Two weeks to go... I think I'm ready!

[Groucho]

My last piece of the puzzle arrived a couple days ago so I think I'm finally ready for our trip to WDW in two weeks...

From top to bottom, left to right...
Zing lens holder with belt loop (takes a LITTLE weight out of the main bag!)
Tamrac Zoom System 3 bag (old!) with Op/Tech SOS strap
Clamperpod with Giottos mini ball head
generic mini tripod
Slik 713 CFII carbon fiber tripod
Bogen 3016 aluminum monopod
Bogen 484RC2 ball head
Pentax K1000 with Kodak strap
Pentax 50-200mm, lens hood
Pentax 18-55mm, lens hood
Zenitar 16mm 2.8 fisheye
Sigma 28mm 2.8, lens hood
Pentax *ist DL, Pentax 50mm 1.4, Op/Tech Pro Loop Strap, Spudz 18% gray microfiber cloth pouch
Vivitar 400mm 5.6 M42 screw-mount
USB and video-out cables for DL
homemade "Tic-Tac Bold" remote shutter release with 6' cable
spare battery for K1000
some memory cards (actually a few more will be going... 2 high-speed 2g cards and 2 512m cards)
Philips pocket USB SD card reader (free after rebate!)
Promaster circular polarizer
Hoya 4-point star filter
Pentax M42 screw mount adapter
camel-hair brush
some film - 2x B/W 400, T-Max 3200, and some Pro 100 and Gold 200 and 400

The only thing I'm not quite sure on yet is how to carry the monopod and tripod - I'm not sure if I have a backpack tall enough and I'm not going to go buy a tripod carrying case at this point. Another potential hiccup is that I want to use the monopod the day we arrive, which means it'll have to be a carry-on at the airport - hopefully I can get away with that, or strap it to our stroller somehow.

Now where's my sherpa to help me carry all this?!?!?!?

 

[Dan Murphy]

LOL, now I know why I like my little S2 IS.

Looks good, hope to see some great pictures soon, Groucho. Enjoy.

 

[campinggal]

Another potential hiccup is that I want to use the monopod the day we arrive, which means it'll have to be a carry-on at the airport - hopefully I can get away with that, or strap it to our stroller somehow.

I've taken my tripod on the plane as a carry-on recently and did not have any problem going thru security.

Have a GREAT trip!!

 

[Groucho]

LOL, now I know why I like my little S2 IS.

When I went 11 months ago, all I brought was my little 12x IS camera and a couple memory cards... no tripod, no nothing. I was not happy with the results (in a large part due to the noise in the pics) so I'm determined to get some better results this time... and if I'm still not happy, well, I'll just need to buy some MORE equipment! It never ends!

 

[handicap18]

Thats is!

Thats all your bringing?

Where is your desktop computer and 21" wide screen monitor? How will you be able to really view and critique your own work while in Disney? Not to mention posting updates here in 15 minute intervals. Where is your photo lab quality printer? Your going to need to print out a few 20x30 prints to really make sure the equipment is working properly!!! This way you can go back right away and retake the photo if its not perfect!!

Where is the kitchen sink?

Frankly Groucho,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I'm disappointed.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

LOL, are you going to be able to walk?

Have a great trip!

 

[ukcatfan]

I've taken my tripod on the plane as a carry-on recently and did not have any problem going thru security.

Have a GREAT trip!!

Hopefully you will have no problems, but you should check with security before you check your baggage if you can. The is a very very good chance that the TSA agent has no idea what a monopod is. Most people know what a tripod is. They may interpret your monopod as some sort of weapon and even detain you for questioning and you miss your plane in a worst case scenario. This is unlikely, but if it happened then you miss out on those pics completely b/c you get there on a later flight.

I am assuming that you are using the service where your luggage is delivered to your room. You could always ask the ticketing agent to not include your monopod in that service and then pick it up at baggage claim. I would put it in one of those poster shipping boxes to protect it though.

Also, with all that equipment, do not forget to have some fun I just went for an overnight trip on Friday to look at the hotel decorations and I never even took off my kit lens.

