my phone also has GPS, I find that it drains a lot of battery. Having a separate GPS receiver can save on my phone's battery, plus the GPS receiver uses standard AA batteries. If you don't already have one, you can go to your local sporting goods store or Best Buy to check them out. Look for Garmin eTrex Vista HCx, Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx, Garmin Legend HCx, Garmin Colorado 400t, or Garmin Oregon 400t. I'm not sure if those GPS receivers for cars will work for geotagging, but for sure the ones that are for hiking should work.

Do you happen to have a back-up camera body? Last year, my Canon 40D's shutter BROKE while I stood next to Cinderella for a picture (what great timing...how did it know?!?!? ). That was only 2 days into our trip! Luckily I had my Canon 30D as back-up and was able to go through the rest of my vacation without SLR withdrawal. *sigh of relief*

Did you need rechargeable batteries (ex. AA or AAA batteries) for any of your equipment? My external flash and GPS receiver both require (eat a lot of) AA batteries.

Boy, this camera bag sure is getting heavier and heavier! Just wanted to throw out some ideas. Hope that helps!

 

[Gdad]

Nice- when did you get the Lensbaby? That's something that has been on my perpetual to get list but I never seem to pick one up.

 

[Amy]

In case I don't get a chance to drop by later in the week......Have a great trip Ann! Can't wait to see your photos.

 

[ukcatfan]

Have a great time!!! I have been back for just over a week and miss it Even being so close, we had not been in over a year, so it was tough to get more than ten seconds to execute a shot the entire trip. I played a lot of catch back up to the family! It really was not a vacation for pics and I had a great time, so no big deal.

 

[hjd0411]

Ann, have a great trip - 5 days WOW!! I can't wait until my coutndown gets to that!!

I look forward to seeing your photos and finding out what equipment you actually took to the parks.


Have fun..

 

[spinetnglr]

Have a great trip Ann!!! Its been not even two months since my trip and I am ready to go back. I'll be anxious to hear a report on the 80-200 as well.

 

[WillowBelle]

Have a fantastic trip Ann!

I have taken my Lensbaby 3x's and it has yet to make it out of the bag *sigh*. Can't wait to see what you come up with it. Did you get the punches you were wanting?

 

[pointandshoot]

Hmmm, 5 days to go. Beats my 8 day countdown.

If I see someone with big Nikon glass and a terabyte of SD cards, I will know it is you I will be the one with white glass and antlers flanked by my two girls in Christmas Minnie hats. DW Minnie will crazy pin trade and DD Minnie will snapping away with dad.

Have a great trip. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow on mainstreet!

Chuck

 

[YEKCIM]

Have a great time, Ann. There is NO better time to go to and photograph WDW than during the Christmas season. I'm glad you are taking an 80-200. That was to have been my walkaround lens if (a) we had been able to go a couple of weeks ago and (b) if I had taken a camera. My guess is that you will soon add that lens to your permanent lineup.

~Ed

 

[Evad]

Have a great time Ann!!!

 

[Quicklabs]

I'm so happy and excited for you! Enjoy every minute!

Don't forget something to wipe off your lenses each day.

 

[annnewjerz]

I really like my wireless remote, when I get ready to pick up and move the camera & tripod there isn't some wire dangling and waiting to get caught on something.

I really hate my wireless remote. I think I got a dud. It hardly ever works and you have to be standing right next to the little sensor thing-a-ma-jig to get it to actually "fire." The cable release is so much better for me.

Stand in the lobby of Wilderness Lodge, look at the tree, and tell me you don't feel like taking a photo. Stand in MK's Main Street at dusk... Now try it at Grand Floridian, Boardwalk, Yacht, Beach, etc.

I've got to say boB, reading this did just make me a teeeeeeeny bit excited to do some shooting. I've never been at Christmas, just looked at shots online, so I can't quite comprehend how impressive it'll be.

Have fun, Ann! Can't wait to see your pics and hear what you think of the 11-16 and especially the 80-200 2.8.

Thanks! So far, the 11-16 is nice and wide and surprisingly sharp---just haven't really had a chance to learn to use it properly yet.

Ohhhh, 5 days! Soooo close...and yet soooo far. Can't wait to see the pictures you bring back!

I didn't see that you mentioned an external flash. Do you already have the Nikon SB-800 or Nikon SB-900? I end up using my external flash a lot, especially at night. It's lots more powerful and lots more versatile than the pop-up flash on my DSLR.

Boy, this camera bag sure is getting heavier and heavier! Just wanted to throw out some ideas. Hope that helps!

