Favorite Nikon lens for WDW?

[carolrie]

Hi!

I have a Nikon D300 and a 24-70 2.8. We are going on a WDW trip in two weeks and also on the cruise. I am so torn about brining this camera. I am totally addicted to the images it creates, but it is a beast to carry around and I can't see doing it for two weeks. Does anyone have a favorite Nikon lens that would be more travel friendly?

 

[Suburbanmom]

Hi!

I have a Nikon D300 and a 24-70 2.8. We are going on a WDW trip in two weeks and also on the cruise. I am so torn about brining this camera. I am totally addicted to the images it creates, but it is a beast to carry around and I can't see doing it for two weeks. Does anyone have a favorite Nikon lens that would be more travel friendly?

That's exactly the combo I carry around WDW. It is a beast, but I couldn't imagine leaving it at home.

 

[carolrie]

Do you have a favorite camera bag or backpack that you use?

 

[Suburbanmom]

My husband is my sherpa and he carries all my stuff. :lol
I have a Lowepro 200 and I am NOT in love with it. I think it may be great for a man (my DH does not complain) but it really doesn't fit me well. I am looking for a good messenger style bag that would suit my shape a little better. I will say that the Lowepro and it's waterproof cover is terrific and have kept my equipment very dry in FL rainstorms and WDW wet attractions. I take my 70-200 f/2.8 with me too and it does get very heavy. I just added a Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 and will need to get another bag soon.

 

[annnewjerz]

I just added a Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 and will need to get another bag soon.

 

[carolrie]

What do you think of the Tokina? I have been seriously looking at getting this. It is such a better price than the Nikon and I've heard not much difference in quality. What do you think?

 

[handicap18]

I was in Disney back in June and used my D300 combined with my 18-135mm. I wouldn't even consider going without that camera body.

Make sure you have yourself a real good strap like an Op-Tech or Black Rapids. That makes all the difference in the world.

 

[Suburbanmom]

What do you think of the Tokina? I have been seriously looking at getting this. It is such a better price than the Nikon and I've heard not much difference in quality. What do you think?

I've only had it for about 24 hours I've taken roughly a hundred snapshots. So far, I'm happy. I haven't done any extensive post processing yet, and have only glanced at them in lightroom. It's been a little weird shooting so w....i....d....e

 

[Chikabowa]

I could spend the entire 2 weeks at Disney with the D3 and 24-70 f2.8 and never need anything else (well, perhaps a flash...). It's heavy, but it's such a great multi-purpose work horse, it's worth it.

That said... if you don't want to do it... challenge yourself. It would be fun to walk around with JUST a 50mm lens too.

 

[Quicklabs]

I'm going to take the 24-70 with me for the first time this trip. I hate like heck carrying it, (last year, had my 18-200, which served me well also) but there's just nothing else that I have that gives me that kind of IQ.

 

[maltdisney]

I have that same 24-70 on my D50. This time around (Oct) I'm also going to bring my 70-300VR which will be a beast to carry around but I reckon I'll spend different days just dedicated to taking tele shots - that way I won't have to carry both lenses and keep switching the buggers out every time I see a shot that merits changing lenses

Wish I had that 10.5mm fisheye...

 

[Gdad]

I think that lens is more of a lunker to carry around than the D300- exactly why I sold mine. I would go with just a 35mm or 50mm prime.

 

[dmccarty]

For the trips to the parks to get on rides I either take the 50/F1.4 or the 24/F2.8. My 35-70/F2.8 can have trouble focusing close enough when I am trying to take photos on the roller coaster type of rides. I have never had a problem with framing a photo with my feet. Which is surprising with all of the people. Might have to wait a bit for a gab in the crowd.

One day I messed up a grabbed the 24/F2.8 when I meant to use the 50/F1.4. It actually worked our real well.

Later,
Dan

 

[carolrie]

Okay, I think you all convinced me to go with my gut and bring it along! handicap18 - thanks for the tip on the straps, I will check them out. I do have a 50mm prime that I will bring along too just for fun. Still looking for a good backpack or camera case. Any ideas on your favorites for the parks? Maybe I will post this on a separate thread too

 

[dmccarty]

Okay, I think you all convinced me to go with my gut and bring it along! handicap18 - thanks for the tip on the straps, I will check them out. I do have a 50mm prime that I will bring along too just for fun. Still looking for a good backpack or camera case. Any ideas on your favorites for the parks? Maybe I will post this on a separate thread too

If I fly to WDW I take THREE camera bags. One big humongous bag that holds the DSLR, lenses, batteries, chargers, camcorder, and laptop. Its heavy. I might look for a back pack bag in the next couple of months. The one strap humongous bag is not fun to carry.

For the parks I have my usual camera bag that holds my lenses and DSLR. I seldom take all my lenses. Usually I make an educated guess with what I will need. USUALLY what I take is a holster bag that protects the camera. Its small and light. I use the camera strap to carry the camera. I am going to look for a slightly larger holster bag to take an extra prime lens along with the DSLR and whatever prime or my 35-70/F2.8 is on the camera.

The holster bag is really travel friendly. Its small, light and unobtrusive but protects the camera.

Unfortunately one collects camera bags as one starts adding to one's collection of gear. You just can't stop with one.....

Later,
Dan

 

[annnewjerz]

Unfortunately one collects camera bags as one starts adding to one's collection of gear. You just can't stop with one.....

How true. When I bought my camera a year ago I got a normal Nikon bag that held the camera and like one additional lens. Then I got a "shoot bag" for when I was walking around shooting. Then I got the Crumpler 6MDH to hold all of my stuff and realized it was just too big for me. Then I go the Crumpler 5MDH and like it, but it doesn't hold enough stuff to use it as a carry-on for all of my gear. So that brings us to now. I have asked for a Kata 467 backpack for my birthday. I'm sure the list will only get longer.