Kevin

 

[DVC Jen]

Can I go? I'll carry the equipment if you let me tag along and learn from ya.

 

[DizneyNutz]

We flew to Orlando last Sept and about two weeks ago. Both trips I had all my cameras (intheir seperate cases) a tripod and other assorments all tucked away in an athletic duffel bag (like you would carry to the gym). No problem at scanner on the way down but when we were at Orlando returning last Sept, they stopped the bag in the scanner, then pulled it aside and was hand scanning and I was standing right there, so I offered to open it. It was the tripod raising the suspicion. No big deal and only took about 7 mins. I told DW that I would have to remember that for future use. Sure enough when returning again this year they held it up in the scanner and two guys were looking it over. I offered to them that there is camera tripod in the bag and told them I would glady open the bag if they would like. Took about 3 mins this time with me knowing what they were curious about. I think it is the metal teeth on the side of the center section that raises/ lowers by crank handle that looks suspicious? I know you said you were taking your monopod, but I just wanted to offer this information in case anyone gets held up at the airport scanner carrying a tripod inside something, that may be your cause and save you a little time.

 

[robinb]

Holy cow! No wonder your pictures look so great .

 

[Groucho]

Where is your desktop computer and 21" wide screen monitor? How will you be able to really view and critique your own work while in Disney? Not to mention posting updates here in 15 minute intervals. Where is your photo lab quality printer? Your going to need to print out a few 20x30 prints to really make sure the equipment is working properly!!! This way you can go back right away and retake the photo if its not perfect!!

Well, I AM bringing a laptop with DVD burner and a small pile of blank DVDs to unload the 2g cards every night! My desktop PC with dual monitors (used to have a huge old 21", now 19" and 15" - no room for a 17") is staying at home! I almost never print so that's not an issue.

I also didn't include in the pic our video camera and the wife's Canon SD600... lest I sell our load short in any way.

I'm still a little fuzzy on whether or not I get free local calls at SSR, worst case it's 75c, so I'll dial in a few times but may not get a chance to hit the Dis. A man's gotta have his priorities, and spending time AT Disney is (sorry Disboards) higher priority than reading ABOUT Disney!

The picture is really deceiving, actually... all of that outside of the tripod, monopod, and 400mm fits inside the camera bag with room to spare and actually isn't all THAT heavy.
...
Thanks for the thoughts about the airport security, everybody. The monopod could definitely cause some concern as it could easily be used as a pretty serious bludgeon, that's why I'm wondering if it'll be best strapped to the stroller somehow, but no matter what, I'm going to make sure to explain very carefully to every airport person I meet what it is ahead of time!

Ironically enough, the reason I want it the first night is to videotape the fireworks at MGM, not for the still cameras... But I do have other plans. One of which is a technique I came up with that I call the "Groucho stick" - hopefully it will work out OK, and I haven't heard of anyone else doing this before so I'll wait to see how it works before posting details.

I really fear that I may end up having to break my promise (to not buy anything else) and buy a tripod bag before we go... I can't find anything around hear suitable to lug the tripod around at night in! Hopefully something will turn up. Our backpacks just aren't long enough!

 

[ukcatfan]

I bet you have already tried this, but in case you didn't, have you thought about the bottom of the stroller for storing the tripod while you are moving about in the parks?

 

[Groucho]

Yes, that's my plan exactly, for during the day... however since the parks will be open very late a few nights while we're there (and I love the parks late at night) and the stroller and at least one of our party will probably be going back to our room early, there will be times at night where it's just me, my camera bag, and a tripod (probably send the monopod back with the stroller). Oh, and a 400mm lens sometimes, which'll hopefully squeeze into the same bag as the tripod (with some sort of padding to protect it.)

Robinb, thanks for the compliment but I haven't used any of the gear (outside of the K1000) at a Disney park yet... but in a few weeks I will hopefully have some good results to show!

