Prime lenses

[Cory_D]

I would say it depends on what you plan on shooting. I'm bringing down a 50mm and 85mm prime on my next trip. On full frame, the 50 will cover dark rides nicely, and the 85 will be good for close ups, like on Hall of Presidents, or dark rides where you need the extra reach to get a certain AA. My walkaround lens is a 24-70 f/2.8 though, which is almost like a prime in terms of speed. So, I would bring probably the 24 and the 43. Hope this helps!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Hi everyone,

My family and I are travelling from Australia soon for 3 weeks tripping around the US with the last 5 days being spent at Disneyland. I really want to enjoy the photography side of things, but don't want to schlepp a ridiculous amount of gear around with me either, I have to find a happy medium.

I am thinking I will take my 70-200 zoom but need to pick a prime to take.

My fave is my 50mm but I feel it's not going to be multi purpose enough. I don't want to have to back up too much to fit everything in. Would I be better investing in something else? I refuse to take my 24-70, it is such a heavy lens (but if you tell me I must take it I'll consider it)(although I don't love this lens as much as the 50mm)

Okay so what lens should I take to give me the most versitility?

Thanks in advance...

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Personally I prefer wider lenses at Disney so I think the 24-70 would be very nice on your camera and the most versatile. Are you going to be visiting any national parks? If you are you might like that lens there as well. I wouldn't bring the 70-200 into the parks as I'd generally find it too long for the situation but I imagine you want it for other places.

Do you have a prime that is wider than the 50? Maybe you want to bring two - the combo might still be lighter than the 24-70. I would at least want a 24 or 28mm and the 50mm, BUT.....your zoom would really be almost perfect on it's own.

 

[Cory_D]

Hey, fellow 5D II owner! That 70-200 is going to rock on your trip. I would probably bring the 50, as most would agree that it is THE lens for dark ride, and with the 5D's ISO capabilities, you'll probably be shooting dark rides. When I go to WDW next week, I'm bringing all my lenses, but If I needed to only bring two, the 24-70 and 50 would probably be my choices. Hope I could help, and have a great trip!

 

[gokenin]

well two day almost 50 views and only one comment so I can guess that either there are no others opinions or there are no other prime lens users. guess everyone uses zoom lens these days for ease of use

 

[zackiedawg]

I'd say if you're using a crop body camera, you may be best served to bring two of the primes - one wider (like that 24mm 2.8...not really wide but a good solid standard reach) and the fastest one you've got (the 43mm F1.9) for low light rides and such. The 24mm 2.8 can be an anytime lens, a good standard prime focal on a crop body, while the 43mm can serve for closeups on dark rides and night scenes. Personally, I bring a 50mm F1.7 and a 30mm F1.4 along to cover wider and longer range primes, with both being pretty fast for good dark ability handheld.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Well, I like to shoot wide and with my zooms am frequently at the 16-18mm range so I'd go with the widest possible on a prime. If you want to zoom then you can walk, but sometimes it's tough to back up anymore! I also have 30mm, 50mm and 135mm primes and have used the 50 1.4 and the 135mm more than the 30 simply b/c I do also use the wider zoom. From my collection if I were only taking two primes I'd do the 30 1.4 and the 135.

From your list I'd take the fast 43mm and then whatever your favorite is of the widest. If you like the 21mm that's what I'd chose b/c you'd have a fast lens with the 43 and I'd prefer the wider angle over the 2.8 of the other lenses.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Thanks for jumping in with your thoughts. So the 50mm is good for the dark rides???? Oh dear, I just know I am going to end up carrying extra lenses

Kat4disney, I was thinking about buying a 28mm for the trip and bringing that instead of the 50mm, but now I'm concerned it won't work as well on the dark rides.

Decisions decisions

 

[handicap18]

Thanks for jumping in with your thoughts. So the 50mm is good for the dark rides???? Oh dear, I just know I am going to end up carrying extra lenses

Kat4disney, I was thinking about buying a 28mm for the trip and bringing that instead of the 50mm, but now I'm concerned it won't work as well on the dark rides.

Decisions decisions

On the dark rides you are not allowed to use the flash so you need a lens with a wide aperture and a camera that has a very usable high ISO in order to get a shutter speed that will stop the motion of the ride and collect enough light to show the scene.

A 28mm prime on the rides might be a bit to wide, but everyone has different shooting styles. So long as it has a wide aperture you'll be good.

 

[Gdad]

I use mostly primes on various bodies-

20mm f2.8 AF
28mm f1.4 AF
35mm f1.8 AF-S
40mm f/1.4 Nokton
50mm f1.2 AI-S
50mm f1.4 HSM
105mm f2.8 AI-S Micro
180mm f2.8 AF
300mm f4 AF-S

The 28/1.4 is my favorite go-to lens followed by the 50/1.4. I don't usually carry the 20mm unless it's for a specific purpose.

