Are there any other lenses I should get my hands on before we go?

[Nikel]

We leave in less than 2 weeks, and now that I've survived hosting Thanksgiving, it's time for all my energy to be diverted to Disney planning/packing. Here's the current list of lenses I'm planning on bringing. Is there anything I'm missing?

I have a 40D and 20D, plus a 580exII.
Canon 50mm 1.8
Canon 85mm 1.8
Tamron 24-70mm 2.8
Canon 28-105mm 4-5.6
Canon 10-22mm 4-5.6
Canon 70-200mm 2.8

 

[SharonLowe]

We leave in less than 2 weeks, and now that I've survived hosting Thanksgiving, it's time for all my energy to be diverted to Disney planning/packing. Here's the current list of lenses I'm planning on bringing. Is there anything I'm missing?

I have a 40D and 20D, plus a 580exII.
Canon 50mm 1.8
Canon 85mm 1.8
Tamron 24-70mm 2.8
Canon 28-105mm 4-5.6
Canon 10-22mm 4-5.6
Canon 70-200mm 2.8

I think your list is overkill. See no real need for the 85mm - you already have the 50mm 1.8 on a 1.6X sensor so what good would the 85mm do you other than add to your weight? The extra reach on dark rides won't really do you any good. The 24-70mm and 70-200mm are perfect companions so the 28-105 really isn't necessary and you lose a lot of f stops with that one. I also wouldn't carry 2 bodies either - maybe one as back-up but that would be it.

I would not want to carry your kit in the parks all day My last trip, I only took 2 lenses - my 50mm f/1.4 and my 24-70mm f/2.8. Both for my full frame camera. Was perfect and reasonably light. Would have only wanted the 70-200mm at AKL for the animals on the savannas.

 

[Nikel]

Oh, I'm not bringing everything into every park by any means. Just making my list of stuff to pack. The 70-200 is only going into AK. That sucker is too heavy to lug everywhere. And the 85mm is coming along because I'll also be working on vaca. It's my workhorse portrait lens. I've got friends in Orlando that want me to do a session for them. Plus a wedding for another set of friends on the way back home, so both bodies are coming with me because of that. I do NOT do weddings without 2 bodies.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

See no real need for the 85mm

That would be a really good lens for indoor shows (FotLK, FNM, LM), if you get a seat up close. The 50mm is too wide for shows. The 70-200 f/2.8 might be a better choice for the extra reach, but it'll cost you some light gathering.

The 70-200 is only going into AK. That sucker is too heavy to lug everywhere.

I agree that it's a beast to lug around, but I found it very useful at all the parks. It's a tradeoff you have to work out. Without it, you'll struggle to get good shots at Fantasmic! and you'll be without a long telephoto for candid closeups.

Is there anything I'm missing?

That's a pretty comprehensive collection for anything like a typical tourist visit. I'm assuming that you have polarizers for those as well.

If you want to get fancy, could throw in a closeup filter or extension tubes for macro work. The 24mm t/s lens would be a great addition if you want to do architectural shooting. If you want some animal closeups, you might want to add a 1.4x extender.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I do NOT do weddings without 2 bodies.

It wouldn't be much of a wedding without 2 bodies. Oh wait, you meant camera bodies. OK, now I understand.

 

[SharonLowe]

Oh, I'm not bringing everything into every park by any means. Just making my list of stuff to pack. The 70-200 is only going into AK. That sucker is too heavy to lug everywhere. And the 85mm is coming along because I'll also be working on vaca. It's my workhorse portrait lens. I've got friends in Orlando that want me to do a session for them. Plus a wedding for another set of friends on the way back home, so both bodies are coming with me because of that. I do NOT do weddings without 2 bodies.

Okay - makes sense now. I too would never do a wedding without 2 bodies (and an assistant)! I love my 85mm for portraits too

 

[Groucho]

What, no fisheye lens? Where's the fun in that?

 

[AndrewWG]

Ok, I'm writing this from Port Orleans French Quarter right now and I can tell you that I have learned one thing. That is that I love the 17-85mm lens for a walk around but it is certainly NOT fast enough by any means. I will not be returning to WDW until I get my hands on something wide and fast. That is essential to me anyways. I has so much frustration with shutter speeds that I needed to bump the ISO constantly. I of course, forgot to set it back to lower ISO's on numerous occasions. This has been a real pain. I would suggest renting something wide angle and as fast as possible. I'm not real sure what is available, but I will be looking into them when I return. By the way, I have my 50mm 1.8 and it is great for many things, but not wide enough for many things as well.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Master Mason]

Andy,

I think you shoot canon, so that leaves you with

24-70 f/2.8
17-55 f/2.8 IS
16-35 f/2.8

Depending on how wide you want them.

 

[Master Mason]

Andy,

I think you shoot canon, so that leaves you with

24-70 f/2.8
17-55 f/2.8 IS
16-35 f/2.8

Depending on how wide you want them.

 

[pjacobi]

Exactly what do you plan to do in the park?

Do you have the time to devote to serious photography?

Are you planning to have some quality family time in the park?

I find it *impossible* to do both at the same time!

When I'm with the family, I carry only a high quality P/S camera to the park. When I get the chance, I sneek off by myself with dSLR and a backpack full of lens to get the shots I missed.


-Paul

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Andy,

I think you shoot canon, so that leaves you with

24-70 f/2.8
17-55 f/2.8 IS
16-35 f/2.8

Depending on how wide you want them.

You could also go with a prime. In general, wide angle lenses have to make a lot of optical compromises, so the notion that zooms are pretty much as good as primes these days really starts to fall apart below 24mm. If I ever replace my 17-40mm, it'll probably be with one or two primes rather than a wide zoom.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Exactly what do you plan to do in the park?

Do you have the time to devote to serious photography?

Are you planning to have some quality family time in the park?

I find it *impossible* to do both at the same time!

When I'm with the family, I carry only a high quality P/S camera to the park. When I get the chance, I sneek off by myself with dSLR and a backpack full of lens to get the shots I missed.


-Paul

I only partially agree. I certainly wouldn't haul around the same amount of gear with the family as I do when running solo. Still, with the family I'll bring along my DSLR plus an extra lens or two. I find that I get much better shots when I'm with the family because I have better subjects. If I want a good shot without my family, I can always download someone's castle shot and clone out the watermark (just kidding, guys).