Commando style tour equipment decisions

[Mister Skellington]

Hi all!
I fairly new to the world of DSLR cameras. I have had an XTI for about 9 months now and have learned a ton and had alot of fun!
My question is most likely the most often asked on this board...we are leaving for DW in December (7-15th) and I have been really torn about taking my XTI to the parks. The wife and myself dont have kids and we tour commando style...meaning we open and close the parks when we go. (6 parks in 8 days this time!) I didnt have my camera on our last trip two years ago but I have hauled it across New York and DC for days on end during our last trip. I know how much the bag weighs in the morning and how it triple by nightfall.
Do you haul all of your equipment with you to the parks? I have the following equipment: What would you take?
1. kit lens
2. 10-20 Sigma
3. 70-300 IS
4. Speed light
5. VERY heavy (but stable!!!) Manfrotto tri pod ( quick release) not sure about a locker for this one.
6. Less heavy not so stable generic tri pod (no quick release)
7. Manfrotto monopod with quick release

I have a back pack bag that can fit all lenses but tripods and monopods must be strapped on. It weighs a ton with everything in it....what compromise if any should I make??? The wife tolerates the set up of shots but I tend to feel a little rushed to really get the shots I want. To pack it or not to pack it...that is the question!~ Photography seemed very unimportant on this trip until I stumbled across this forum and saw some of the great shots you guys are posting here. Thanks for your help and input!!
Nathan

 

[Master Mason]

My suggestions would be as follows.

Take the kit, and the stable tripod with you. Leave the tripod either in a locker or at your room if you go back during the day until you need it.

Of the lenses you have, I think you'll use the kit more than anything, maybe the 10-20 if you like wide pictures. You only need the 70-300 at AK really. I would seriously concider getting something that is faster, the 50mm f/1.8 can be had for about $80, this will let you take low light shots on rides and would be better for night time parades ie spectro. If you don't want that, then you might concider renting/buying something like a 24-70 f/2.8 lens. (I use this lens for about 90+% of my disney photos.)

IMO you will not need the monopod at all.

The speed light, that depends on how you use your camera, if you use it for fill light ect then you should carry it with you, if not you could leave it with your tripod until you would need it at night.

I often just take my body and the 24-70 and leave everything else in the car/hotel/locker depending on the day and where I am...

 

[boBQuincy]

I occasionally do some commando days at WDW and know how heavy a bag can get at park closing! My typical gear for a park day includes a medium range zoom and either a wide angle or long lens. For a photo day I take all three! Two of the lenses are in a bag, the camera and other lens is in my hand.

A small flash or 50 mm lens can fit above the (short) wide angle lens in the bag but it starts to get inconvenient when changing lenses.

If I carry a tripod it stays in a locker until dusk. The small lockers at WDW have a maximum dimension of 21.4", a lot of tripods won't fit. Most of the locations have some larger lockers available but you can't always count on it.

Camera shake is responsible for more unsharpness than we care to think. I always carry a monopod and use it when light is not optimum, which is often. Shutter speeds slower than 1/125 can show some camera shake and a support can make a big improvement in sharpness.

 

[Mister Skellington]

Thanks for the tips! I now have alot of reading to do before my trip to find the best locations and times. I appreciate you both taking the time to reply ad I look forward to sharing my photos when we get back!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I like to travel light when I hit the parks. On my last trip, I kept it down to a Canon 1DM2, 17-40 f/4, 24-70 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8, 50mm f/1.8, 580EX flash, a 1.4x teleconverter, 77mm polarizer, Cokin filter kit with a few neutral density filters, tripod, 20 gig of memory cards, a spare battery, and timer/remote shutter release.

OK, that was an unusual trip in that I was there by myself with my primary purpose being photography. On a usual trip, I bring my camera, a mid-range zoom, and the flash. I usually through in one extra lens. I put a 4 gig CF and 8 gig SD card in the camera. I usually only bring the tripod for one or two days.

 

[boBQuincy]

I like to travel light when I hit the parks. On my last trip, I kept it down to a Canon 1DM2, 17-40 f/4, 24-70 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8, 50mm f/1.8, 580EX flash, a 1.4x teleconverter, 77mm polarizer, Cokin filter kit with a few neutral density filters, tripod, 20 gig of memory cards, a spare battery, and timer/remote shutter release./QUOTE]

Well no wonder you were weighed down, those remote releases are heavy!
And use lithium batteries in the flash next time, they're lighter.

Realistically, I am drawing the line at what I carry. New rule, if it doesn't fit in the bag it doesn't go (except for the tripod which only comes out to play after dusk). I know, a vest can carry a lot but I refuse to wear one for aesthetic reasons.

 

[Mister Skellington]

Wow Mark if I took that much equipment I would rent a stroller to move it around! My kit lens may have to be replaced with a decent mid range before we leave. I have been saving for an L lense replacement for it and I haven't quite reached my goal yet. ( I dont believe in charge cards for toys!)

