What do you carry in the parks?

[pgowder]

So what equipment do you carry with you when you go to photograph WDW?

 

[Steve's Girl]

A lot!

Camera, at least 2 lenses, sometimes up to 4 lenses, CP filter, batteries, memory cards, misc. "stuff" in my bag. There are also times when I will carry a tripod and/or external flash in addition.

 

[KarenAylwood]

Prior to last year I carried my Sony DSC-H5 and my Canon SD800 (or 700 as I had before it). One is a bridge, one a point and shoot.

Last year I just carried my Canon XSi with 18-55mm kit lens, a lens cloth, extra memory cards and an extra battery.

This year I'm going to be carrying...

Canon XSi w/ 18-200mm lens attached (walkaround lens)
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 lens (for indoor rides & night pics)
mickey lens cloth
extra battery
remote shutter release (for night photography/fireworks)
2 4GB memory cards and 2 2GB memory cards
gorillapod

all in/on my Crumpler 5MDH (along with a cell phone, park tickets, $1 store poncho, chapstick, etc)

I am iffy on the gorillapod and how much I'll want to carry it with me all day. That may go in a locker, and I'm also bringing my tripod with me- which will also go in a locker if I choose to bring it to the park!

 

[boBQuincy]

Not too much, usually as little as possible to get the photos I want.
dSLR with lens
another lens
filters, battery, memory cards, monopod
sometimes a tripod.

The camera stays out, the rest goes in a Crumpler $4M (except the tripod of course).

 

[oregondaddyof2]

I will be going in 15 days, and I will be bringing:

Nikon D60
SB600 Flash
18-55mm
18-135mm (Walk around lens)
55-200mm (AK lens)
35mm f/1.8 (Indoor rides/fireworks)
4 batteries
2 CP filters
2 UV filters
2 tripod's
1 monopod

This is just my DSLR stuff... I also have a Canon P&S which my daughter will be using to get her perspective, my son has a P&S of his own, plus I will have my HD Camcorder for some of the rides and shows... I have a Lowepro backpack that holds all of my stuff, including my laptop... I added straps to the sides to hold a tripod and a monopod as well....

 

[annnewjerz]

I will be going in 15 days, and I will be bringing:

Nikon D60
SB600 Flash
18-55mm
18-135mm (Walk around lens)
55-200mm (AK lens)
35mm f/1.8 (Indoor rides/fireworks)
4 batteries
2 CP filters
2 UV filters
2 tripod's
1 monopod

This is just my DSLR stuff... I also have a Canon P&S which my daughter will be using to get her perspective, my son has a P&S of his own, plus I will have my HD Camcorder for some of the rides and shows... I have a Lowepro backpack that holds all of my stuff, including my laptop... I added straps to the sides to hold a tripod and a monopod as well....

Not to hijack, but you might be better off using the 18-55 kit lens for fireworks. While the 35mm f/1.8 will do just fine, you usually stop the lens down to f/8-f/11 for fireworks anyway so you don't really need the f/1.8.

Using a prime lens will give you limited options in terms of changing your perspective, once you set up the tripod and the crowds start to file in, you'll be stuck. If you want to zoom in or out a little, unless you can move your tripod you won't have the ability to get any closer/further away, you'll just have to crop the photos in PP.

Using the 18-55 you can set up where you want to shoot from using something in the middle like 30mm and if halfway through you decide you want a wider shot for something different, you can zoom out to 18mm.

Anyhow, back to the regularly scheduled programming!

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

Not to hijack, but you might be better off using the 18-55 kit lens for fireworks. While the 35mm f/1.8 will do just fine, you usually stop the lens down to f/8-f/11 for fireworks anyway so you don't really need the f/1.8.

Using a prime lens will give you limited options in terms of changing your perspective, once you set up the tripod and the crowds start to file in, you'll be stuck. If you want to zoom in or out a little, unless you can move your tripod you won't have the ability to get any closer/further away, you'll just have to crop the photos in PP.

