Is a 24mm 1.4 a good park lens?

[MBsTia]

Hi. I need some opinions on a good overall park lens for our upcoming trip to DL. I'd like something lightweight and able to capture great pictures of all the Xmas decorations. I have a Canon XTi and was thinking of renting a 24mm 1.4 lens. I have a larger zoom that I could use if I wanted to get the zoom shots, but I was hoping to have a wide angle lens to just walk around with.

Any thoughts?? Thanks!

 

[VVFF]

Hi. I need some opinions on a good overall park lens for our upcoming trip to DL. I'd like something lightweight and able to capture great pictures of all the Xmas decorations. I have a Canon XTi and was thinking of renting a 24mm 1.4 lens. I have a larger zoom that I could use if I wanted to get the zoom shots, but I was hoping to have a wide angle lens to just walk around with.

Any thoughts?? Thanks!

The 24mm isn't all that wide angle of a lens on a crop camera. It becomes a 38mm which isn't particularly wide nor is it long. I'd say it'd be good for rides and for parades but it's quite limiting for normal shots during the day.

 

[Shutterbug]

I agree 24mm on a crop is not that wide on a crop camera.

I ended up getting a Tamron 17mm-50mm F2.8 to get the field of view I wanted.

 

[MBsTia]

Thanks for the responses. I guess I'll be heading to the rental place today to take a look at other options.

 

[dmccarty]

The two lenses I take to all of the parks are a 24/F2.8 and a 50/F1.4. The 24/F2.8 is a very good lens for taking photos on roller coaster type rides. I have a full frame camera at this point so the 24 is a 24. But even with a cropped sensor the lens will still work. Even off the ride the lens has its uses since a 50mm, especially on a cropped camera, will force you away from your subject. If you are trying to take photos of a person next to a railing on one of the main paths in the park you have to step away and wait for a clear spot in the crowd to get the shot.

With a 24mm you can be much closer to the subject and not be as effected by the crowd.

I have not used either camera anywhere close to wide open. The lens is step to F8 and off we go for the majority of the photos. Unless you really need to isolate a subject by opening the lens up to F1.4-F2.0 or you need the extra speed for poor lighting a regular old 24mm should work fine. Having said that one of the reasons I bought the 50/F1.4 was for low light conditions as WDW. But I have never used it that way at WDW. Other places yes but not at WDW.

Later,
Dan

 

[MBsTia]

Thanks for the info Dan. I have a 50mm 1.8 and know how far you have to step back to get the shot, that's why I was considering the 24mm.