Lens Question - New Nikon User

[LizAgna]

I am very new to the DSLR world. I recently bought a Nikon D3000 and it came with 2 lenses... 18 - 55 & 55 -200. I am going to Disney in just over a month and I need some advice on which lens to take with me. I'm not really comfortable changing lenses yet. So I'm not sure that I want to take both of them to the parks. Is there an "all purpose" lens that I could get that would suit my needs for taking pics of my DDs at character meals, meet & greets and also get some good pics of the castle, Spaceship Earth, Everest, etc?

 

[Geoff_M]

My "walking around" lens at WDW is my 18-70mm Nikkor AF-S and I'm not often left waiting for more lens. Your 18-55 will do a decent job too. The only other lens I take along to the parks is my 10.5mm fisheye.

 

[Stephandy03]

I am a new Nikon user like you, have the D40 with 18-55 and 55-200VR lenses. I brought both but used the 18-55 most of the time. The only time I used the 55-200 was at AK on the Safari. We went to WDW last month.

The only thing I wish that I had brought was a tripod for fireworks. I guess there is always next time!

 

[disneyboy2003]

I am very new to the DSLR world. I recently bought a Nikon D3000 and it came with 2 lenses... 18 - 55 & 55 -200. I am going to Disney in just over a month and I need some advice on which lens to take with me. I'm not really comfortable changing lenses yet. So I'm not sure that I want to take both of them to the parks. Is there an "all purpose" lens that I could get that would suit my needs for taking pics of my DDs at character meals, meet & greets and also get some good pics of the castle, Spaceship Earth, Everest, etc?

Changing lenses isn't too hard. However, I did find that most of the photos I took were with the 17-55mm f/2.8 lens. Like others, I switched to the telephoto lens during the Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom.

However, if you're looking for an all-around lens, you might consider the Nikon 18-200mm lens for $764 (link to B&H). It's a great all-around travel lens because of the range of its focal length. However, because of the relatively smaller f/3.5-5.6 variable aperture, it might not be ideal for low-light photography.

 

[YEKCIM]

One of the primary benefits of a DSLR is the ability to change lenses, depending on the circumstances, and lens changing is not difficult. The 18-55 and 55-200 are small, light, compact lenses. Take them both and use them as needed. DisneyWorld is full of details - use the 55-200 to capture those details. A longer focal length (like 200mm) is very useful in separating the subject from the background for a feeling of depth.

 

[LizAgna]

Thank you all for your responses! I guess I will end up taking both lenses with me but I probably won't take both of them to the parks each day.

I do need to learn more about my camera and the lenses that I have before I go though!

 

[ssanders79]

... 18 - 55 & 55 -200....So I'm not sure that I want to take both of them to the parks. ?

If you are not going to get the 18-200 and just take one lens with you in the parks I would stick witht he 18-55. It is easier to move closer to a subject with the 18-55 than it is to back up to get that wider shot with the 55-200.

An 18-200 is on my wishlist to help travel light.

 

[1153rsmith]

I got a d3000 last month. Mine just came with the 18-55, so I have bought online the 55-200. I think I will need that for AK as well as my son's baseball games. (The 55 doesn't get me from the dugout to home plate.)

I would like to eventually get the 18-200, with the upcoming trip, I don't have that much to spare.

Hopefully, I will have some pics worthy of posting on this board soon.

 

[handicap18]

I'm with Yekcem... bring both. Use both.

Look at lenses as a tool. Different jobs need different tools. Disney is full of wonderful jobs.

I typically bring 3 lenses with me to any given park. The majority of the time I use my standard kit lens (has ranged from an 18-70mm, 18-135mm and now a 17-50mm). So for the majority of your shots your 18-50mm will do. There will be times when you'll want the longer lens. At Animal Kingdom I almost exclusively use my 70-300mm lens. I also like bringing the longer lens to DHS for Indian Jones, Beauty & The Beast, and Lights Camera Action Stunt Show. At those shots your generally pretty far away and the telephoto lens really helps get you closer to the action.

I typically don't use the long lens at MK or EPCOT, but other people do. It all depends on what your shooting style is.

Have fun!

 

[mom2rtk]

One thing I can promise: If you leave one behind, you'll find a reason to wish you had brought it along!

There's no way to do Disney with just the long lens. 80mm is just too long and there will be too many people between you and whatever you want to shoot. I'd bring both, but if you have to go with just one, I'd definitely go with the shorter lens.

Have fun! And post some of your shots here on your thread when you get back!

 

[LizAgna]

Thanks for all of your replies. A co-worker of mine brought me a small camera backpack to try out today. It looks like it has a lot of room for the camera and an extra lens. I don't know if I will like carrying it to the park though. What kind of bag do you all take with you when you go to the parks?

Oh, I'm so excited...I scheduled a one on one class at a local camera shop to learn how to use my camera next Saturday. I wish it was tomorrow but the Nikon expert won't be there tomorrow so I decided to wait until he is there.

 

[SamSam]

Thanks for all of your replies. A co-worker of mine brought me a small camera backpack to try out today. It looks like it has a lot of room for the camera and an extra lens. I don't know if I will like carrying it to the park though. What kind of bag do you all take with you when you go to the parks?

Oh, I'm so excited...I scheduled a one on one class at a local camera shop to learn how to use my camera next Saturday. I wish it was tomorrow but the Nikon expert won't be there tomorrow so I decided to wait until he is there.

We're in the process of trying to find a bag we like for our new Nikon. We originally bought one (can't remember the name)but once we got it home and was working with it, we knew it wasn't going to work for us, so we took it back and we're just using a little tote bag we own as we look for the 'right' camera bag.

We just took our first camera class, 'Intro to DSLR photograpy' 2 days ago and we are so glad we did. We plan on taking several more over the next month, so that we can use our camera for more than a point and shoot....at least that's the plan.