lense strategy

[gokenin]

please bare with me for a few questions 1. when you are at disney and you plan on spending the day at a certain park i.e the animal kingdom do you just take the lense that would be best for that park? 2. do you carry all your lenses with you all the time? 3. does anyone make the ideal bag know thats not possible but just had to say that

 

[MICKEY88]

I prefer a vest over a bag when out shooting, my bag is for transporting from location to location, I grab camera, flash, and whatever lenses I think I might need to cover any situation possible and I'm good for the day, my cards, batteries etc, stay in the vest at all times...

no need to worry about where to sit a bag, or forgetting to pick it up, plus the vest more evenly distributes the weight..

 

[Nikel]

I just carry what I think I'll need in a smallish walkaround bag, similar to the shoot sac. I already have to carry a few things for the kids, so I just use one bag for it all. My bag is ideal for me. For transporting everything, I really like th crumpler 7 million dollar home. This is my walk around bag that a friend made me: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreadeniell/1152141060/

 

[YEKCIM]

I'm in the MICKEY88 camp on this one. I have a large Tamrac bag that I use to store/transport my gear, but use my photo vest to work out of in the parks. I ended up taking my 18-135 *and* 70-300VR, plus the 50mm each day. I also had my camcorder, so was pretty well loaded down. I do not regret taking three lenses; I used each of them pretty much each day, although the 50mm to a lesser extent, and only for low light stuff. I would have like to have had the 10-20mm ultrawide, but had to draw the line somewhere.

~YEKCIM

 

[handicap18]

I used a backpack the last few trips along with a hip pouch. Next trip my stragety is going to change. I'll keep the camera with a lens attached (mostly my 18-135mm) around my neck. I'll also have 2 lens pouches that attach to my belt. 1 can hold my 70-300mm VR lens and the other can hold my 90mm f/2.8 Macro. The 50mm f/1.8 lens can fit nicely without being bother in one of my front pockets. I'll have an off shoe flash as well, though I'll only take that for the meals. Right now we are planning on going back to the hotel most days before dinner would start. So I'll either switch out the 90mm lens for the flash or put the flash with the kids bag.

I didn't really like carrying around the backpack. It started to become too much of a chore when changing lenses. I ended up keeping the lenses in my pockets (even my older 70-300mm) {Yes I have big pockets }.

In doing other smaller events where I'm bringing multiple lenses, the lens pouch on the belt had worked out great. Makes it kind of tight when sitting in some seats, but it is very comfortable for me otherwise. I do have a vest that I'll bring along as well, but not sure how much I'll use it.

 

[gokenin]

I was wondering about opinions in regard to beach camera .com anyone use them and are they reputable? looking into buying a lense from them and wanted any experience with them (oh yeah forgot another question does anyone use the lense hood? or do you use filters over the lense?)

 

[YEKCIM]

I was wondering about opinions in regard to beach camera .com anyone use them and are they reputable? looking into buying a lense from them and wanted any experience with them

Yes. Beach/Buydig and B&H are pretty much the top three, with B&H maybe a tad higher. Mrs Y bought all her new Nikon gear a year ago from Beach, and I have another 70-300VR coming (for her) from Buydig. Ordered yesterday afternoon, late, and shipped today. No issues.

~YEKCIM

 

[Anewman]

I was wondering about opinions in regard to beach camera .com anyone use them and are they reputable? looking into buying a lense from them and wanted any experience with them (oh yeah forgot another question does anyone use the lense hood? or do you use filters over the lense?)

Beachcamera(or buydig).coms are very requtable and often have the best prices. But Returns and customer service can be an issue, so try to only buy stuff you plan on keeping. They are not a "try it out, and if you dont like it return it" type of camera store.

 

[MICKEY88]

I do have a vest that I'll bring along as well, but not sure how much I'll use it.

once you use the vest a few times you'll wonder why you waited, and never want to do it any other way... it's so much easier, more accomodating for rides, and when it's time to eat, hang it on the back of a chair...

 

[MICKEY88]

(oh yeah forgot another question does anyone use the lense hood? or do you use filters over the lense?)

I never shoot without a lens hood, it helps cut down on stray light, and offers extra protection against bumps and such,

I never use filters for protection, only if they are going to improve the shot, otherwise the extra glass in front of the lens can degrade the pic and increases the chance of lens flare..

 

[Groucho]

Lens hood = always, unless in a situation where I have to use the camera's onboard flash, as the lens hood will cause a shadow. Filters, only circular polarizer and once in a while my cross-screen ("star") filter.

I'm a big fan of the lens pouches on the belt. I brought two to DL but my wife shamed me into only wearing one at a time - still, I was able to cram two lenses in there most of the time, and this is just a medium-sized "Zing" pouch. On the last day, I actually left the bag behind entirely, stuffed my Tic-Tac remote shutter release in my pocket, used my new Tamrac belt-mounted battery/memory card wallet and filter wallet, and a single lens pouch. I carried my 28-75mm F2.8, 50mm F1.4, and fisheye 10-17mm - the "essentials"! It worked great, and much of the day I didn't use my Op/Tech neck strap, just kept it on my hand. When I did that, I would use the quick-releases on the strap to make it a small wrist-sized strap, and buckle the unused neck portion around my belt. Batman's utility belt has nothing on me. The problem is that I'm rather tall & skinny and my butt is not quite big enough to keep my pants up with this much load without the belt cinched tight and still some tugging occasionally. Suspenders might have helped.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

once you use the vest a few times you'll wonder why you waited, and never want to do it any other way... it's so much easier, more accomodating for rides, and when it's time to eat, hang it on the back of a chair...

