What equipment do you bring to the parks? - SLR users

[Steel_Phantom]

Our trip last December was my first Disney trip with an SLR camera. Before that trip, I just had a digital or film point and shoot.

Each day we took a camera backpack with a Nikon D90 with attached 18-105mm zoom lens, 50mm f1.8 lens for low light shots, SB-800 flash, gorillapod tripod, remote control, extra batteries and extra memory cards. After a couple of days of hardly using the tripod, we left it back in the room.

Having the SLR meant that I took more and heavier equipment to the parks. I was curious what equipment others took along with them each day.

 

[YesDear]

While I take more to Disney with me I usually will take a camera and lens or two to the park I am going to. If I take a tripod for later, I will usually put in a locker. My baby is 26 so he gets to carry stuff as well with his camera.

 

[WVDisGeek]

December was my first trip with an SLR as well. It got cut short due to some knee issues, but I took a backpack with my camera (Pentax K200D), an 18-250mm lens (which stayed on for probably 90% of the shots due to the big spread), a 50mm f2 for low light stuff, a 28mm f2.8 macro lens, a remote, batteries, memory cards and being my first trip there with an SLR, the manual and Magic Lantern Guide. I had planned on taking a tripod for some night shots, but those were the evenings I missed due to the knee.

We are going back in December and plan on taking about the same load. I hope to get the night shots in this time with my new tripod and I will have a 50mm f1.4 this trip for better low light stuff. I may bring my 135mm f2.8 instead of the 18-250mm for some days. If I can save a few bucks before then, I may pick up the weathersealed 16-50mm Pentax lens for some wet ride shots ala Groucho!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I transport everything in a backpack to the park. Then once at the park I take out what I think I'll use. I keep the camera in an optech bag (to prevent scratches/dents/splashes) w/ 1 lens attached and keep it always around my neck. The only way it would come off is if my head went with it.
Throughout the day I'll swap lenses as I see fit. I try to keep my 18-200VR lens on the camera all the time for convenience. I'll put smaller lenses in individual (believe it or not) ziplock freezer bags (they're thicker) and sometimes into a lens pouch depending on the size of the lens. If I have 2 lenses in FP then I make sure to keep velcro padding wrapped around or between the lenses to separate the lenses and keep them from banging against each other. I do the ziplock thing to prevent dust and water issues. (I know it's unconventional and I'm probably being laughed at right now, but it works for me.) Then if I want to, I can swap lenses without having to go back to the locker. So if I have the D90 w/ 18-200VR zoom on, I'll also carry the 30mm 1.4 in my fanny pack/waist pouch so I don't have to go running back to the locker unless I decide I want to use another different lens or grab the tripod. Most of the time I'll find a way to make do with whatever lens I have. Sometimes I'll swap out the 18-200 with my 18-50 2.8 lens, and still keep my 30mm lens on me for low light rides. During the day sometimes I'll take the 10-20 wide angle lens + the 30mm and leave the 18-200 on the camera. If I need more reach then I grab the 70-300 but still keep the 30mm. Notice which lens I can't live without in the park is? I can make do with the others, but must have the 30mm for lowlight rides. I can fit 2 lenses in my fanny pack, but it's heavy all day long (although much lighter than carrying everything all at once like some do), so I prefer just one in the bag and one on the camera. I also always carry my remote, cleaning cloth, extra memory cards, and extra battery in another ziplock bag and put that in a different pocket. I try to keep everything totally hands free and as convenient as possible when out and about, hence the fanny pack.