walk around lens

[dash's_dad]

I've borrowed my uncle's Sigma 55-200 for our trip in May, and I was wondering what everyone thought about using this as my main walk around lens?

I'm also going to be taking my 50mm f1.8, but I wasn't planning on taking the stock 18-55 that of course comes with the XT.

Thoughts?

 

[Master Mason]

I've borrowed my uncle's Sigma 55-200 for our trip in May, and I was wondering what everyone thought about using this as my main walk around lens?

I'm also going to be taking my 50mm f1.8, but I wasn't planning on taking the stock 18-55 that of course comes with the XT.

Thoughts?

your not going to have anything with a wide enough angle if you don't take the kit.

 

[dash's_dad]

Ok, that's good to know.

Of the 3 that I mentioned, what would all of you think I would use the most often?

 

[alan]

If I was only allowed to take one to WDW, it would be the kit lens

regards,
/alan

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Ok, that's good to know.

Of the 3 that I mentioned, what would all of you think I would use the most often?

That's a question of shooting style. If you like to shoot wide, you'll use the kit lens more. If you like to zoom in tight, you'll use the long lens more. If you shoot a lot of low light or like working with a mid-range prime, you'll shoot the 50mm more. I've had trips where I shot a lot in the 24-40mm range and I've had trips where I shot a lot of 70-200mm shots.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I walk around with three lenses. All canons:
50mm f1.8
28-135 IS
70-300 IS

The kit lens does a god job in good light, or shoudl I say around f8-11. It will work at night with a tripod and a still subject.

Someone please tell me if I am wrong. It will work ok for fireworks with a tripod but I don't think it would work for night parades.

Mikeeee

 

[Master Mason]

I walk around with three lenses. All canons:
50mm f1.8
28-135 IS
70-300 IS

The kit lens does a god job in good light, or shoudl I say around f8-11. It will work at night with a tripod and a still subject.

Someone please tell me if I am wrong. It will work ok for fireworks with a tripod but I don't think it would work for night parades.

Mikeeee

The kit will struggle on night parades, you'll get some shots of the brighter floats, and when they stop, it is not impossible, but your probably going to have more throw aways than keepers.

If I had the 3 lenses in your kit, I would shoot night parades with the 50.

 

[handicap18]

Each of my last 2 trips with my dSLR, the majority of the pictures I took were between 18 & around 100mm or so. Of those the majority were around 18mm. I like to shoot wide. I also used the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 a lot on the last trip (over 1,000 images shot with it).

For me, the 50-200 would not get much use and if it were the only lens I would be very frustrated at not having something much wider.

 

[JR6ooo4]

The kit will struggle on night parades, you'll get some shots of the brighter floats, and when they stop, it is not impossible, but your probably going to have more throw aways than keepers.

If I had the 3 lenses in your kit, I would shoot night parades with the 50.

But of course I use the 50mm f1.8 at night, mostly...
It does not get much darker than this:

Mikeeee

 

[dmccarty]

Mikeeee,

Was the lense wide open on that photo?

Regarding the OP. What ever lense you don't take will be the one you need.

How much do you want to carry? How heavy is it? I have taken my full photo bag but its heavy, bothersome and detracts from the family fun. My usual walk around lense that takes most of the kids photos is a 35-70 f2.8. Its HEAVY. But the camera and the lense will fit in a small holster camera bag. But its heavy. And not always fast enough.

My plan for the next trip is to take a 50mm f1.4 lense for night excursions and even during the day since I swear the lense and camera is about the same weight as the 35-70 lense.

I'm also taking the big, everything is in it bag, a smaller bag that might get the 105/2.8 micro and the flash when going to EPCOT. Going to AK I think the 105/2.8 will be replaced with a 180mm/2.8. But I might just take the small holster bag and the 50/1.8. The 35-70/2.8 was not fast enougg at AK last trip even during the day since it was overcast.

The problem with WDW and cameras is how much do you want to drag around all day, worry about water rides, not to mention theft, and does you taking photos tick of the family.

 

[dash's_dad]

wow! all great stuff.

Here's part B of my question then,

what would be everyone's recommendation for a decent wide lens to replace the kit lens that comes with the Canon?

thanks again for all of the help.

 

[DVCRon]

I'm not sure of your budget but my walk around lens is a Tamron 28-75 2.8

It's not as wide as some but the image quality is excellent, it gives you a fairly large aperture across the entire focal range of the lens, and for what you get it's reasonably priced (~$330).

 

[JR6ooo4]

Mikeeee,

Was the lense wide open on that photo?

Yep, it appears so.
Also some negative exposure compensation to speed up the shutter even a little more on top of the ISO 1600. Maybe I did not need that. It might have been accidently not changed from shooting earlier in the day light. Heheheheheee

Basic
Camera Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Exposure Time 0.0025s (1/400)
Aperture f/1.8
ISO 1600
Focal Length 50mm (80mm in 35mm)

Detailed
Flash flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Exposure Program aperture priority
Exposure Bias -67/100 EV
Exposure Mode auto
White Balance auto

and it was also hit with noise ninja...

Mikeeee

 

[Master Mason]

wow! all great stuff.

Here's part B of my question then,

what would be everyone's recommendation for a decent wide lens to replace the kit lens that comes with the Canon?

thanks again for all of the help.

I personally choose the Canon 24-70 f/2.8L However it is pretty pricey. I have also heard very good things about the 17-55 f/2.8IS lens, but again it is pricey.

Sigma's 24-70 f/2.8 is prett good, and several folks have the the aforementioned 28-75 f/2.8

Most of us being Disney fanatics, we are all pretty much looking for faster lenses so we can use them at Disney, if speed isn't your primary concern, then that opens up a lot of other possiblities.

The canon 24-105 f/4L is a good one, I have a sigma 18-125 that I used for a while, there is the canon 28-135 IS or one of the 18-200 superzooms.

It is really all about what your trying to capture and what your budget is.

 

[handicap18]

wow! all great stuff.

Here's part B of my question then,

what would be everyone's recommendation for a decent wide lens to replace the kit lens that comes with the Canon?

thanks again for all of the help.

How big is your wallet?

Do you want something with a longer focal range like an 18-200, but might lack some IQ (still real nice though) and wont be fast (aperture wise).

or

Something with a shorter focal range, ie: 17-50 or 28-70, but is considered fast (aperture wise) with a constant f/2.8 through the whole zoom range. This also may give you better IQ.

To fully answer this question you need to know your shooting habits. Do you like to shoot wide or long? What would be your primary focus when taking pictures.

If you consider yourself a full amerture and don't want to do a lot of switching lenses I would consider the Sigma 18-200mm OS lens (OS = Optical Stabilization). Great focal range, good IQ and the OS will help a lot in many lower light situations (those lacking movement on the subjects part, ie: wont do well with something like SpectroMagic, but will help if you don't want to carry around a tripod and still want nice pics of the Castle or Hat at night).

Team that lens with the 50mm f/1.8 then your just about covered for Disney. 200mm may be a little short for some Animal Kingdom stuff but it is is still real nice to have that full zoom range with the 1 lens. The 50mm f/1.8 will do you nicely for indoor rides (PotC, IASM, Pooh, GMR) and night parades like SpectroMagic or MNSCHP & MVMCP if you go those times of the year.

 

[jann1033]

how much do you want to spend? tamron has a 18-250 f3.5-5.6 that is around $500 and you could use your 50mm for night time. the review i read said it's sharp wide open and at the full range( and the resolution chart is pretty much straight across) so that definitely would fit probably any definition of "walk around lens"( does have some ca though they said it isn't horrible)