What kind of vest do you use? What brand? And for those that weariton the belt, what brand do you use?

 

[MICKEY88]

What kind of vest do you use? What brand? And for those that weariton the belt, what brand do you use?

originally the brand was campco, now they've changed the name to humvee, at least that's what I was told by the person I've bought mine from... I have khaki and black...

I've seen them in online stores for as high as 75, I got mine from ebay for 35 plus shipping... I can give you the sellers name if you pm me..

 

[handicap18]

Lens hood = always, unless in a situation where I have to use the camera's onboard flash, as the lens hood will cause a shadow. Filters, only circular polarizer and once in a while my cross-screen ("star") filter.

I'm a big fan of the lens pouches on the belt. I brought two to DL but my wife shamed me into only wearing one at a time - still, I was able to cram two lenses in there most of the time, and this is just a medium-sized "Zing" pouch. On the last day, I actually left the bag behind entirely, stuffed my Tic-Tac remote shutter release in my pocket, used my new Tamrac belt-mounted battery/memory card wallet and filter wallet, and a single lens pouch. I carried my 28-75mm F2.8, 50mm F1.4, and fisheye 10-17mm - the "essentials"! It worked great, and much of the day I didn't use my Op/Tech neck strap, just kept it on my hand. When I did that, I would use the quick-releases on the strap to make it a small wrist-sized strap, and buckle the unused neck portion around my belt. Batman's utility belt has nothing on me. The problem is that I'm rather tall & skinny and my butt is not quite big enough to keep my pants up with this much load without the belt cinched tight and still some tugging occasionally. Suspenders might have helped.

Groucho all you need to do is switch to Nikon and you could probably my skinny twin.

Where did you get the belt-mounted battery/memory card wallet. That sounds like a very cool idea.

Do all the Op/Tech neck straps covert into a small wrist strap? That sounds just about perfect for me. Many times I like just holding the camara in my hand and not having it around my neck. In this case, the strap always gets in the way. If I get a neck strap that converts,,, SHHHHHWEEEEEET

 

[mabas9395]

So do you just throw your lenses and flash into one of those vest pockets unprotected? I would think that some padding is needed. Any problem with them getting banged up?

 

[MICKEY88]

So do you just throw your lenses and flash into one of those vest pockets unprotected? I would think that some padding is needed. Any problem with them getting banged up?

pro photographers have been doing it in the wild for years, with little problem.

do you normally bang into things when you walk..probably not, so why would you just because you have gear in your vest..

I've used a vest for several years now and have never damaged anything,

I've done WDW,

I do the PA Renn FAIRE every weekend, car shows in the summer... I've never had a problem..

my flash is always on my camera, never know when you need a shot in the shade..but even so I would trust it in the vest..

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

originally the brand was campco, now they've changed the name to humvee, at least that's what I was told by the person I've bought mine from... I have khaki and black...

I've seen them in online stores for as high as 75, I got mine from ebay for 35 plus shipping... I can give you the sellers name if you pm me..

Thanks for posting! I sent you a PM.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

pro photographers have been doing it in the wild for years, with little problem.

do you normally bang into things when you walk..probably not, so why would you just because you have gear in your vest..

I've used a vest for several years now and have never damaged anything,

I've done WDW,

I do the PA Renn FAIRE every weekend, car shows in the summer... I've never had a problem..

my flash is always on my camera, never know when you need a shot in the shade..but even so I would trust it in the vest..

MICKEY88, you put the lens caps/covers on first though right?

 

[Groucho]

Groucho all you need to do is switch to Nikon and you could probably my skinny twin.

I'll get right on that, around the time that I start gaining a bunch of weight and getting shorter.

Where did you get the belt-mounted battery/memory card wallet. That sounds like a very cool idea.

Here is the battery/memory card wallet and here is the filter wallet. The battery/memory card one is very cool - I hadn't thought seriously about one before since I was happy to just toss 'em in the front of my memory card, but I'm glad I got this. It works well, and I also moved my Spudz microfiber cloth-in-a-pouch to hang off the zipper rather than the neck strap on my camera.

Do all the Op/Tech neck straps covert into a small wrist strap? That sounds just about perfect for me. Many times I like just holding the camara in my hand and not having it around my neck. In this case, the strap always gets in the way. If I get a neck strap that converts,,, SHHHHHWEEEEEET

I'm not sure about all of them, but probably. Mine is the Pro Loop Strap. It has quick-release buckles a few inches from the camera connections, and you can unbuckle the main part of the neck strap and buckle the short dangling pieces together. I then wrap that around my hand and hang on to the grip of the camera. Not really a 100% wrist strap, but it works pretty well. It's hard to describe, I can post pictures if you like.

I was just reminded of it as I was looking at the pictures of the wife and son and I with Captain Jack Sparrow, and I have my shirt stuck over the lens pouch and the remaining neck strap, which I'd buckled together over my belt.

 

[MICKEY88]

MICKEY88, you put the lens caps/covers on first though right?

at the start of the day any lenses in the vest have front and rear caps on as they always do in my backpack...

if I switch out lenses for a few shots I leave the hood on, put the rear cap on and put the lens in the pocket, that way I can switch back faster if needed..