Bob, I agree the vests are terrible...but with a nice pair of Crocs and one of those hats with drink holders you might have a real look going!

Nate

 

[Groucho]

We bring our own stroller to carry my camera crap around in. Oh, and my son, too. Though I wonder if we'll want to bring it on the next trip in April, he'll be just over 3 then - but we probably will, I suspect he'll still conk out in the afternoons sometimes.

Anyway, were I faced with the equipment you mention, I would bring only the camera, kit lens, and the 10-20mm. Maybe also the 70-300 when going to AK. Back at the hotel, I'd have a rocket blower just in case some dust is noticed.

I would also consider an upgraded neck strap like the Op/Tech pro, this considerably cuts down on the soreness of your neck and shoulders from carrying the camera all day. This makes it more feasible to keep the camera out all the time, so the only thing you'll be carrying around off the camera most of the time is a single lens - not too much of a burden.

 

[MICKEY88]

Wow Mark if I took that much equipment I would rent a stroller to move it around! My kit lens may have to be replaced with a decent mid range before we leave. I have been saving for an L lense replacement for it and I haven't quite reached my goal yet. ( I dont believe in charge cards for toys!)

Bob, I agree the vests are terrible...but with a nice pair of Crocs and one of those hats with drink holders you might have a real look going!

Nate

those of us who wear vests thank you for the critique

 

[Mister Skellington]

those of us who wear vests thank you for the critique

Open mouth insert foot!!! Doooohh~

Imagine nthat fashion critique coming from a guy who wanted to wear a tuxedo tshirt to his wedding! In all fairness they do look useful.

 

[Master Mason]

Plus I happen to like crocs. I agree they are incredibly ugly shoes, but my feet don't hurt when I wear them.

 

[SharonLowe]

We bring our own stroller to carry my camera crap around in. Oh, and my son, too. Though I wonder if we'll want to bring it on the next trip in April, he'll be just over 3 then - but we probably will, I suspect he'll still conk out in the afternoons sometimes.

Anyway, were I faced with the equipment you mention, I would bring only the camera, kit lens, and the 10-20mm. Maybe also the 70-300 when going to AK. Back at the hotel, I'd have a rocket blower just in case some dust is noticed.

I would also consider an upgraded neck strap like the Op/Tech pro, this considerably cuts down on the soreness of your neck and shoulders from carrying the camera all day. This makes it more feasible to keep the camera out all the time, so the only thing you'll be carrying around off the camera most of the time is a single lens - not too much of a burden.

Stroller - I think you will use one until he is at least 6. Their little legs just can't keep up plus it is so easy for them to get "crushed" by the crowd. We definitely used them for each of my kids when they were 5.

Our last trip was a quick one and it wasn't all about photography. So, I had my camera body (full frame), my 24-70mm, a 20mm, and my 50mm f/1.4 for dark rides. I used the 20mm only a couple of times but wished I had brought my 70-200mm for shots at AKL. No flash and no tripod. Plenty of memory cards; polarizers for each lens; one extra battery (but my camera batteries last a very long time so only one spare doesn't work for everyone). Op/tech strap. "Regular" backpack rather than a camera bag. Mine has a nice pocket up top for glasses that I used for my 50mm. The 20mm only came with us once but I had stuff in the backpack that padded it.

 

[Master Mason]

Stroller - I think you will use one until he is at least 6. Their little legs just can't keep up plus it is so easy for them to get "crushed" by the crowd. We definitely used them for each of my kids when they were 5.

I think this totally depends on the kid, my boys would never ride in them after about 3, was more of a fight trying to get them in them than it was worth, I have other friends that their kids had to be tossed out of them kicking and screaming...

 

[dburg30]

are there any rides that you cant take your camera bag (normal sized not a big bag) on? What do you do with your stuff at that point? And are there any you arent allowed to take anything on?

 

[Groucho]

I don't think I had problems bringing my camera bag on any ride, including most rollercoasters, Tower of Terror, Kali River Rapids, etc. To be fair, Rock 'n' Rollercoaster was closed on the last trip, that's the one I'd be concerned about, what with it going upside-down and all.

I would suspect we'll keep bringing the stroller for a few more years, though I might be tempted to go with a smaller umbrella one as my boy gets older, rather than the "full-size" one that had that great area underneath that fits my tripod so well. I might end up having to get a locker one of these trips...

 

[boBQuincy]

are there any rides that you cant take your camera bag (normal sized not a big bag) on? What do you do with your stuff at that point? And are there any you arent allowed to take anything on?

Universal does not allow bags on some rides but Disney doesn't mind, and even has pouches to put your bags in. If RnR Coaster stops upside down we have more problems than bags falling down!

 

[AndrewWG]

Universal does not allow bags on some rides but Disney doesn't mind, and even has pouches to put your bags in. If RnR Coaster stops upside down we have more problems than bags falling down!

The first thing I would reach for would be my camera bag if this happened. I'm certain of it. Of course, it would also probably be the last thing I reached for...