If you could take ONE lens to WDW...

[sweetnsassy]

Which lens would you take and why? I am going to Disney in January and right now have a Canon 20D w/a Canon 50mm f/1.8, a Canon 85mm f/1.8 (I love this lens!), and a cheap 70mm-300mm that I hardly use anymore. I really feel like I'll need something like the 24-105mm that I can get pics with without having to be soooo far back to fit everything in. Any suggestions? TIA!

Alix

 

[ukcatfan]

I personally like shooting wide at WDW and do sometimes go as wide as 18mm. I tend to prefer the wide end often though. The 85mm and 50mm will be helpful in the dark rides. You might bring the tele zoom if you plan on doing AK. Otherwise, it might never get used. With 50mm being your current widest, I believe that you will need something wider, but it is more up to you to know if you need to go as far as 18mm or if something in the 24-28mm range will be wide enough. I am guessing that you would typically just be using it with good outdoor lighting, so you might want to stay cheap and go with something like the kit lens. At ~f/8, it is going to be nearly as good as a more expensive lens.

Kevin

 

[handicap18]

I too do a lot of wide shooting at Disney. Last trip is used the 18mm end of my 18-70mm lens ALOT, more than any other focal length in the 18-300mm range that I had with 2 lenses.

Back to your original question... I would have a hard time choosing between an 18-200mm, 17-55mm f/2.8 and a 24-70mm f/2.8.

Next trip I'll be going down with 5 lenses, though I'll probably really only get a lot of use out of 3. I like having a big zoom range so I use an 18-135 as a general purpose lens. I also like the telephoto reach for AK and the action shows at MGM so there I'll use the 70-300 a lot. For the indoor rides and night parades I can choose between my 30mm f/1.4 and 50mm f/1.8 (probably will lean on the 30mm more often than not) then I also have a 90mm f/2.8 for a few shots here and there like Fantasmic (if we get to it) and macro stuff (If I get the opportunity).

All that being said, if it ever came down to choosing 1 lens and ONLY 1 lens, then I'd have to get a 17-55mm f/2.8. More versatility with the wide aperture and as I said before, I like the wide angle at Disney.

 

[sweetnsassy]

Thanks for the replies! Anyone else?

 

[AndrewWG]

I would bring my Canon 10-400mm f1.2L IS, but unfortunately they haven't custom made it for me yet.

Ok, actually, if I were you, AND I could only bring ONE lens to WDW, I would choose your 50mm f1.8. Now, if you can make a purchase before your trip, I would suggest something like what you already mentioned like the 24-105mm or the 17-85mm.

The reason I would choose the 50mm (if you were leaving tomorrow and had to choose only one) is that it is pretty versatile. It takes GREAT pics in the mid aperture range like f8, and very acceptable pics at the wider aperture like f1.8 or 2. This way, you could get nice shots during the day and nice ones at night as well.

As the others have stated, 50mm isn't really wide enough, but I think it would work. I am going to use my 17-85 as my walk around lens. That is nice and wide and has an ok amount of zoom. I am also bringing my 70-200f2.8 and my 50 f1.8 and my 1.4x tele. This should just about cover it for me! It should only weigh about 15lbs! I wish there was a way to get that all into one lens, but even if there was, I couldn't afford it, I'm sure. I don't think I will have much use for the 70-200 except at AK and even then I don't really feel the need to take pics of a bunch of caged animals. They look nice, but other than some of the real dramatic shots of the gorillas, they are just zoo pics. I'll bring it anyways, because if I don't I'll see about 100 things I wish I had it for.

So, in short, if you want to bring only one lens, I would choose the 24-105 or the 17-85. I think in both cases you won't be getting any great low light performance, but you will have a good walk around lens for most daytime and brighter nighttime photos. If I were you, I would also slip the 50mm into your bag for the low light situations. It weighs nothing and takes up no space at all.

 

[gokenin]

I just recently got the tamron 28-75mm lens for my camera and it is 2.8f through the entire range this will be my walk around lens from here out. They do make one for canon and I think that Master Mason has one as his walk around so that would give you better low light chances through the range of the lens

 

[Groucho]

With what I have my in current collection, I'd also have to choose my Tamron 28-75mm F2.8. If I needed wider and could only have one lens, I'd get the Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 (which ain't cheap) or a Tamron or Sigma 18-50mm F2.8. I love my 50mm F1.4 but it just isn't wide enough. The downside is that F2.8 just isn't fast enough IMHO to get really good results of the night parades or on dark rides.

