What DSLR lens do you prefer?

[Scottl]

Hi All,
I'm heading down to Disney World for the 4th time in 4 years and this time armed with my D50. I have an 18-55, 28-80 and 70-300. I'm not sure yet which lens I'll have on most, probably the 28-80 and maybe the 70-300 for the Safari. My question is what lenses do people on this board prefer to use at DW?
Thanks
Scott

 

[handicap18]

With my D50 I mostly use the 18-70. I also carry a 70-300 that I used a lot in Disney, especially at Animal Kingdom. Another lens I used there is the 50mm f/1.8. Great lens to use on the indoor rides that don't allow flash use. Bump up the ISO to 1600 and use aperture priority, set it to f/1.8 and you'll get a lot of really good shutter speeds to get excellent results. Though there were times that the 50mm was a bit tight. I think a 28mm or 30mm would be about perfect.

The 18-55 doesn't give much reach and the 28-80 doesn't give much wide angle. So its up for grabs which one to use.

The best lens to use as a walk around would be the 18-200mm, though that is a very expensive lens (right now its hard to find one under $800). Nikon just released, as the kit lens for the D80, an 18-135mm which is at least 1/2 the price of the 18-200. I'll be getting me one of the 18-135mm lenses for our trip next November. Which will be accompanied in my bag by a 70-300, 50mm f/1.8 and most likely a sigma 28mm f/1.8.

 

[Anewman]

After checking exif on my images(mostly DisneyLAND), I noticed I use Wide vs Tele about 3 times as often.

Recently I made a few trips and all I take is the 50mm 1.8, really the only time I take a Tele zoom is when I plan on taking pics of the kids on rides(like grizzly rapids).

 

[extreme8]

I carried a Sigma 18-200 on my Minolta 5D almost 100% of the time at WDW.
Now that I've changed to Nikon I've purchased their 18-200 VR. A lens with that range has some compromises but the convenience outweighs them for a walk-around lens.
Just as an FYI, here is the analysis of the EXIF data from my last trip.

 

[allyn]

i have a canon digital rebel and i replaced the kit lens with the sigma 18-50mm f/2.8. that's the lens i use 95% of the time, i rarely take it off. my only other lens is a canon 70-210mm f/3.5-4.5.

 

[boBQuincy]

My latest EXIF data showed a lot of use at 24 and 105, the limits of my walk-around lens. To me this means I need something wider and I also need to be less lazy and change to my 70-200 more often.

Plan A - Canon's 17-85 would be a good choice except it doesn't fit my 10D, it costs more than I think it should, and it's optical performance doesn't impress me. Other than that I like it.

Plan B is to use my Zenitar 16 more often and switch to the long lens when it is needed. Plan B is a lot less $$$ than plan A!

 

[Decfish]

See below

 

[Decfish]

With my D50 I mostly use the 18-70. I also carry a 70-300 that I used a lot in Disney, especially at Animal Kingdom. Another lens I used there is the 50mm f/1.8. Great lens to use on the indoor rides that don't allow flash use. Bump up the ISO to 1600 and use aperture priority, set it to f/1.8 and you'll get a lot of really good shutter speeds to get excellent results. Though there were times that the 50mm was a bit tight. I think a 28mm or 30mm would be about perfect.

The 18-55 doesn't give much reach and the 28-80 doesn't give much wide angle. So its up for grabs which one to use.

The best lens to use as a walk around would be the 18-200mm, though that is a very expensive lens (right now its hard to find one under $800). Nikon just released, as the kit lens for the D80, an 18-135mm which is at least 1/2 the price of the 18-200. I'll be getting me one of the 18-135mm lenses for our trip next November. Which will be accompanied in my bag by a 70-300, 50mm f/1.8 and most likely a sigma 28mm f/1.8.

Kyle, I'm interested in getting the 18-135 for my D70s. We are also going to WDW in November and would love to have it for the trip. Where are you getting it? Has it been released yet? I've been checking a few on-line sites, B & H Photo, and they say, "coming soon". My local photo shop says they don't have a release date yet. I've looked on-line and cannot find any info concerning date of release.

 

[Cap'n Keel]

Just as an FYI, here is the analysis of the EXIF data from my last trip.

You peaked my interest with your graph. Got me to wondering if you manually compiled such data from all your EXIFs or if there is a software package out that performs the task. Not a Photoshop function that I'm aware.

Went looking on the net and found a free program at www.br-software.com that exports some EXIF data in bulk (multiple photos, JPGs only) so it can be used by Excel or what have you. What are you using? I can see where you might use such info to lead you toward one lens purchase over another - do you know of other applications?

BTW - if I'm reading your chart right you took like 1500 shots at the park - so you go through cameras monthly?

 

[Scottl]

I had the same question, how did you compile this?

 

[garris3404]

I have the D50 with the 18-200 VR lens. It's a great all-in-1, walk-about lens. I took 2500 pictures on our last trip (2 weeks, 10 days in the parks).

 

[garris3404]

I had the same question, how did you compile this?

Same question also?

 

[Scottl]

I have the D50 with the 18-200 VR lens. It's a great all-in-1, walk-about lens. I took 2500 pictures on our last trip (2 weeks, 10 days in the parks).