Using the 18-55 you can set up where you want to shoot from using something in the middle like 30mm and if halfway through you decide you want a wider shot for something different, you can zoom out to 18mm.

Anyhow, back to the regularly scheduled programming!

Totally agree Ann. When I set up for fireworks I had no idea how big they were going to be and had to adjust the zoom to compensate for for perspective.

I would usually walk around in the day time with Fastpack 250 with maybe one or two lenses and assorted goodies. At night I got a belt pack for my 30mm f/1.4 and just carried the camera and tripod slung over my shoulder unless we were going to dinner with a group and I need my flash then I would take the bag. The thing that I worried about was periodic rain storms. I got a Duck Back for the Fastpack before I left and kept it on my belt. A couple of times we had sudden downpours and whipped it out to cover the camera until I could find a place to put it in the backpack and the duck back over the whole thing. Anyway you really want to travel as light as possible.

 

[oregondaddyof2]

Not to hijack, but you might be better off using the 18-55 kit lens for fireworks. While the 35mm f/1.8 will do just fine, you usually stop the lens down to f/8-f/11 for fireworks anyway so you don't really need the f/1.8.

Using a prime lens will give you limited options in terms of changing your perspective, once you set up the tripod and the crowds start to file in, you'll be stuck. If you want to zoom in or out a little, unless you can move your tripod you won't have the ability to get any closer/further away, you'll just have to crop the photos in PP.

Using the 18-55 you can set up where you want to shoot from using something in the middle like 30mm and if halfway through you decide you want a wider shot for something different, you can zoom out to 18mm.

Totally agree Ann. When I set up for fireworks I had no idea how big they were going to be and had to adjust the zoom to compensate for for perspective.

Thanks Anne and Goofy for the info... I never thought about that, and that all makes perfect sense... I am glad you are all here to help me out... My wife read this and now I am in trouble though... I got the 35mm lens with the reason being I would use it for the firework shots... Now that she knows that I can use the lens I already had, she is mad at me for wasting the money on the prime lens Hopefully I will get some good indoor ride shots with that lens... I am really concerned with trying to get good firework shots this year... What shutter speed do you suggest for a good clear castle and some good trails on the fireworks? Last year I shot in the night mode and got decent shots, but the fireworks were short and didn't have much trails or explosions to them...

 

[zackiedawg]

Depends on the day, the temperature, the chance of rain, how many people are with me, etc. I'm very flexible.

I've traveled through the parks with the following setups:

1. Sony T100 ultra compact and a plastic bag for waterproofing.
2. Sony DSLR-A300 and 18-250mm lens.
3. Sony T100 and Sony DSLR-A300 and 18-250mm lens.
4. Sony DSLR-A300 and 18-250mm lens plus 30mm F1.4 lens.
5. Sony DSLR-A300 and 18-250mm lens plus 50mm F1.7 lens.
6. Sony DSLR-A300 and 18-250mm lens plus 30mm F1.4 lens, 50mm F1.7 lens, flash, in medium Tenba bag
7. Sony DSLR-A300 and 18-250mm lens plus 30mm F1.4 lens, 50mm F1.7 lens, flash, in medium Tenba bag plus Slik tripod and remote shutter release
8. Sony DSLR-A300 and 18-250mm lens plus 30mm F1.4 lens, 50mm F1.7 lens, flash, extra battery, cleaning cloth, 5 filters, rain cover, remote shutter release, in Kata backpack

If I think it'll rain all day, I'll just bring the ultra-compact. If I just want to travel light, or am with friends where I won't be taking too much time setting up shots, I'll just bring the DSLR with one lens attached. If I think I'll be doing night shots, I'll bring a walkaround lens and a night lens plus tripod and a small bag. If I am travelling solo or with a photo taking friend, I'll bring the whole kit for maximum flexibility.

