Lens Suggestion for WDW

[cobright]

I have a Nikon D80. My goal is to take only one lens into the park each day.

On the day we will be doing the safari ride in Animal Kingdom I'm thinking a Tamron 55-200mm f4-5.6

Every other day I'm thinking a Tamron 28-80mm F3.5-5.6

In the parks I have the most fun shooting the kids with character meet and greets. I wanted a lens that would give me range to take shots from right up close to as far back as the photopass guys.

I'm hoping that 200mm will be enough for the Kilimanjaro safari. Last year I did everything with an 18-100mm and it was alright for everything but a bit weak on the safari ride.

Any obvious flaws with my plans?

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

On your photos of character greets, you may want to consider an external flash. You don't seem to address any lowlight situations with or without flash. From what I read, the D80 has a max of 1600 ISO with a boost to 3200. I don't know how much of that is actually usable. When using variable aperture lenses with the inability to use higher ISO's, you will need to make other adjustments which tend to make the shots more difficult. Unless I am experimenting or only trying to shoot something one way, I find it very difficult to carry just one lens. My WDW kit is as follows (this is just what I carry that works for me. The weight of my equipment is prohibitive for some):

Walkaround 28-70 f2.8
Long zoom 70-200 f2.8
Dark rides and lowlight Sigma 30 f1.4
Wide angle 18-55 f3.5-5.6
External flash

I find my 70-200 works well in most long zoom situations. I do have a 100-300 f4 lens, but it is really heavy so I do not normally carry at WDW for just the one or two situations I could use it.

Your plan will work, just understand there will be limitations. If you can live with those then you are good to go.

 

[photo_chick]

I'd have either a fast prime or a flash for the hotshoe. That 28-80 isn't going to be fast enough to get some character meet and greets without resorting to the pop up flash.

My last trip I kept a 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 on the camera and had a 50mm tucked in my bag for low light. Except at Animal Kingdom where I also stuck a tele zoom in my bag.

 

[cobright]

I didnt mention a flash. Last year i relied on the internal flash on a D3000 quite a bit and it was ... OK.

I try to make do without flash except at qued up meet and greets because i kinda think flashes are obnoxious.

But yeah, before this trip i will buy a speedlight or something if i cand find one that is kinda low profile (i know that sortof defeats the purpose).

 

[cobright]

And i have a prime 50mm and a 35mm both with apps under 2. I just really didnt want to shuffle lenses in the park. Maybe ATS rentals has a high speed walkaround zoom i can borrow for the trip.

Edit: Just looked. Sigh. They have a 24-70 mm with a flat f2.8. That sounds close ti perfect. Its prolly an $800 lens if i wanted to buy it. Stil, a rental isnt a bad way to go.

 

[mcraige]

I found selecting the proper lens at WDW to be frustrating. On KS, as soon as I put on the 70-210, then BAM, the animal would be standing right beside the truck, and I would scramble to change lenses. Or I would find a great scenery shot in one of the parks, but my 18-55 wasn't wide enough. Or it would be a dark ride and my lens wouldn't be fast enough.

Since my last trip, I bought a Sigma 30mm f1.4, and am now looking at either a 16-105, or a 17-50 f2.8.

Let us know how your lens selection works out.

 

[mamaCta]

I have a D90. If I had to narrow down to one lens a day it would be my 18-105mm, but I would also have to contemplate flash for low light.
If I couldn't bring my bag I would probably keep that lens on the camera and bring my 28mm 2.8 in my pocket.

 

[Hockeychic]

Answering this on behalf of my DH who is a camera nut but not a message board reader

He has a Canon something or other but agrees totally with your first post.

 

[cobright]

I just cant imagine needing more than 80mm for walk about. Might need to fi.d a faster lens though