Post your favorite "secondary" lens for WDW!

[WDWFWfan]

I'm looking for another lens to take to Disney with me in a few weeks. I'm taking a 17-55 2.8IS, but really wanting a 70-200 F4 IS, but don't know how much use it would actually receive at WDW. So I'm debating about holding off on the telephoto and getting a low-light lens for the dark rides...maybe a 30mm 1.4?

That got me to thinking, it would be neat to have a place for people to post their favorite "secondary" lens they like to use at the World. I think we all carry a standard zoom for use most of the time (17-55, 24-70, etc.) as a general walk-around, but what's your next favorite/most used lens? Wide angle, low-light, prime, telephoto, etc.

Be specific (manufacturer and particular lens) and it would be great if you want to post an example of where you used the lens!

 

[RBennett]

You know, me personally I would opt for the prime lens over the telephoto lens. Don't get me wrong, I have a 70-300mm Tamron lens that I use at AK on Safari every time but I think if I looked at how many times I use it versus my 50mm f/1.4, the 50mm wins out! Plus, the prime lens is not only great for low-light situations but also in daytime you can get some really neat depth-of-field shots too!

 

[zackiedawg]

I use my 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 as my walkaround and primary lens virtually all the time at Disney, though my secondary lens, the 50mm F1.7 serves the duties when I need that low light capability.

I am currently shopping ultra-wide zooms though, and if I were to get one, I can see that being my secondary lens of choice, since it's a type of photography I've never shot at Disney - the novelty effect alone would make it quite popular for a while!

 

[cpbjgc]

On our last trip to the world, I brought two secondary lenses, a Canon 70-200 f2.8 L (not the IS version) and a Canon EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 USM. I brought the 70-200 specifically for AK and got some nice shots, but it wasn't a good photo day due to a hot and cranky kid. Here is a shot with this lens:

As for the 75-300, it's a pretty inexpensive lens, and considerably lighter/smaller than the 70-200. The thing about this lens, is that as long as you accept its limitations in terms of speed, it works quite nicely. I usually use it in daylight, but it turned out some nice shots (handheld) at Fantasmic:

 

[boBQuincy]

My favorite secondary lens used to be my 70-200 f/4 but once I got a 10-22 it saw a lot more use than the long lens. Even when I carry both of them I still use the wide lens more.

I think it has a lot to do with the kind of photography we do since that will often dictate what lenses we tend to use most.

 

[annnewjerz]

I haven't gone to WDW with a dSLR yet, but I can tell you based on what I have read on this board what I think my primary and secondary lenses will be

My primary lens will be the Nikon 18-200mm VR. If it's sunny and I stop it down to f/8ish, it's much sharper than I originally thought and I like that it has a wide enough end for daytime shots of the parades, etc., as well as a long enough end to use at Animal Kingdom.

My secondary lens will probably be the Sigma 30 f/1.4. I just got it a week ago and already I'm in love. On my D90 body, the 45mm should be just right on indoor rides, the 1.4 aperture will be good for getting some low-light pictures and during the day, the shallow DOF this lens provides is really fun and I really like look it gives certain pictures.

 

[Angrypenguin]

I found myself using my 50mm 1.8 a lot more than I had anticipated. I agree with Rbennett; you'll find yourself in a LOT more low-light situations than you think! Every dinner/restaurant, and especially when the sun starts to go down and you're still walking around in the park, the fast primes turn out to be lifesavers.

I'd say, get as fast of a lens as you can.

 

[WDWFWfan]

This is great! It really is interesting to learn what other people find useful at WDW. It doesn't sound like a lot of people find much use for telephotos at Disney, except maybe at AK. I will say to cpbjgc that those are pretty good shots at Fantasmic for a slower lens . What was your ISO?

I was hoping that my 2.8IS would serve well enough as a moderately fast lens for dark rides, etc. Having reconsidered...I might need to pick something up a little faster...hmm...

 

[MICKEY88]

I carried my usual setup at WDW..

2 Sony A700s,,,one with my 28-75 2.8

the other with my 80-200 2.8

I had 4 other lenses in Florida with me, but just never felt the need to take any of those out of the bag..so they logged a lot of miles in my car but never saw the light of day..