 

[dmccarty]

I take all my camera equipment to WDW. What I take to the park depends on what I think will happen. I seldom take every lens or the SB800 flash I have to the park but sometimes I do.

I have a holster camera bag that is small and easy to carry. It protects the camera and attached lens. If I have a small prime like a 24/2.8 on the camera I could carry a 50mm. But I don't do that often. Just pick one and go. Though next trip I am going to look for a slightly larger holster bag. Already have five camera bags, might as well make it an even dozen.

In your case I would take the 24 and the 43. You seem to have quite a bit of overlap in the wide angle lenses. Not going to be much difference in a 21,24,28 or 30 so pick the fastest. I have a 24mm/2.8 and it is very useful of taking photos ON the rides if you want to get photos of people in your group.

Have fun,
Dan

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

If I go with the 28mm, will I get distortion in the images, esp if my kids are in the shots, which they will be alot of the time???

 

[Master Mason]

since the 5D is a full Frame camera, the 50mm is considered a normal lens, there is no crop factor to figure in.

I use the 24-70 as my standard lens on my 40D. I'm not understanding how you would think that it is heavy, but have no issues with the 70-200.

So, if I were you, I would skip the 28 and bring the 3 you already have.

 

[Gdad]

I say go for the 28mm. The 28mm f/1.4 is my go-to lens on my Nikon D700 which is also full frame. (Only because Nikon does not make a 24/1.4 like Canon does. ) I like shots of the kids that put them in their environment- fast wide lenses do it for me.

Here are a few shots including some Disney ones: http://www.flickr.com/photos/capturelifeinaction/sets/72157617297154844/

 

[KarenAylwood]

I find it interesting that you aren't planning on taking your 24-70!! I'm looking at buying my first L lens (well, saving up for it) and wanted one that was really versatile. I'm looking at the 24-70 or the 24-105 (seems like a popular debate from looking online). I haven't decided yet- but is it just the weight that bothers you? I know the 24-105 is over half a pound lighter.

I'm planning on bringing my 30mm f/1.4 with me when I go in September. I thought I remembered reading that 50mm was a little too much for dark rides and the 30mm worked better. I wouldn't know since I haven't taken it myself yet, but I thought I remembered reading that- I think it was on POTC- someone said they had much better luck getting entire scenes with the 30mm.

 

[Chikabowa]

My suggestion was the 24-70 and the 70-200 for your trip since that would give you just about everything you need on the full frame. But if you don't want to take the 24-70, then I would do the 50mm - since that is the closest focal length that matches the human eye. On the full frame, that should be really enough and with the low-light capabilities (I'm assuming you have the f1.4 or the f1.2L?), you will be totally fine. Especially with the expanded ISO range of the 5dm2.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I say go for the 28mm. The 28mm f/1.4 is my go-to lens on my Nikon D700 which is also full frame. (Only because Nikon does not make a 24/1.4 like Canon does. ) I like shots of the kids that put them in their environment- fast wide lenses do it for me.

Here are a few shots including some Disney ones: http://www.flickr.com/photos/capturelifeinaction/sets/72157617297154844/

Had a look at your pics, great shots. My fave is the Disney boardwalk park bench shot, love it. I agree that the 28mm should give me lots of environment with the kids in also.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

since the 5D is a full Frame camera, the 50mm is considered a normal lens, there is no crop factor to figure in.

I use the 24-70 as my standard lens on my 40D. I'm not understanding how you would think that it is heavy, but have no issues with the 70-200.

So, if I were you, I would skip the 28 and bring the 3 you already have.

Master Mason, it is more the combo of the weight of the 2 lens in the same camera bag, kwim? The 50mm and the 28mm would definitely be a lighter combined weight so it may be the way to go for me.

 

[Master Mason]

Master Mason, it is more the combo of the weight of the 2 lens in the same camera bag, kwim? The 50mm and the 28mm would definitely be a lighter combined weight so it may be the way to go for me.

You can't take pictures with your camera in your bag

But really it depends on how you like to shoot. I have spent a lot of time in Disneyland, and have very very few shots taken with the 70-200, infact I think Fantasmic and while sitting in the balcony for Aladdin were the only two places I used it extensively. But I know others that love to be very zoomed in.

Disneyland is a different animal than even WDW, it is very compact.

 

[wenrob]

You can't take pictures with your camera in your bag

But really it depends on how you like to shoot. I have spent a lot of time in Disneyland, and have very very few shots taken with the 70-200, infact I think Fantasmic and while sitting in the balcony for Aladdin were the only two places I used it extensively. But I know others that love to be very zoomed in.

Disneyland is a different animal than even WDW, it is very compact.

I agree, I can't see a real need for the 70-200 in Disneyland. If it were me I'd take the 50mm and 24-70 and choose a day to use the 70-200 specifically and just bring the 50 along that day.