Help me decide...

[Morganw42]

Arg... just had a small windfall and nas must be sated.

For my upcoming trip I'm considering either a SB-600 flash or the Tokina 11-16 f2.8 and can't decide. My local shop has the hard to find Tokina in stock at a really good price. My two potential kits are:

A) Nikon D80, Nikkor 35 f1.8, Nikkor 70-300 vrII, and Tokina 11-16 f2.8.

or

B) Nikon D80, Nikkor 35 f1.8, Nikkor 70-300 vrII, Nikkor 18-55 vr, and SB-600.

I'm leaning towards the Tokina. Should I really need a speed light for a ypical disney trip?

 

[wenrob]

I didn't make a choice in the poll because that's a really hard one. I love my SB600, it's changed the way I take pictures. But would you need it at WDW? I can't answer that as I've never been. I'm a Disneyland girl and my personal opinion is that no, I wouldn't need it there. My plan for our next trip is to take my SB400 for fill and if needed in a pinch. It's light and get's up over the lens. Not great for any type of zoom though so if you're a zoomer it won't be much help. (I think the SB600 goes to 85mm) DL and WDW are two different critters though.

The Tokina would be a TON of fun at Disney and I'm thinking would get much more use.

 

[Steve's Girl]

So, if you go with option A, you won't take the 18-55? Personally, I wouldn't go without that lens. Of all the lenses listed, my opinion is that it would be the best walkaround lens during the day. I don't like to change lenses at Disney any more than I have to. I always have three kids and one impatient husband in tow. So, I like the flexibility of a mid-range zoom.

 

[Morganw42]

So, if you go with option A, you won't take the 18-55? Personally, I wouldn't go without that lens. Of all the lenses listed, my opinion is that it would be the best walkaround lens during the day. I don't like to change lenses at Disney any more than I have to. I always have three kids and one impatient husband in tow. So, I like the flexibility of a mid-range zoom.

It's just my wife and I, so a lens change won't bog us down too much . I just haven't used the 18-55 kit lens at all since I got my 70-300 and my 35 prime. I've never had a lens as wide as the 11-16 and am really intrigued by it.

 

[Steve's Girl]

It's just my wife and I, so a lens change won't bog us down too much . I just haven't used the 18-55 kit lens at all since I got my 70-300 and my 35 prime. I've never had a lens as wide as the 11-16 and am really intrigued by it.

In that case, I'd go for the Tokina. The only time I use my external flash at WDW is for photos of the kids with characters. DH and I went for a few days without the kids a couple years ago and I don't think I ever took my flash out of the camera bag.

 

[handicap18]

It all depends on your personal shooting habits.

I wouldn't want to be without a standard zoom lens (ie: in the 18-55mm range at least). The 11-16mm will be "fun" to use around Disney. I had a lot of fun using my 10-20mm. Got a bunch of cool shots I wouldn't have otherwise gotten. Gives a different perspective.

However, I use my SB-600 A LOT when I'm not at Disney and don't use my 10-20mm as much.

Over my last 3 trips to Disney the majority of my pictures have been taken between the focal lengths of 18 and 150. Now I do get a lot of use out of my 30mm prime, but I mostly use my 18-70 or 18-135mm lens for the majority of my shots around Disney. Within the next 6 months I'm going to upgrade to an 18-50mm f/2.8 lens.

Everyone's shooting habits are different, but don't just think of your upcoming trip. There are still 51 other weeks in the year when your not at Disney (assuming your going for a week and don't go more than a week once a year).

I didn't use my SB-600 at all on the last trip, but the trip prior I did use it quite a bit. We did 3 character meals on that trip so needless to say it got some good use.

 

[Evad]

Go with the lens!!!!!

 

[Gdad]

+1 for the glass- I hardly ever touch my flashes.