If you could take ONE lens on vacation...

[RCDisneyFan]

What would it be? And Why?

Here are the restrictions:

* ONE lens ONLY
* Subjects are a mix of people, architecture, artwork / sculptures
* The only flash you get is the one built into your camera
* You may be in situations where you can't use the flash at all
* The camera and ensuing bag of tricks-n-stuff have to fit with you on every Disney ride, as you have no chickens to hold it for you

I'm not limiting this to brands like Nikon, Canon, Tokina, or votes for particular lenses, etc - because I'm just curious to see what people's answers are.

 

[oogieboogieman]

What would it be? And Why?

Here are the restrictions:

* ONE lens ONLY
* Subjects are a mix of people, architecture, artwork / sculptures
* The only flash you get is the one built into your camera
* You may be in situations where you can't use the flash at all
* The camera and ensuing bag of tricks-n-stuff have to fit with you on every Disney ride, as you have no chickens to hold it for you

I'm not limiting this to brands like Nikon, Canon, Tokina, or votes for particular lenses, etc - because I'm just curious to see what people's answers are.

Call me crazy but, I can't make up my mind. It's between the Olympus Zuiko 12-60 and the Sigma 30mm 1.4. I know the restrictions say,"ONE lens ONLY."
I have started over 4 times on my reply. Last year, I went to the parks with only one lens and that was the Oly 50mm f/2 and became very familiar with that lens. There were a lot of times when I needed the lens to be wider and times when I needed it to be faster. That's where I'm having the problem. I'll have to think more...

 

[ChipNDale]

Subbing.... I do not yet have an SLR but am looking to upgrade from my bridge superzoom and only wanted to buy/bring one lens to the parks so I am glad someone has started this thread and i can not wait to see what is said

 

[gruZ]

I would think the 24-70 2.8. A bit bulky on the rides, but can be done. Fits inside a 2 gallon ziploc for splash, too!

 

[Quicklabs]

I love all my lenses, but I guess it would have to be my 18-200 3.5-5.6 VR. Yeah, it's not fast, but I like this lens for a lot of things. You didn't say I couldn't take my gorillapod with it, right? If I could add a second lens, it would be my dirty thirty.

 

[YesDear]

I concur with Quicklabs 18-200 if I could only take one.

 

[El Nebuloso]

I'll second the 24-70 2.8. This lens spends a LOT of time on my camera since getting it. There may be times when I want a little more reach, but it's fast, sharp and covers a wide variety of shooting situations.

 

[RCDisneyFan]

I have started over 4 times on my reply. Last year, I went to the parks with only one lens and that was the Oly 50mm f/2 and became very familiar with that lens. There were a lot of times when I needed the lens to be wider and times when I needed it to be faster. That's where I'm having the problem. I'll have to think more...

I should have put "Challenge" in the title of the post. It was meant to be kind of a brain twister for fun.

You didn't say I couldn't take my gorillapod with it, right?

As long as it fits in your bag that'll fit in your Space Mountain ride with you - you can bring anything BUT the second lens or a flash. All other gadgets and gizmos are fair game. Seriously - a Gorillapod will hold up a DSLR and the 18-200vr? I would not have thought it was that strong..

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Hmmm....my first thought was that I didn't like the question. I never travel with one lens for a DSLR. Lenses that cover really wide range also suffer from lots of IQ problems. I'd rather have a couple of good lenses than one mediocre lens and deal with the extra weight and bulk.

If I could only take one lens with me, I'd take the Canon 1200mm f/5.6. OK, it's not a versatile lens. It's really big and heavy. There is no way I'd lug it around at WDW. It had one great feature, though. It sells for a mint. I could easily pawn it for enough money to overnight several really good lenses to me. Then I wouldn't be stuck with just one lens.

If I had to bring just one lens and just use that one lens, I'd probably opt for a 24-70 f/2.8. The range is OK. The aperture is good. I have a Canon version and like it a lot.

 

[annnewjerz]

As much of a love/hate relationship as I have with this lens, I agree with John and Laura...I'd bring the 18-200mm VR and a really lightweight tripod.

The 18mm end is wide enough, the 200mm end is long enough and with the tripod/gorillapod/whatever I could end up with decent fireworks pics. I'd also bring a 72mm ND400 filter with me, as well as extra memory. Sure, I wouldn't be able to take great indoor ride pics, but I could save those for another trip.

 

[KCmike]

Newbie here would take his 55-250 IS.

 

[Chikabowa]

I'd take my 24-70 f2.8. It's my most versatile lens in terms of anything it can do.

But I think this is an awesome exercise and question!! Why? Because think about going on vacation with only one lens and making it do what you want it to do... it opens up some incredible composition and creative aspects to your photography!!

My camera doesn't have an on-board flash... can I take my speedlight?

 

[edolyne]

I brought my canon 24-105 lens with me on my trip two years ago and it never came off the camera. It was a very versitile lens for me and I was able to get some amazing pictures.

 

[Suburbanmom]

Another vote for the 24-70mm f/2.8. I took other lenses with me last November, but 90% of the time, this was the lens on my camera.

 

[Groucho]

Well, you didn't say if you're going to WDW to take photos or to spend time with the family... that can affect the choice.

I'm a guy who doesn't like to narrow his lens choices, and can't hit a Disney park with less than six lenses (I just can't eliminate any of 'em! they each serve a purpose)...

But if I had only one, it's actually fairly easy. My Pentax 31mm F1.8 is a nearly perfect lens, with absolutely unbeatable image quality. It's wide enough and fast enough for most environments at WDW. The build quality is stellar and it's not too heavy. It's certainly my finest lens, probably the best lens I'll ever own.

Now, my second choice - that'd take some thinking.

 

[boBQuincy]

24-105, it works for most of what I want to photograph. At f/4 it isn't the fastest but it has IS to help out.

 

[pointandshoot]

24-105, it works for most of what I want to photograph. At f/4 it isn't the fastest but it has IS to help out.

Ditto for me. A bit slower than a 2.8 but a longer reach. The IS keeps things sharp in the morning or at dusk. I can even pull off a few nights shots. Fast enough for action and performance during the day and push the ISO for indoor shows. Heavy but not a back breaker.

I rarely take a pile of lenses with me into the parks. I generally take one and use it all day. I have an idea about what I want to shoot that day and focus on it. If it is a day at AK, I take the Canon 100-400mm 4.5/5.6 IS for animals. Nothing else.

 

[GrumpyOne]

One lens for all of a vacation? Sort of depends but for WDW, my preference would be for something wide, fast and high quality. I think for both Canon & Nikon, the 24-70 fits the bill.

 

[jann1033]

not sure if you mean one we actually own or not. if so I'd take my 28-135 is f3.5-5.6, the aperture isn't great but the range is good, it's fairly sharp unless it's cropped much, the is helps a little to overcome some of the low light issues and the chromation isn't great but i can fix that... if not i'll take either bobq's 24-105 or a 24-70 that i don't own but while either may be a little short for me I'd like the aperture better. either way I'd be moaning cause I'd decide I wanted to use something else anyway

 

[DisneydaveCT]

During my recent Disney trip, most of my shots were taken with my 28-80 f3.5/5.6. Not a fast lens, but an acceptable range. So that would be my choice until, I get one of the f2.8 zooms for my Pentax.

I do agree with several posters that one lens is tough when visiting WDW. I thought that I would only use my 70-210 at AK, but found that it the lens of choice for shooting shots during the show in front of the Castle. I guess I could have staked out a spot early enough, but I didn't. And then I used my 50 f1.7 for evening shots.