What lens(es) do you bring with you to the parks?

TeamSy

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Nov 23, 2013
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Just curious! Are these the only ones you bring with you on your whole trip or just to the parks?
 
I carry the following:

17-50 f2.8 (wider than my walkaround, good for inside character shots,etc.)
28-70 f2.8 walkaround (I use the added length quite a bit)
70-200 f2.8 length
30 f1.4 dark rides

This is not a lightweight kit and not for everyone, however I NEED the lower light capabilities of the 2.8 lenses. Its just the way I shoot!:)
 
It depends. I take them all with me on the trip, but take different ones on different days.

My main lens would be either (but not both on the same day) my Canon 24-105 f/4 or my Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 depending on whether there were any low light shows I plan to shoot for the day.

In addition, a couple days each trip I would bring my Canon 70-200 f/4 for shooting certain shows.

In addition, I will take one special purpose lens. This would be either my Tokina 11-16 for some wide angle shots or my Sigma 35mm f/1.4 for some dark ride shots.

I rarely even just have 1 lens, usually 2, or more often 3.
 

On full frame, for walking around, 24-70/2.8, would be 16-50/2.8 on APS-C.
Would always have a prime for dark rides -- on full frame, 50/1.8.
Usually carry something ultra wide -- on full frame, I just got the Rokinon 14/2.8 which Im playing with, or my Nikon 18-35. Wouldn't carry both.

Then on the trip, but left in the room often: Either my 70-200/4 and/or my 300/4. Would really only bring one of those lenses for shows or Animal Kingdom safari. I might bust out the 70-200/4 for some nice portraits on property... If I really really plan on portraits, I'd bring either my 105/2.8 or 85/1.8. But they would be primarily left in the room unless shooting portraits for sure. External flash possibly.

I'm in the processing of packing my Alaska cruise bag.... Not without difficulty.

Definite: 24-70/2.8 and 300/4 and teleconverters (1.4 and probably 2x)
Either the 14/2.8 or the 18-35.
That's 3 lenses.... I might leave it at that, or I might add either the 50/1.8 (super lightweight walk-around on the ship) or the 85/1.8. (go-to for special portraits)
Definitely won't bring my 70-200/4 or my 105/2.8 macro.
Speedlight -- maybe.
Tripod -- Maybe. (thinking waterfall shots in Skagway/Yukon)
+++ Sony RX100 & Nikon J3 (my son's camera) with a couple lenses.
Anybody want to help me pack my bag? Feedback?
 
For micro 4:3; 7-14 f/4; 12-35 f/2.8; 35-100 f/2.8. Sometimes I add a 25 f/1.4 for low light.
The best part: slightly less than 3 pounds *for all four*!
 
I'm in the processing of packing my Alaska cruise bag.... Not without difficulty.

Definite: 24-70/2.8 and 300/4 and teleconverters (1.4 and probably 2x)
Either the 14/2.8 or the 18-35.
That's 3 lenses.... I might leave it at that, or I might add either the 50/1.8 (super lightweight walk-around on the ship) or the 85/1.8. (go-to for special portraits)
Definitely won't bring my 70-200/4 or my 105/2.8 macro.
Speedlight -- maybe.
Tripod -- Maybe. (thinking waterfall shots in Skagway/Yukon)
+++ Sony RX100 & Nikon J3 (my son's camera) with a couple lenses.
Anybody want to help me pack my bag? Feedback?

I think you've got it covered for Alaska. I would choose the 14/2.8 over the 18-35 (personal preference).

I had a 28-300 (not the best optically but it got the job done) and a 14-24/2.8. I also had my 50/1.8 but it never left my bag. (These are the same lenses I take to WDW. I've rented a 24-70/2.8 - probably my my next purchase.)

The 300/4 + teleconverter should give you great wildlife shots. I hope you get a full humpback or Orca breach - we never got to catch one.

The only time I used a tripod was the sunset/night shots at Denali.

Good luck and looking forward to your images.
 
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DX (Crop) sensor Nikon shooter:

To the parks on a normal day: D7200 (no grip), 16-85 VR*, 35 f/1.8, and sometimes the 70-300mm VR.

To the parks for light weight: D5100, 18-55 VR II, 55-200 VR II, 35 f/1.8 (the whole kit including spare batteries, RRS plate, and media cards is a bit under 3 lbs)

Occasional appearances include the 40 f/2.8 Micro (Epcot), 85 f/1.8 (night shows). I'm also packing a 300 f/4E and 50 f/1.8, which are great to just go walking around the resort with.

Other gear includes the MB-D15 grip for the D7200 (Animal Kingdom), an SB-400 Speedlight and Gorillapod Focus with Ballhead X. I'd like to take my an SB-700, travel tripod and monopod but worry my loved ones might murder me. :)

*Soon to be replaced with a 16-80 f/2.8-4E
 
On my last trip, I took three lenses (I only owned three at the time.)

