DSLR lens ?

[cheala]

What kind of lens do you use most during your disney trips? I have a 18-55 and 50-300. I am planning on brining both lenses, but I'm wondering which one to leave on the camera to use the most, and which one I will use the least.

 

[BenA81]

my wife changed constantly between wide angle and telephoto. so if you can, take em both!

 

[DisneyGrampa]

What kind of lens do you use most during your disney trips? I have a 18-55 and 50-300. I am planning on brining both lenses, but I'm wondering which one to leave on the camera to use the most, and which one I will use the least.

No question, the 18-55.
You'lll use the telephoto in shows, where you'll have time to change lenses.

 

[TLinden16]

We have a whole board dedicated to photography, so I'm going to move this over there. I'm sure you'll get some great input there.

 

[zackiedawg]

I'd probably lean towards the wider end between your selections - overall it would be the more useful lens in all 4 parks.

I tend to travel with 2 of my 5 lenses at Disney at one time...rarely more than that. I pick the pair I feel will be best suited to the parks of choice for the day. However, one constant lens virtually all the time, and the one that is sitting mounted on my camera by default and most often, is the 18-250mm. Because of the extreme versatility of this lens, covering from wide to pretty long tele...it is the go-to travel lens.

My second lens is usually a split between my Sigma 30mm F1.4 (usually for DHS and MK, where the low light rides require it most) or the Tamron 10-24mm UWA (for that awesome ultra-wide look).

Last week, I actually traveled two of my 5 days without the 18-250 - I brought the Tamron 10-24 mounted with the Sigma 30 F1.4 as the backup. I hadn't yet shot UWA at Disney so it was something I really wanted to concentrate on...I did occasionally find myself missing the tele range of the 18-250, but in a way it was good because it forced me to think differently for some photos and get some new angles and compositions.

 

[handicap18]

My last trip I mostly used 4 lenses.... 18-135mm, 10-20mm, 70-300mm, and 30mm f/1.4.

I got the most use out of the 18-135mm. Most of my shots were taken probably between 18mm and around 80mm.

For MK, EPCOT and DHS you can easily get away with using the 18-50mm (when ever my next trip will be I will be using an 18-50mm f/2.8 lens). There really isn't a whole lot at those parks that you need to zoom in close for.

AK you will get greater use out of your 70-300mm (I'm guessing you had a typo as I've never head of a 50-300mm lens). You'll want to to close pictures of the animals. I really only used my 18-135mm lens for some detail shots around AK, but mostly the 70-300mm stayed on the camera at that park.

At DHS you'll want to bring the 70-300mm to get some shots if you do any of the 3 shows,,,, Beauty & The Beast, Lights Motor, Action, and Indiana Jones.

If you want to get some upclose detail shots of the Castle at MK, then the 70-300mm would come in handy for a few shots.

I wouldl say that we here on the Photography board consistantly recommend a 3 lens package at Disney. 2 of those lenses would be your "kit" lens (this varies depending on your camera... 18-50mm, 16-85mm, 18-70, 24-105, 18-200, or something close to those focal lengths) a telephoto lens (70-300, 50-200, 70-200) and the last one would be a "fast" lens. This would be a prime lens that has a WIDE aperture... ie: 50mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.8, 30mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.8. These lenses offer you a great tool for use on the indoor dark rides (Pirates, IASM, Great Movie Ride, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan, etc...) and for the night time parades (Spectro, MVMCP Parade, MNSSHP Parade). Because of the wide aperture on these kinds of lenses you can generally get a fast enough shutter speed (in conjunction with a HIGH ISO) to stop the action and get great images. Also you can't use a flash on the indoor rides and using a flash for the night time parade's will wash out all the great colors and make the images look dull and flat.

 

[WillCAD]

I have gone to WDW with only the 18-55 kit lens and come back with some great pics. In my film days, I also took a trip with a 28-80, which is the film equivalent of an 18-55, so really, I've done two trips with those kit lenses; I was very pleased with all of the pics I got on both trips. I found myself wanting a longer zoom only on Kilamanjaro Safari, and at a few shows when I was seated far from the action.

My current walkaround lens is an 18-125 and that covers almost all of my needs at WDW.

 

[jiminyfan]

works best for me over the trip. With your choices I take both depending of the park - AK you have a better chance needing the larger zoom. DHS you could get away with just the 18-55 except for Fantasmic.

 

[creativeamanda]

I have similar lenses--I have an 18-55mm Nikkor and a 55-200mm Nikkor. For the day and typical shots, I use the kit lens (18-55) and for parades, shows, and fireworks, I know I need to use the 55-200.

I am planning to rent a 18-200mm Nikkor for our upcoming trip so I don't have to switch between lenses.

 

[cheala]

Thanks. I will stick to the kit lens then for most of the trip and have the telephoto lens with me though I wish I could get the 35mm, but that will have to wait. Maybe the next disney trip

 

[boBQuincy]

I mainly use a 24-105, if I didn't have that I would probably use the 18-55 mostly. My 2nd most used lens is a 10-22. The long lens is nice to have for shows and animals but it is generally my least used lens.