I also recently added a Tamron 10-24 UWA to my collection, so that will most definitely be included in my kit especially since I've never had a UWA at Disney - I'd imagine later this month I'll likely bring it every day and enjoy the new perspective it provides. I will likely still travel with the A300 and 18-250, and bring the Sigma 30 and the Tamron 10-24 in the Tenba bag for light travelling, or the whole Kata backpack with everything in it for serious photography days.

The only lens I don't bring to Disney is the huge Tamron 200-500mm - just too much lens to go hauling around the parks, and I don't want any trouble at security with that thing!

 

[pgowder]

So how many people use a polarizer filter in the parks?

 

[Hoan & Poopie]

Most of the time just a camera slung over my shoulder to avoid the bag check lines. Sometimes a mini tripod.

We take a mid day break so that is when I would change lenses if desired.

 

[boBQuincy]

So how many people use a polarizer filter in the parks?

I use a polarizer whenever there is enough light (and sometimes even when there isn't). Except for the light loss there isn't really much reason not to use a polarizer.

 

[alan]

Last time out, I normally carried the 350D with 24-105mm.

Sometimes I took the Canon G10 instead, and I normally found that I regretted it! But I did prefer the wider angle of the 24-105mm.

Maybe for next time the 15-85mm EF-S? Or the 18-135mm? They both have the potential to be excellent walkaround lenses, if well made!

regards,
/alan

 

[Todd_H]

I am really concerned with trying to get good firework shots this year... What shutter speed do you suggest for a good clear castle and some good trails on the fireworks?

Hey Terry, generally speaking, I would set your shutter speed to "bulb" and hold it open for about 5 seconds at F11 and ISO 200 (once you hear the "thump" of a launch, count 2 seconds and then open the shutter for 5 seconds to capture the burst and trails). Here's a link to a great "how to" thread on fireworks that was started by Mark Barbieri a while back that will tell you everything you need to know http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1474329&highlight=fireworks.

Sorry for going OT.

 

[oregondaddyof2]

Hey Terry, generally speaking, I would set your shutter speed to "bulb" and hold it open for about 5 seconds at F11 and ISO 200 (once you hear the "thump" of a launch, count 2 seconds and then open the shutter for 5 seconds to capture the burst and trails). Here's a link to a great "how to" thread on fireworks that was started by Mark Barbieri a while back that will tell you everything you need to know http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1474329&highlight=fireworks.

Sorry for going OT.

Thanks Todd for the info... You are awesome... How about you just give me a run down on this in person when we meet you guys at DHS You are still planning on Fantasmic the night of the 20th right?

 

[alan]

At the risk of going off-topic... I had a couple of "unexpected" fireworks photographic sessions. I ended up shooting at 1/20s hand-held, and got what I consider to be some pretty fair results (go to near the bottom of page 1 of this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2268415)

The only reason I mention is is because 5s seems a very long exposure... there are so many fireworks at a WDW show I'd be worried that you'd end up with an over-exposed mass and no real detail.

Of course, I haven't tried the 5s exposure trick... maybe I'd love it!

regards,
/alan

EDIT: Oops, I was wrong... I had the camera set to 0.4s. Next time I'd like to have a tripod when I'm doing that

 

[AlienBrain]

Cannon Rebel XTi
Tamron 17-50 f/2.8

That's all. I used to carry a ton of lenses and realized that I kept going back to my 17-50. That lens is the best value out there (IMHO).

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I like to travel light in the parks. I usually just take a camera and few odds and ends.

 

[oregondaddyof2]

I like to travel light in the parks. I usually just take a camera and few odds and ends.

Sure Mark... I have seen a pic of you in the parks You look like someone from National Geographic I am assuming though that the pic you posted was not a normal trip...

 

[TestTrackBoy]

Nikon D3
Nikkor 14-24mm 2.8f
Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8f
Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8f
Nikon SB-900
Tenba Messenger Bag