If you could only take 1 lens with you?

[DeAnna4140]

I'm a senior portrait photographer and mostly shoot with a 135L and 85 on my 5D MIII. I'll be at WDW for a week in January and wanted to rent a zoom for more of the walk around shots.
Would you go wide with the 16-35L or 17-40L? Or the 24-70 to get a little more reach? I won't be carrying my camera every day but definitely wanted to get some castle shots before they take the Christmas lights off.

Thanks!

 

[havoc315]

On full frame, I'd go 24-70. 24 is fairly wide as it stands.

 

[Skywise]

If your goal is shooting scenery then the 16-35.

But if you plan on shooting your kids on the rides I'd probably go with the 24-70 to get that reach.

 

[DeAnna4140]

My daughter is a senior so we're taking 1 day just to do her senior photos in the parks and at the resorts. I'm wanting a lens for the other days to shoot scenery, the castle, etc.

 

[photo_chick]

My personal choice from what you have is the 24-70. Especially if you're doing any portrait style work in the parks.

 

[HPS3]

If I only brought one lens it would be the 24-70 or 24-105. I could get by without a UWA but would miss some reach if I didn't have any.

 

[traylorc]

Another vote for the 24-70...

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

For the shooting you describe I'd go wide. There are many tight quarters at WDW plus the ultra wide allows you to get close up to the icons and not have as many others guests between you and your subject.

 

[DeAnna4140]

I'll be using my 135L for all of her senior portraits. It is by far my favorite portrait lens. Sharp and beautiful bokeh. For me, no substitutes there.

The lens I'm asking about will only be used for scenic/other shots. Since I don't normally shoot that way, I wanted to know what others preferred to capture great castle and other iconic Disney photos.

 

[DeAnna4140]

Yes KAT4DISNEY! That's it!

I want to shoot things I normally wouldn't shoot with my portrait lens. I'm definitely wanting a wide angle on things. I'm wanting to come out of my comfort zone, which is portraits, and use something other than a portrait lens.

Some wide, wide, wide stuff would be fun and oh so not what I'm used to!

Thanks!

 

[havoc315]

Shooting ultrawide is a lot of fun. On my crop, I've used the Tamron 10-24, so an effective focal length of 15-36. That said, I'd feel too limited with ONLY my ultrawide lens. There are plenty of scenes that can be shot in a narrower range, where an ultrawide just creates a lot of dead space. Sure you don't want to bring 2 lenses?

 

[wiigirl]

My personal choice from what you have is the 24-70. Especially if you're doing any portrait style work in the parks.

 

[DeAnna4140]

To everyone suggesting the 24-70, why?
I don't need/want that lens for portraits so what is it about the 24-70 that makes you think I should have that lens?

 

[DeAnna4140]

Shooting ultrawide is a lot of fun. On my crop, I've used the Tamron 10-24, so an effective focal length of 15-36. That said, I'd feel too limited with ONLY my ultrawide lens. There are plenty of scenes that can be shot in a narrower range, where an ultrawide just creates a lot of dead space. Sure you don't want to bring 2 lenses?

I'll actually have 3 other lenses with me. My 135L, 85 1.4, and 50 1.4. Carrying a Tote & Shoot camera bag around gets pretty heavy.
I'm looking for 1 wide zoom to come out of my comfort zone. I'm usually a prime girl.

 

[mom2rtk]

To everyone suggesting the 24-70, why?
I don't need/want that lens for portraits so what is it about the 24-70 that makes you think I should have that lens?

It's just a great multi-purpose "walk-around" length. Disney presents us with photographic opportunities as we go about our day that we don't always anticipate. I shoot 95% of my images with the Canon 17-55 f/2.8 with a crop sensor. It's my workhorse, and I think it's similar in range to your 24-70 on your FF. I like knowing that as I go about my day, I'm ready to shoot a wide range of situations without digging in my bag and changing lenses. It's perfect for character shots, street scenes, some shows, detail work, a huge range of things I might encounter.

I bring a UWA lens (Tokina 11-16) but consider it more of a task lens. I take it out and use it for a particular situation, but then tend to swap back to the 17-55. If you like to take candid shots of family members, there's just too much distortion using an UWA lens all day.

Honestly, I'd probably just bring them all, but decide on a daily basis which ones to carry into the park with you.

 

[havoc315]

To everyone suggesting the 24-70, why?
I don't need/want that lens for portraits so what is it about the 24-70 that makes you think I should have that lens?

At 24, that is pretty wide. Much wider than any of your other lenses. A very nice focal length for scenery. Its really as wide as you would want to go for many many scenes. Wider lenses carry more distortion, and will often be too wide. (You get to a point where you get the tips of your own shoes in the picture!)

And letting you go up to 70, brings in usefulness for shooting things other than wide open scenes. Let's you shoot characters, details, parades, etc.

 

[jiminyfan]

It depends, but normally I will thrown on my 28-270 Tamron, especially for AK.

I am assured I can get the pics I need.

 

[MAJPLO]

To everyone suggesting the 24-70, why?
I don't need/want that lens for portraits so what is it about the 24-70 that makes you think I should have that lens?

Versatility. Wide but with the ability to zoom a little bit for things if you need/want to, like parades.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

To everyone suggesting the 24-70, why?
I don't need/want that lens for portraits so what is it about the 24-70 that makes you think I should have that lens?

As others have said, its all about flexibility. If you are only going to take one lens, then you are going to need one that will work in most situations. You will not be at Disney by yourself and have the ability to use foot zoom to adjust for the lack of the proper focal length. For my walkaround, I use a 28-70 f2.8 on a crop sensor. Many will say that is not wide enough, but since I carry multiple lenses, I don't find it as a limiting factor. The 24-70 on a FF camera, will allow you to get wide enough and also have enough zoom when you cannot use foot zoom. Situations like shows in front of the castle, parades, indoor shows, some character situations may require the extra zoom of the 70mm. For the Safari ride it will probably be a little short. However with the f2.8 and the higher ISO ability of the FF, you should be able to get some decent lowlight shots on some of the dark rides, if you wish to attempt them. Again, its all about flexibility.

 

[Mexidoc]

24-70 is a great option. I would also throw the 17-55 2.8. On a crop sensor your in the same range for $1000 less.