What equip do you bring with, and how does it affect your trip?

[bulah1]

I was just curious how you guys handle the "equipment" aspects of your trips for those who like to carry a decent amount of stuff with you. I've never really been on a trip before where it matters, I like to carry pods and bags and probably about two rigs at least. Of course I will be downgrading a bit, but I still would like to bring a decent amount with.

Now the main part of my trip is to have FUN!! So this means riding rides, partaking in the events, etc. My question I guess is - what are you guys bringing with to still enjoy the photo and/or video aspects of your trip - and what do you do with the stuff while on rides to be sure it's secure or do you leave it with the ride operators or what? Very protective of my stuff, as I'm sure many of you are as well. Heck, I even saw one of you on here posting pics from ON a coaster! LOL! I don't know I'd trust myself to hold my camera for that, what would you do in that case?

 

[tinksdad]

It depends on what I'm after as to what gear I bring. If I go to have fun, I travel fairly light. Camera, my 18-200mm lens and a small bag or backpack. I bring more, but leave it in the room.

If I plan on taking night shots, or have something particular in mind, then I take more. Found it was easier sometimes to let the family go do something different than what I'm doing, since sometimes taking pictures tends to hold up the "group".

Maybe a ziplock bag big enough for your camera so you can tuck it when you know it might need the protection.


Have fun!! Take shots you like!!

 

[DVC Jen]

When we went in June we took 2 bodies (DH swore he would use the XTi - uh huh like that happened much) - I wore one around my neck all the time unless we were on a "wet ride" then I put in the waterproof camera bag.
I had my 28-135 IS lens on the camera 95% of the time. I had one maybe 2 more in the bag - but I think it was only one. At night if I wanted to get good shots of fireworks - I took the tripod in the bag and just slung it over my should. DH and I took turns carrying the camera bag.

The bag I took is the Lowepro AW200 - it was great for the few times it rained and those rides where I was a bit concerned about things getting wet.

 

[Groucho]

At any given time on my January WDW trip, I was carrying two camera bodies (DSLR and film SLR), five lenses, tripod or monopod, and the usual complement of filters, shutter release, memory cards, Clamperpod, etc.

A few things I learned:

Op/Tech straps help. A lot.
Belt pouches are great especially if you split up to go on a ride - leave the main camera bag behind, carry the camera around your neck and a lens on the belt. You can use one in the queue and another on the ride.

The best thing, though, is to have your own stroller! I'd always have the tripod or monopod in the storage under the seat of our stroller, and often have the camera bag slung over the handle. This made it a lot easier that carrying the camera bag 100% of the time, or carrying the tripod all day.

I did add a strap to the tripod to allow me to carry it slung across my back, which was handy. I also got a carabiner to hang the monopod off my belt but honestly didn't use it much.

I had my DSLR with me 100% of the time, on every ride, from Haunted Mansion to Tower of Terror, from The Seas to Mission Space. And I took a lot of on-ride photos from Big Thunder, and even a couple from Space Mt!

 

[YEKCIM]

Equipment: D50 + 18-135mm lens + 70-300VR lens + 50mm f/1.8 lens + Canon MiniDV camcorder + water bottles + snacks + OTC meds + ziploc bags + disposable poncho
Carrying method: Photojournalist vest
Main complaint: My feet hurt (but worth it; no pain, no gain)

~YEKCIM

 

[ktulu]

I took my XTi w/ battery grip, 28-135 mounted, 50 1.8 in the backpack, extra batteries and memory card. I kept the camera in the backpack, and I did end up picking up a Optech strap at a local store in Venice (Samy's) after the camera started to annoy me in Beverly Hills. I only used the 50mm on rides like Pirates, but it is light enough to not be a bother. When we hit WDW I'll probably pack my speedlight in the backpack as well. I had all of my gear, minus the tripod and the monopod never got used.

