What all around lens?

klitteral2009

Mouseketeer
Joined
Sep 29, 2012
Messages
429
I'm already having a dilemma and we don't leave for the World until January! I cannot decide which lenses to take...Part of me knows I'll be wrangling my kids so taking different lenses and trying to keep track of them and changing them to get a shot might be a challenge. I had considered only taking one but fear i'd regret it. What are the thoughts on taking only my 50mm and my Tamron 17-55? I thought the 50 would be good for low light and beautiful bokeh (assuming I can compose a few shots without getting rushed lol) and the Tamron would be a good 'all purpose' lens. I have a 55-300 but I fear it may be too much. Thoughts? What do you take when you're with your kids?
 
My three choices for all around travel...
  • 24-70mm f/2.8 » I would bring this mid-zoom lens for low light. Yes it lacks zoom.
  • 18-200mm » this is my fav lens for all around travel. Not so good in low light, but you can rachet up the ISO to make up for it. I also pack an SB9%0 flash for difficult light situations and to minimize lens shadows when the zoom lens is extended.
  • 18-300mm » this longer, heavier version for Nikon is slowly becoming my preferred travel lens on cruises and wildlife when you can't get close to the subject.
 
It all depends on how you shooting, your shooting style. Truthfully, at Disney, the 17-55 cover a very nice range and you don't *NEED* more....... But if you want to shoot dark rides, then you need the prime. If you want to shoot at the Safari, then you want the telephoto.
 
I'm thinking I'll probably put the Tammy on for most of the time and carry my prime for the evenings and a few choice shots. Now if I could only fund a photo trip by myself lol
 

I have four "Disney" lenses that I bring:

17-50 f2.8 wide (for me) angle and lowlight
28-70 f2.8 walkaround
70-200 f2.8 long zoom
30 f1.4 dark rides

These are all on a crop sensor DSLR and there is a common thread to them all in that they all work better in low light than consumer (kit) lenses. I'm a pack mule, so I will have these with me at all times (along with a travel tripod, flashes, etc.). If I was you, I would bring all my lenses and then pick and choose what you think you will use for the day.
 
If your camera is not full frame, I think the 50 is going to be too tight for some photos, such as character M&Gs. My camera is not full frame and my "walk around" lens has been my 35mm. For some of the character meals and M&Gs, that lens has been really tight and I've had trouble fitting my kids and characters into the frame. Some of those restaurants/M&Gs don't give you much space to back up.
 
Crop or full frame, I keep a 24-105 on my camera most of the time. I'm also one of those freaks who is a fan of a 50mm on a crop body. Though like said already, a 50 can be tight at m&g's.
 
For me, the 50mm on a crop body is too tight for Disney World (though I use that exact set-up at home 95% of the time).

On my last trip in August I rented a 17-55 and used that 98% of the time. I also brought an ultrawide, and took a few fun shots with it, but could easily have done without.

The only thing the 17-55 didn't give me was a wide enough angle for fantastic photos of the Festival of Fantasy parade. But we were in the FP+ spot on the Hub, where you couldn't really see the floats until they were right on top of you. Next time around I would watch from somewhere on Main Street and I think the 17-55 would be fine for that.
 
We are at disneyworld now. I have Nikon products. I don't use a prime lens for dark rides. I only came with 2 lenses. I brought the 18mm to 140mm and the 18 mm-300mm lens
 
In the past my walk-around has been the 17-50 2.8 with good results. This trip I`m going to try 18-35 1.8 instead (but will have the 17-50 2.8 with me in case). I also carry the 11-16 2.8 (wide) and a 70-300 4-5.6.
 












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