That's the lens that I ultimately want but it's still a little pricey.

 

[extreme8]

I had the same question, how did you compile this?

It's a free program that runs through the folders you specify and reads the EXIF and creates graphs based on any number of things you ask for.
I'll track down the link and post it here when I find it. I think it's on my home machine so I won't have access until after work.

FWIW, I came back from that trip with over 2700 pictures. I wonder how much that would cost for film and processing?

 

[Scottl]

It's a free program that runs through the folders you specify and reads the EXIF and creates graphs based on any number of things you ask for.
I'll track down the link and post it here when I find it. I think it's on my home machine so I won't have access until after work.

FWIW, I came back from that trip with over 2700 pictures. I wonder how much that would cost for film and processing?

Thanks. I also often wonder how much on film and processing I would spend after a vacation. Most of my trips yield about 1000 photos and we probably print about 200 for scrapbooking, framing, etc.

 

[WillCAD]

On my last WDW trip the only lens I had for my Canon Digital Rebel was the 18-55 kit lens that came with it. I was pleased with the performance, but left wanting longer zoom. I have since bought a Sigma 18-125 lens, and I know it will work just fine for me because with the 1.6 multplier on my 300D the 18-125 has the same range of zoom as my old Sigma 28-200 had on my Rebel G. I used the 28-200 on my Rebel G on many WDW trips and it was the perfect lens for me.

extreme8, when I shot film I always shot Fuji 400ISO (4-pack from WalMart for about $6) and always spent the extra for 1-hour processing (so they couldn't lose my film in transit). Using those numbers:

2700 pics divided by 24 frames=113 rolls

Each roll cost $1.50 and cost about $7 to process, total cost per roll: $8.50.

Total cost for 113 rolls: $960.50

Of course, it would be a lot cheaper if you figured on bulk film cost instead of WalMart retail cost, 36-frame rolls instead of 24-frame, and send-out processing instead of 1-hour.

The most I ever shot on one trip (11 days long) was 23 rolls, total cost $195.50.

 

[extreme8]

Ok, here it is;
The program I used is called Exposure Plot and is available from

http://www.wega2.vandel.nl/

During my search I found another one called Smart Photo Statistics which seems similar and might even have a few more options.

http://www.softsymphony.com/photostat_descr.htm

I know I was really suprised at the results I saw in my graphs. I figured I used mid-telephoto much more often than I did, and if you bet me that I had used 18mm 250 times I would be a very poor person right now.

If you run them post your results here. I'd be interested in seeing how everyone else uses their equipment.

 

[handicap18]

Kyle, I'm interested in getting the 18-135 for my D70s. We are also going to WDW in November and would love to have it for the trip. Where are you getting it? Has it been released yet? I've been checking a few on-line sites, B & H Photo, and they say, "coming soon". My local photo shop says they don't have a release date yet. I've looked on-line and cannot find any info concerning date of release.

The lens itself is out now. As of today there are 2 ways to buy it. You can purchase it along with the D80 as it is the "official" kit lens of the D80 or you can go on ebay and get one from someone who bought a D80 with this lens and doesn't need the lens, mostly because they use the 18-200 or one of the f/2.8 lenses. I think they are going for about $320 average or so on ebay. You can pre-order at amazon for $419 w/free shipping. It was supposed to be release as lens only last week or so, but I'm guessing like the 70-300 VR it is in delay. The 70-300 is supposidely on delay to the beginning of Dec.

Ok, here it is;
The program I used is called Exposure Plot and is available from

http://www.wega2.vandel.nl/

During my search I found another one called Smart Photo Statistics which seems similar and might even have a few more options.

http://www.softsymphony.com/photostat_descr.htm

I know I was really suprised at the results I saw in my graphs. I figured I used mid-telephoto much more often than I did, and if you bet me that I had used 18mm 250 times I would be a very poor person right now.

If you run them post your results here. I'd be interested in seeing how everyone else uses their equipment.

Excellent information. When I get on my computer downstairs I'll download these and run the info on my Disney trip from June. Thats about 1400 pictures.

Thanks for the links.

 

[Scottl]

Ok, here it is;
The program I used is called Exposure Plot and is available from

http://www.wega2.vandel.nl/

During my search I found another one called Smart Photo Statistics which seems similar and might even have a few more options.

http://www.softsymphony.com/photostat_descr.htm

I know I was really suprised at the results I saw in my graphs. I figured I used mid-telephoto much more often than I did, and if you bet me that I had used 18mm 250 times I would be a very poor person right now.

If you run them post your results here. I'd be interested in seeing how everyone else uses their equipment.

Awesome, thanks. We leave tomorrow so I'll post my results when I return next week. BTW - How did you post the graph? Do you have to put it on another website and post the link to it?

Also - I just installed both and I like the one you use because I can see the 4 graphs at the same time. I had to put 1 to 1 at the bottom of the focal length page to get it to display my actual mm, instead of the 35 mm equivalent.

 

[Cap'n Keel]

Ok, here it is...<clip&snip>

I thank you sir. I'll run these on some of past Disney folders.
I'll guess most of my Disney shots are longer ranges on my walk-around lens which is a 28-135 (Canon, no multiplier factor). I zoom a lot. It'll be interesting to see if that is a fact.