 

[Code]

My second most used lens @ WDW (behind Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8) is definitely my Sigma 30mm f/1.4, but many of my favorite shots from our last trip came from my Sigma 10-20mm. 50mm is more useful than 30mm on some dark rides, but generally I used the 30/1.4 more than my 50/1.4.

 

[Miller1412]

I haven't gone to WDW with a dSLR yet, but I can tell you based on what I have read on this board what I think my primary and secondary lenses will be

My primary lens will be the Nikon 18-200mm VR. If it's sunny and I stop it down to f/8ish, it's much sharper than I originally thought and I like that it has a wide enough end for daytime shots of the parades, etc., as well as a long enough end to use at Animal Kingdom.

My secondary lens will probably be the Sigma 30 f/1.4. I just got it a week ago and already I'm in love. On my D90 body, the 45mm should be just right on indoor rides, the 1.4 aperture will be good for getting some low-light pictures and during the day, the shallow DOF this lens provides is really fun and I really like look it gives certain pictures.

I agree with you whole heartedly. I love the dirty 30. I think it is my favorite lens. I haven't been to WDW since I got it, but I can't wait to go with it!!

 

[cpbjgc]

I didn't realize that the DIS photopost would strip the EXIF data. Both of the Fantasmic pictures are at ISO 1600 and at f4 for aperture.

I also had my 50 mm F1.8, but I didn't do too much shooting on the rides so it did not spend much time on my camera.

 

[Quicklabs]

Another vote for the dirty thirty!

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

Spent 2 days at DL last month as my first trip to a park with a DSLR. I put the dirty 30 on the first night as a walk around and it is awesome. Next day was cloudy so I just kept it on to do some dark rides and found I love being able to take a picute anywhere (inside or out) without a flash. It does make you move you feet for zooming but that is half the fun.

 

[Groucho]

That got me to thinking, it would be neat to have a place for people to post their favorite "secondary" lens they like to use at the World. I think we all carry a standard zoom for use most of the time (17-55, 24-70, etc.) as a general walk-around, but what's your next favorite/most used lens? Wide angle, low-light, prime, telephoto, etc.

Well, we definitely don't all use a zoom primarily. My 16-50mm is handy but my 31mm F1.8 (or "the princess" or "the queen" as it's sometimes nicknamed) was definitely my main lens last trip. It's a nice focal length on a cropped DSLR (pretty much a "normal" lens) and the speed gives it a lot of flexibility - and the quality is second to none, so it's an easy pick.

My second lens would probably be the fisheye.

Actually, I did use the zooms while just walking around sometimes, but zooms just doesn't inspire me the way primes do. IMHO a prime makes you think a little more, which can lead to more interesting photos. You may miss a couple shots due to the wrong focal length but I think you will often gain as many or more shots due to whatever that lens' specialty is.

 

[YesDear]

18-200 is my main walk around lens. Up to this time my 10.5 was my fun lens, but like Gdad, my new to me 50 1.2 is probably really going to get a work out when we go for the weekend in May. While I do not have his ISO range of a D700, I am anxious to try it out inside at rides. Getting detail of a black cat in a coal mine at midnight is my goal!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hoan & Poopie]

I usually have a standard zoom (Nikon 16-85), but just as important for WDW is my Sigma 30 1.4 and right behind that my Sigma 10-20. I plan to bring these 3 when we go in May.

 

[Suburbanmom]

I've been giving this some thought...my 70-300mm VR vs the nifty 50. I think the nifty 50 has won out. I only used the 70-300 at the Animal Kingdom and got some really good pics, but I didn't put it on again, the rest of the vacation.

I used the nifty 50 on several indoor attractions and during the evening Christmas parade at the MK. I think it's the more practical choice for me. If I had the 30mm f/1.4 it would be the hands-down winner.

 

[elliot]

Well... I'm going on july and don't want to carry to much weight so I will bring my 50mm f1.8 lens for low light shots and let the Tamron 28-300mm do the rest on a D700. I think is not necessary to carry the 300mm prime this time. What do you think guys?

 

[dblp65]

I just rented the canon 17-55 2.8 for our week at Disney. Has anyone used this for night parades and/or fireworks? I also have an 85 1.8 and the 50 1.4 but wanted a wider angle this trip.
Thoughts on how the 17-55 2.8 will do?