 

[SharonLowe]

Our last trip I had my 1DsMkII with my 24-70mm lens initially mounted most of the time. I also took with me my 70-200mm f/2.8 and my 50mm f/1.4 which I used on the rides. Eventually, I ended up with the 50mm mounted most of the time and could see myself being quite happy with it on most occasions. All 3 had polarizers which came off when not needed. I never took a tripod to the parks - my WDW trips are more about fun than photos. I just upped the ISO for evening. I did use the tripod one evening from the CR 14th floor balcony to do shots of lightning and fireworks. The extra lenses were in a regular backpack with our ponchos and other necessities. I wore a waist poach for wallet, tickets, etc. My son had the video camera. Everything went on all rides with us, including Kali River Rapids - wrapped backpack in my poncho and put it in the hold. Didn't really need to as we had a light raft and didn't get very wet.

 

[handicap18]

On my last trip: Nikon D50 with 18-70 mounted, 70-300mm & 50mm lens in a backpack. I found the backpack to be annoying when wanted to change lenses. Eventually I just kept the lenses in my pockets (I have some good size pockets on my cargo shorts and the 70-300 I used at the time isn't really big).

Next trip will be with my Nikon D50 with 18-135mm mounted. I will also carry 2 belt pouches, between the 2 and depending the day I will carry a 70-300mm VR lens, 90mm f/2.8 Macro lens or Speedlight SB-600 flash unit. I will keep the 50mm f/1.8 in my pocket. It is very tiny. I may even put the 90mm f/2.8 in a pocket. Without the hood its fairly small. We'll also have a stroller on this next trip and a full size tripod will go in the storage space on the bottom. May even throw the GF diffuser in there for when we do the character meals. I'm also going to invest in one of the Op-Tec some of the others have mentioned. Like Groucho, I will keep the camera around my neck even on all rides. I don't have a lot of on-ride photos. Just more things to take pictures of. Though sitting with 2 lens pouches is a pain. I'll figure it out though.

 

[Disneyfreak92]

We have two backpacks - the contents of each, and whether or not we have both with us, depend on the day.

The main backpack is the Tamrac Adventure 7, which contains my 30D body with 28-135mm IS attached. My 10-22mm lens is also in there 99% of the time. These are the two lenses I use the most at this time. There are also extra batteries, memory cards, cable release, lens hoods, filters, etc. The upper part of the bag contains personal items (ponchos, 'emergency' kit including lip balm, bandaids, Tide pen, pain killers, etc.), any index cards with notes I might want, and sometimes my 430EX Speedlite. Sometimes we also put our Sony hard drive camcorder into one of the lens compartments in the bottom part of the bag.

The other bag, a Lowepro (which we only used one day on our last trip) has the XT body in it, with kit lens attached. IF we are using this bag, the camcorder goes in here instead.

I also took my 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens on the last trip, and I only took it to AK. (This was the day we took both bags with us.) I think I would like to take it with us two days next time. We'll see.

DH carries the backpack most of the time, while I usually end up carrying the camera around my neck. I take my turns with the backpack as well. The backpack comes on the rides with us. Or DH holds it while I ride if he isn't interested in the ride. (He doesn't do roller coasters.)

I have another bag that has my tripod and monopod in it, and if I am planning to use it that night at the park, we rent a locker in the morning and store it in there until dark.

My GF diffuser doesn't get taken in the bags much while we are there. I do use it to take pictures of the room though. I did just get the 580EX Speedlite, so that might be used instead of the 430EX next time. And I also plan to add the 50mm 1.8 lens before our September trip, so that will probably go in the main bag as well.

 

[Master Mason]

I take everything with me, most of the time I only carry the body with the 24-70 attached and leave the rest either in the car, or at the hotel depending. I only take the other stuff if I know I am going to be using it. If I see something I can't get with what I have, I'll make a note of it and take back the equipment I need to get that shot.

I am also planning on getting one of the smaller slingshot bags so I can have one extra lens and a place to store the body if I don't want it in my hands for some reason.

As for water proofing, I just get a bag from a shop and put the camera in my hand with the strap around my wrist and shove my hand in the bag and twist it. We got drenched on GRR last weekend, but the camera was perfectly dry.

 

[Disneyfreak92]

Master Mason's post reminded me. I have a ziplock freezer bag with small holes cut in the corners that I use for waterproofing. If it starts to rain, or we go on a wet ride, and I want to leave the camera out, I just feed the strap through the holes and it fits over the camera. I just unzip it around the lens when I want to take a pic.

 

[RBennett]

**Disregard***