Another option would be the Pentax 31mm F1.8 (which I plan on buying next) or a 35mm F2.0 (most OEMs make one), much cheaper than the 31mm and certainly a better value. Both are probably wide enough where you could survive with it as your only lens, they'll be sharp enough to make cropping fairly painless for far-away shots, and are fast enough to get decent results in really dark environments. Come to think of it, I might actually choose the 31mm F1.8 over the Tamron - check back once I own it and I can compare them.

 

[pjacobi]

If you could take ONE lens to WDW... I wouldn't take a dSLR, I would take a P/S camera. I't small enough to fit in your pockets, yet most model offer high enough quality for casual shots of the family.

When the kids get tired, leave them at the hotel with spouse. Then go back to the park alone with dSLR and all you lenses and take the pictures that you missed.

Use the right tool for the job! Remember, it is not the camera, but the photographer that make the picture.


-Paul

 

[sweetnsassy]

If you could take ONE lens to WDW... I wouldn't take a dSLR, I would take a P/S camera. I't small enough to fit in your pockets, yet most model offer high enough quality for casual shots of the family.

When the kids get tired, leave them at the hotel with spouse. Then go back to the park alone with dSLR and all you lenses and take the pictures that you missed.

Use the right tool for the job! Remember, it is not the camera, but the photographer that make the picture.


-Paul

I've considered that, but it seems every time I take my P/S camera I wish I had my dSLR. I guess I just feel like I have more control in manual on my 20D than on my P/S...yes I know most P/S have manual modes, but I'm already comfortable with my dSLR. Besides I seem to get way better pics with it too, I hate the shutter lag that my P/S has, especially when taking pics of my munchkins.

Alix

 

[boBQuincy]

Which lens would you take and why? I am going to Disney in January and right now have a Canon 20D w/a Canon 50mm f/1.8, a Canon 85mm f/1.8 (I love this lens!), and a cheap 70mm-300mm that I hardly use anymore. I really feel like I'll need something like the 24-105mm that I can get pics with without having to be soooo far back to fit everything in. Any suggestions? TIA!

Alix

I have a 24-105 and it is on my camera maybe 90% of the time. It is kinda' big, kinda' heavy, and kinda $$$, but the build quality and image quality are both excellent. Focus speed is very fast and the IS works well.

If the $$$ doesn't scare you off it is a great "one" lens.

 

[Master Mason]

here is my vote for the 24-70 f/2.8 lens, you can get it in canon or sigma, the sigma is significantly cheaper. I use it at DL probably 95% of the time. It is a great lens.

 

[pjacobi]

I hate the shutter lag that my P/S has, especially when taking pics of my munchkins.

You probably have an old P/S camera! Most modern P/S camera have little or no shutter lag. The better P/S cameras are also image stabilized.

You need to go shopping for a good quality P/S camera, such as Canon A710 IS or SD 870 IS. Theses cameras take excellent pictures, but fit in our pocket. That allows you to enjoy WDW together with the kids, rather than worry about carrying around a big camera.

Here's a review of photopass and how a Pro was able to get just as good pictures with a P/S camera compared to the Disney photogrphers with Nikon D40.

http://frankphillips.com/photopass/


-Paul

 

[ukcatfan]

You probably have an old P/S camera! Most modern P/S camera have little or no shutter lag. The better P/S cameras are also image stabilized.

You need to go shopping for a good quality P/S camera, such as Canon A710 IS or SD 870 IS. Theses cameras take excellent pictures, but fit in our pocket. That allows you to enjoy WDW together with the kids, rather than worry about carrying around a big camera.

Here's a review of photopass and how a Pro was able to get just as good pictures with a P/S camera compared to the Disney photogrphers with Nikon D40.

http://frankphillips.com/photopass/


-Paul

Question for you. Do you have a DSLR? If you do, then I find it hard to believe that you would rather have your p&s. Personally, taking better shots at WDW was one of my primary motivations for getting a DSLR. As for the Photopass thing, I can completely believe that a p&s would hold up well in comparison b/c almost all of those shots are with good lighting or a flash. The DSLRs are great at WDW b/c there are so many situations where the lighting just makes a p&s virtually worthless.