 

[handicap18]

The tripod I used in Disney back in June isn't a full size, its a travel size. When fully extended it is about 44" high, just high enough and folds small enough to fit in my backpack. That being said, at night when I was wandering around all over the place taking pictures, I mostly left the camera on the tripod. I kept the legs folded in when walking and most of the time didn't have the legs full entended unless I was only going to walk a short distance and depending how crowded it was at the time.

So you may actually find yourself doing the same if not for the fact that it will save a little bit of time just with putting the camera on and taking it off the tripod. Just something else to think about as an option when your wandering without the stroller.

 

[ukcatfan]

If you are now less than two weeks to go, then the holiday decorations should still be up when you get there. I have to say that the GF is a must see. Their tree is amazing. I also thought that the BC was nice with their lobby display. You will need a fairly fast and wide lens for this shot as it is a constantly moving display in a dark area and I believe that you are not a fan of the flash. The CR and WL are also two nice x-mas displays. The Poly, Boardwalk, and YC have yet to impress me with their decorations. Then there is always EPCOT that is the best for holiday decorations. I unfortunately do not have APs right now, so I did not get to see this year's display.

Kevin

 

[jann1033]

i want to see how you get through airport security with your tic tac bomb ...i mean remote

it's a very good idea but everytime i look at it i think of some crazy guy screaming" i have a bomb strapped to my chest" and holding that tictac bold container ( i must watch to many movies )

 

[Groucho]

Handicap18: I assume that a travel tripod that size didn't have a quick-release? That makes all the difference for taking the camera on and off the tripod quickly and easily - I couldn't live without one any more! (OK, the mini tripod and Clamperpod don't have them, but I'm not sure how much use they'll actually get - even with a light lens, the DSLR is pushing what they can hold, but they can do the job if the conditions are right.)

I will probably just keep it on the tripod a lot though when I'm in hard-core shooting mode. Then I'll have to take the breaks to actually ride some rides occasionally.....

ukcatfan: We have reservations for breakfast at Chef Mickey's at Contemporary on January first and plan to then take the monorail over to Grand Floridian (which I've never really checked out from the inside), I'm hoping that the gingerbread house will still be up - I think it will be, but not for long. (It was gone when we were there on Jan 8th this year.) We may also stop in at the Poly before hitting MK but I'm not sure - I think I heard someone say that there are no holiday decorations there this year? We will be there once or twice other times in our trip so we'll find out later if not on the first.

I'm not sure if we're going to hit BC/YC/BW (though we will visit the Boardwalk area - somehow I've never had time to get there in any previous trip), and I'm pretty sure won't get to WL or AKL (hit both last trip). But I promise that I'll try to take as many pictures as I can.

 

[Groucho]

i want to see how you get through airport security with your tic tac bomb ...i mean remote

it's a very good idea but everytime i look at it i think of some crazy guy screaming" i have a bomb strapped to my chest" and holding that tictac bold container ( i must watch to many movies )

STAND BACK! OR I'LL HIT YOU WITH MY MINTY BREATH!

Now there's a bad TV movie in the making!

It could actually work with those dorky camera-strapped-to-chest harnesses they sell... "don't make me fire the shutter! I'll do it! This isn't some prosumer point-n-shoot, this is a DSLR and I'm not afraid to use it!"

Or for the James Bond thing, you need to attach an LCD with big red numbers to countdown the 10-second timer on the delayed shutter release... "cut the red wire!"

 

[DebºoºS]

Looks like you're packed for a great pic taking trip. The Tic Tac remote might make for some head spinning at the airport though. Is that your own design?
WDW should have a "rent a sherpa" service to carry our gear around.

 

[Groucho]

I'm not expecting a problem with the Tic-Tac remote. I'd be pretty impressed if they questioned it, but a quick glance would show that it's just a couple buttons connected to a phone cord with a submini jack on the other end, nothing very exciting.

And yes that's my own design. I thought I was the first guy to use a candy container but I later saw that someone else used, IIRC, an Eclipse gum container.

A sherpa would be good, plus the ride cars should have large storage areas for the gear while you're riding them!