current gear (Canon) anything I should remove?

[FelisLachesis]

Just want to get some feedback from the community about my camera gear and what to take with me in just under a couple of months. Here's my current setup, and though I don't have any money to spend on new gear, is there anything you think I can just leave home and not miss it?

Camera: Rebel XS (yes, bottom line DSLR, but still better than anything coming from a phone.)

Lenses: 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 "kit" lens
55-250 f/4-5.6 "second kit" lens
10-22 f/3.5-4.5 lens
50 f/1.8 mark II
100 f/2.8 macro lens

Out of all the lenses, I think the 100mm macro is the least useful. What would I miss leaving that out? All is my gear will be in a Tamrac Evolution 8, so space isn't an issue. I'll also have room for all the other stuff we'll need in The Parks, just that fewer lenses = more stuff.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Disclosure: I'm a firm believer in low light usable lenses (constant aperture). I would bring the 100 because it is f2.8. The days are shorter, therefore the possibility exists that you will need the 2.8 for things like the late afternoon/night parades. The 100mm will give you some flexibility where you can stand to obtain those images. Since the only other fast lens is your 50, I would not leave it home. I don't do this (because I'm a pack horse), but you could bring to the parks the lenses you think you will need for the day and leave the rest in the room. I usually bring everything, including a second body, just in case! I don't recommend that for everyone!!

 

[FelisLachesis]

True enough! The lack of fast lenses does hurt during the evening hours. I didn't think about that. OK, it's all coming!

Will a Speedlite help outdoors, or will the fact that there's little for the light to bounce off of hurt it? (Why does this seem like a camera 101 question?)

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I always have my flashes with me. Many times I use it during the day for fill flash. At night, I either use it normally or if I want to simulate a bounce, I use a Demb Flip-It. Photography is such a large part of my vacations that I need to have every option available to get any shot that presents itself. As I said, I don't recommend all this to everyone, only those as crazy as me!

 

[fabulousfive]

Like a pp said, I typically bring most of my gear in my big camera bag to the resort, lock most of it in the safe, and then pack in a day bag what I'll need for that particular park. I really enjoyed having the 100mm in Animal Kingdom on the safari. Other than that, I mostly used the 50mm the whole trip.

 

[fabulousfive]

I always carried my flash everywhere in Disney because so many character meet and greets are indoors, with terrible lighting I might add, as well as all our meals. My favorite thing I did buy for the trip was a Harry Wong diffuser for the flash. Made my images look as close to natural light as possible. No harsh shadows. So worth it!!!