I can't even begin to address everything on your list, but I do have an SB-600 that I plan on bringing (although I doubt I'll use it) and no, I do not have a back-up body. I think it would be a nice luxury to have one, but I don't and can't afford one right now. Disney will (probably) always be around, so if my shutter was to die while we're down there (although the camera is only a year old, so I'd hope not), not a huge deal. Disappointing, sure. Devastating? Nah.

Nice- when did you get the Lensbaby? That's something that has been on my perpetual to get list but I never seem to pick one up.

Got one a few weeks back when I was trying to keep my NAS under control. I figured I could either buy a $70 Lensbaby, or a $700 lens---so I felt like it was the responsible thing to do.

I haven't played with it too much yet, but I really like the results I see online, so I'm hoping I have a chance to experiment a little---especially with some specially shaped bokeh courtesty of the custome aperture disc kit I picked up.

In case I don't get a chance to drop by later in the week......Have a great trip Ann! Can't wait to see your photos.

Thanks, Amy! In case you don't have much DIS time, I'll definitely add you to my TR distribution list here at work. I linked my TR to a bunch of co-workers in October and they have specifically requested reading one from December, so I'll give you a heads up when I have pictures posted!

Have a great time!!! I have been back for just over a week and miss it Even being so close, we had not been in over a year, so it was tough to get more than ten seconds to execute a shot the entire trip. I played a lot of catch back up to the family! It really was not a vacation for pics and I had a great time, so no big deal.

Thanks, Kevin! I just assumed that people that lived in Florida went all the time (like Jeff ) but I guess even down there in the vicinity of WDW, real life sometimes gets in the way. I didn't even realize you had started a TR---I popped over earlier. You got some great pics, can't wait to see more!

Ann, have a great trip - 5 days WOW!! I can't wait until my coutndown gets to that!!

I look forward to seeing your photos and finding out what equipment you actually took to the parks.

Thanks! We booked at 11 months out and while I thought it would take foooorever to get here, it surprisingly flew by!

Have a great trip Ann!!! Its been not even two months since my trip and I am ready to go back. I'll be anxious to hear a report on the 80-200 as well.

Thanks, Karyl! I really wish I would have had time to nab that fisheye from you again for this trip, but I have a feeling that I'll be kept busy by the gear that I am bringing. You'll have to let me know if you're going down again anytime---maybe I can convince DH that I need to take a solo photography related weekend trip and you can let me borrow that 17-55 while we are in the parks!

Have a fantastic trip Ann!

I have taken my Lensbaby 3x's and it has yet to make it out of the bag *sigh*. Can't wait to see what you come up with it. Did you get the punches you were wanting?

I did not get the punches I wanted yet. I got a snowflake one the other day and the Mickey head punch I am going out to look for tonight. I don't even have the custom aperture disc kit yet---it's supposed to arrive tomorrow. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it's on time. I'm not all that confident in things shipped via Postal Service.

Hmmm, 5 days to go. Beats my 8 day countdown.

If I see someone with big Nikon glass and a terabyte of SD cards, I will know it is you I will be the one with white glass and antlers flanked by my two girls in Christmas Minnie hats. DW Minnie will crazy pin trade and DD Minnie will snapping away with dad.

Have a great trip. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow on mainstreet!

Chuck

Antlers, huh? Very festive! I'll keep an eye out for some specially dressed Canon shooters around the park. We'll be there from the 12-18, so if you see me---say hello!

Have a great time, Ann. There is NO better time to go to and photograph WDW than during the Christmas season. I'm glad you are taking an 80-200. That was to have been my walkaround lens if (a) we had been able to go a couple of weeks ago and (b) if I had taken a camera. My guess is that you will soon add that lens to your permanent lineup.

Thanks, Ed! I'm really hoping that the cutbacks on Christmas stuff don't make it any less "magical" than I'm expecting it to be. Since I've never been during the holidays, I'm sure I won't know what I'm missing though. I have a feeling the 80-200 is going to be on my camera 85% of the time, followed by the Sigma 30 for dark rides---I tested it out this morning before work and from what I can tell, it's pretty sweet.

Have a great time Ann!!!

Thanks, Dave! I've really been enjoying the shots you have been posting so far---they've definitely helped add to my excitement and helped pass the time in the office when I should be working. What can I say? I'm in vacation mode already!

I'm so happy and excited for you! Enjoy every minute!

Thank you so much, Laura---not only for the well wishes but also making it possible for me to stay at the BWV for the first time, I know we're going to LOVE it.

I'm definitely looking forward to giving the 80-200 a good trial run while we're down there, but more importantly I'm looking forward to coming home and seeing that you have posted some shots from your trip!!