Kevin

 

[Code]

My first and only trip with my DSLR, I found myself at the wide end of my 14-42 a lot of the time (14mm is 28mm equiv on my 2x crop camera). It was my first big vacation with a DSLR so I didn't have a "style" or preference to wide shooting, that's just the way it ended up.. WDW just seems to be conducive to shooting wide, especially when you are going for lots of family shots. My 40-150 hardly got used except in AK. So anyway, that's my opinion and recommendation.. a short zoom that starts wide.

And take your 50mm f/1.8 along for night shots also.. I know you only want to take 1, but I think you'd really be glad for the f/1.8 at night

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Go to WDW without a DSLR? I'd sooner go with no pants.

I shoot a lot of people and details, so I rarely take out my wide angle. I'd opt for the 24-70 f2.8. The extra range of the 24-105 would be nice, f4 is too slow for a lot indoor stuff. I also take a lot of shots with a 70-200 f2.8, especially at shows.

If I could only bring one lens per day, it would be the 24-70 for MK, MGM, and Epcot and the 70-200 for AK. I shoot with a 1.3x camera, so I'm a bit wider.

My advice is to get the 24-105 and through the tiny little 50 in your bag or pocket for low light.

 

[sweetnsassy]

Go to WDW without a DSLR? I'd sooner go with no pants.

yeah, lol, that's kinda how I feel, but I'm not sure dh would appreciate me pantsless, so I think I'll be bringing my dslr

I pretty much plan on bringing my 50mm (it's lightweight and small as others pointed out). I was hoping to buy a new lens before I go. I think it's between the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens. I'm just not sure which one, $$$ wise they are about the same. The f/2.8 would come in handy after Disney at my dds dance recital since it's low light, but I like the reach of the 24-105mm...but I do eventually want to get the much coveted 70-200 f/2.8 IS so between that and the 24-70mm f/2.8 I'd pretty much be covered (and broke ). Ugh, decisions...thanks for everyone's input, I really appreciate it!

 

[DVC Jen]

if I had to choose from what I currently have - it would probably be hard for me to pick between my 28-135 IS and my 28-70 f/2.8 (at least I think that is what it is without checking it).

The 28-135 IS is a great lens - but doesn't do well in low light. The 28-70 does do well in low light - but just doesn't lt me zoom in as much as I would like.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I'm kind of glad they didn't have the 24-105 when I bought my 24-70. I would have agonized over that choice. I'm sure that it is just a matter of time before I have both.

 

[Master Mason]

yeah, lol, that's kinda how I feel, but I'm not sure dh would appreciate me pantsless, so I think I'll be bringing my dslr

I pretty much plan on bringing my 50mm (it's lightweight and small as others pointed out). I was hoping to buy a new lens before I go. I think it's between the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens. I'm just not sure which one, $$$ wise they are about the same. The f/2.8 would come in handy after Disney at my dds dance recital since it's low light, but I like the reach of the 24-105mm...but I do eventually want to get the much coveted 70-200 f/2.8 IS so between that and the 24-70mm f/2.8 I'd pretty much be covered (and broke ). Ugh, decisions...thanks for everyone's input, I really appreciate it!

Well, I bet you DH would be ok with it at least in certain situations...lol

I looked at both the 24-70 and the 24-105 and the 17-55 as well when I was buying... First the 24-105 dropped out because of the low light you mention, and then I honestly couldn't tell you why I chose the 24-70 over the 17-55 both were steller lenses and about the same price, I think it just came down to a gut feeling that I would be happier with the 24-70

 

[boBQuincy]

:snip...
I think it's between the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens. I'm just not sure which one, $$$ wise they are about the same. The f/2.8 would come in handy after Disney at my dds dance recital since it's low light, but I like the reach of the 24-105mm...snip

That's about where I was when I bought my 24-105. The 24-70 has f/2.8 and is better for low light with moving subjects but the 24-105 has IS and is better for low light with still subjects.
The 24-105 lens hood blocks some of the built-in flash, I don't know if the 24-70 hood does that. The 24-105 hood also works with the 10-22, no vignetting.