Best Lens for WDW

itsmeamanda

Mouseketeer
Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Messages
152
We are heading to Disney World this Spring and the more I think about it, the more I wonder if I should get a new lens (any excuse, right?)

Here's what I have: Nikon D7000, 50mm1.4G, 85mm1.8 and 35mm2.0.

Ideally I would like a lens I can leave on throughout the day as Idont want to haul a bunch of gear around.

Any advice?
 
itsmeamanda said:
We are heading to Disney World this Spring and the more I think about it, the more I wonder if I should get a new lens (any excuse, right?)

Here's what I have: Nikon D7000, 50mm1.4G, 85mm1.8 and 35mm2.0.

Ideally I would like a lens I can leave on throughout the day as Idont want to haul a bunch of gear around.

Any advice?

Everyone is diff but my walk around lens is a 17-5mm 2.8 on a crop body. When I go full frame it will be the 24-70mm 2.8. Actually in a few weeks its going to be the 24-70 mm 2.8 on a crop. I k ow I won't miss that extra width from my shooting style. But again it's preference. I say 2.8 cause gives u enough speed so in low light things won't get too hairy with pumping up the ISO if need be.

Jimi

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards
 
Those are all nice lenses. You'll sacrifice quality, though a zoom lens gives you a lot more flexibility. You don't need a super zoom lens, but something that can range from wide angle to possibly medium telephoto. I like the Tamron 17-50/f2.8. Combine that with the nice and small 35mm/2.0 for when you need low light, and you really should be pretty good to go for most of the parks. (The safari and stage shows are the times when you might want a bigger reach).
 
Those are all great lenses. I have the 50 and 35 myself. I have used them on the D7000 throughout the parks, and they were great. The 35 is great for dark rides :thumbsup2 I have since upgraded to the D600.

You may want to spring (no pun intended) for a wider lens. There is a lot to take in at Disney. When I had my D7000 I used the Nikon 16-85mm VR. It's a very sharp lens and extremely useful zoom range. Though it isn't a replacement for those other lenses, it is a nice walk around lens to capture spontaneous moments.

Or, if you were interested in something different and more creative, you can go with an ultra-wide like the Tokina 11-16mm. It gives a totally different perspective of the parks.
 

We are heading to Disney World this Spring and the more I think about it, the more I wonder if I should get a new lens (any excuse, right?)

Here's what I have: Nikon D7000, 50mm1.4G, 85mm1.8 and 35mm2.0.

Ideally I would like a lens I can leave on throughout the day as Idont want to haul a bunch of gear around.

Any advice?

The thing with primes is that you have to either be prepared for the limitations you may encounter with a single focal length or you have to haul a bunch of lenses. Which is why most use a zoom for a walk around lens.

Of those, if I were determined to stick with one on a crop I'd take the 35. But it's all about personal preference.
 
IMHO, a walkaround for WDW needs to be flexible, hence the need for a zoom. While primes may give you a slightly better image, they will limit you. Because of crowds, you may not be able to foot zoom with a prime, causing you to change lenses to obtain the focal length you wish. I use a 28-70 f2.8. It works in most cases and gives me enough lowlight flexibility for many situations. I found the 18-55 or something similar to be just a little to short. IMO, if someone would make a 17-105 f2.8 that would be perfect!
 
To the OP, do you have a budget? The Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 has been mentioned and I also recommend it.

Me too. can we amend it to a 17-105 f/2.8 that's sharp throughout the range with minimal CA?

If we're gonna go, go big!
I'd like it to cover a full frame sensor as well :teeth: I can only imagine the price of such a lens.
 
We are going in the Spring also and I plan on bringing the canon 17-55 2.8. I'd love to have the 55-250 with me to get pics of the kids on the coasters but I'll probrably leave it back at the hotel since I'm thinking one lens only per day.
 
IMHO, a walkaround for WDW needs to be flexible, hence the need for a zoom. While primes may give you a slightly better image, they will limit you. Because of crowds, you may not be able to foot zoom with a prime, causing you to change lenses to obtain the focal length you wish. I use a 28-70 f2.8. It works in most cases and gives me enough lowlight flexibility for many situations. I found the 18-55 or something similar to be just a little to short. IMO, if someone would make a 17-105 f2.8 that would be perfect!

For the Canon shooters here is a good deal on something close..
24-105 f4...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USA-Warrant...ofocus-Lens-UV-Filter-Cap-Keepr-/140894894579
 
i too have a d7000

here is my kit

tokina 12-24
nikon 35mm 1.8
nikon 50mm 1.4
nikon 55-300

you are missing a wide angle option.

my walk around lens is the 35mm 1.8...but i use the 12-24 a lot. big wide landscape shots are frequent at the world
 
big wide landscape shots are frequent at the world

..... and when you back up to try and get it all in..... people fill in the space in front of you. Far better to just get up close with a really wide angle lens.
 
..... and when you back up to try and get it all in..... people fill in the space in front of you. Far better to just get up close with a really wide angle lens.

That's true. Tourist attractions would be so much more fun to photograph without all the tourists in the way. I don't mind them when they keep moving. There's a natural ebb & flow, so you can often get a shot when the traffic wanes.

That's when one family will come up and stand right in the middle of your shot for no apparent reason. They wait just long enough for the next group of people to come by and fill up the scene.

I'm not sure why we can't toss water balloons at these interlopers.
 
..... and when you back up to try and get it all in..... people fill in the space in front of you.

Oh tell me about it! I had a 55-300 mm lens on (on purpose) for some shots I was taking and was totally unprepared for Piglet to suddenly appear and walk right up to my DD. Even at 55 mm, I had to back up so much that guests, having spotted Piglet, all got in front of me because I was too far back for them to be expected to associate me with the kid with the character :blush: You want at least some play in the focal length, but in the parks you are better leaning towards the wide side if you have to go one way or another.
 
I personally walk around with the Nikon 24-70 2.8. In fact if I could only take 1 lens it would be that one.
 
Thank you all so much for your replies! If you have WDW shots using the Tamron -7-50mm I would love to see them.

Do you have any sharpness problems with this lens?
 
Does anyone recommend using an 18-200mm as a walkaround lens for WDW?
 
If lowlight shots are not your concern, it would work well. Like most lenses of those ranges, they tend to be slow.
 








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