17-35, 35 1.4 and 70-200 2.8.

While with my family in the parks, I would just have the 35 with me (though there were times I wish it were a 24.) When I was by myself in the parks all three were with me.
 
I think you've got it covered for Alaska. I would choose the 14/2.8 over the 18-35 (personal preference).

I had a 28-300 (not the best optically but it got the job done) and a 14-24/2.8. I also had my 50/1.8 but it never left my bag. (These are the same lenses I take to WDW. I've rented a 24-70/2.8 - probably my my next purchase.)

The 300/4 + teleconverter should give you great wildlife shots. I hope you get a full humpback or Orca breach - we never got to catch one.

The only time I used a tripod was the sunset/night shots at Denali.

Good luck and looking forward to your images.

It's the manual focus Rokinon.... I just got it, and I had never shot with a lens THAT wide. MF isn't so bad, but with the high distortion... I'm not sure if I won't just be better off with the 18-35. I have another few weeks to play with the 14 and then decide. Maybe I'll end up with the 14 and 18-35, leaving my 50 and 85 at home.
 
For my Canon 7D, I take my Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8, my Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5–5.6 IS STM, and the good ol Canon EF 70-200 f/4 L.
 
All in my Think Tank StreetWalker

Canon 6D
Canon 24-70 F4 IS
Canon 16-35 F4 IS
Canon 70-200 F4 IS
Canon 50 1.4
Canon 430exii
Canon R500 Video Camera

Headed down August 24th. With the heat that time of year I may not take it all everyday but on previous trips everything goes to the park with me usually.
 
I bring far more lenses with me than I bring for any single park day - generally, I'll have 15 lenses on the trip, for 2 camera bodies. But the most I would bring to a park for a day would be 2 camera bodies with 5 lenses.

A typical park lens kit for each park would be:
DHS - 10-18mm, 18-55mm, and 35mm F1.8.
Magic Kingdom - 18-250mm, 10-18mm, 18-55mm, 35mm F1.8, 40mm F1.8
Epcot - 55-210mm, 18-55mm, 10-18mm, 35mm F1.8
Animal Kingdom - 70-200mm F4 or 300mm F4 or 150-600mm, plus 10-18mm and 18-250mm

I have duplicates of most lenses, since I have one for my DSLR and one for my mirrorless - this lets me decide if I should bring more wide and fast lenses for the mirrorless, and more long focals for the DSLR, or a travel-zoom for one and more primes for the other, on days that I bring both cameras.
 
On our last trip I used my 18-200 but that lens makes my camera HEAVY. I have a canon T1I. I would like something with fixed appature and some zoom capabilities for the shows, parades, and fireworks. Recommendations?
 
In the Parks I usually have my Canon 18-135 STM on my 70d
In animal Kingdom I bring my 55-250 stm

Sometimes i have my 24 panacake on so its very light instead of the top two.

I never bring multiple lenses anymore- I was missing to much and not enjoying the vacation. Plus I need to hold my daughter and interact with her a lot(cant leave that all to my wife)

We also always have our GoPro

My travel pack is Canon 10-18; 18-135; 24 panacake; and 55-250. Only one at a time in parks and usually the 10-18 stays at the resorts and downtown disney
 
On my last trip to Disneyland I took:

Canon 10-18
Sigma 30 1.4
Tamron 17-50 2.8
Tokina 80-200 2.8

Could have left the Tamron at home. I only used it once on POTC because I wanted to see if 2.8 was gonna cut it (it didn't btw). The Sigma I used solely for dark rides (hence: a lot). The Tokina I used for shows (hence: 4 times; probably would have used it a lot more if I had been at AK for animal shots!). The Canon was my go to lens and was used a lot!

For city tours I only bring the Canon. Just came back from Cardiff and even indoors at the museum (hey, it was raining) I was glad I had the wide lens and wasn't missing the Tamron at all.
 
On our last trip I used my 18-200 but that lens makes my camera HEAVY. I have a canon T1I. I would like something with fixed appature and some zoom capabilities for the shows, parades, and fireworks. Recommendations?

Fixed aperture zooms are even heavier. And unnecessary for those types of shots. Useful for night parades and night shows. Unnecessary for fire works, or day time shows and parades.
 
Thanks for all the great input. Also please share some Alaska photos amazing place to visit and you really need a telephoto lens for that trip.
 
This upcoming trip it will be the following coming with me. Not every lens will be taken into the park every day though..
All Nikkor Glass
24mm f/1.4 (mainly for dark rides)
50mm f/1.4 (probably won't take as the 24 and 85 are more suited to my needs...we'll see)
85mm f/1.4 (mainly for dark rides)
24-70 f/2.8 (walk around lens)
14-24 f/2.8 (interior and exterior ultra-wide shots)
70-200 f/2.8 (F!/WOC/Long shots)

They won't fit in the safe in the room, so I'm a bit leery walking around or leaving five figures in glass around. I shoot on a D600 Fx body
 












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