What to bring

[Lizziejane]

Hi folks,
I know this question has been asked a gazillion times but when I try to search, I'm coming up empty. We are headed to the world next month. The last trip, in 2007, I had 2 lenses. I didn't have to worry about what to pack - I just packed it all!

This time around, however, I'm really not too sure what to bring. Available lenses are (all Canon, btw)

24-70, F2.8
70-300, F4-5.6
10-22, F?? (too lazy to go look - it's not fast though)
100, F2.8
50, F1.4
85, F1.8

I'm not too concerned about inside, dark ride shots. I am still so new to shooting at WDW that limiting myself to outdoor shots doesn't bother me at all. But here are a couple of kinds of shots I would like to concentrate on:

- Shots of rides in motion - the tea-cups and Big Thunder as an example. Both day and evening shots. Do I want the 10-22 here or will that be too wide? am I better off with the 24-70?
- Performers and characters - candid portrait types of shots (I love the 85 and am thinking this might be a good choice here)
- Definitely want some decent shots from the Festival of the Lion King. NO idea what to bring for that, as I've never seen it before.
- Indiana Jones and Lights, Motor, Action - been to both, and can see the advantages of both wide angle and/or telephoto. Which do you use?
- Even though I'm not concerned about indoor, dark rides - would the 50mm be of any use in any of those rides?

I guess I'm trying to avoid carting 5 lenses around every day! I'll be shooting with a 40D, and DH will have the Xti, so technically speaking, I'll have 2 lenses readily available at any given moment!

Planning the photo gear is as bad as selecting time of year to go and resort to stay at

 

[boBQuincy]

Available lenses are (all Canon, btw)

24-70, F2.8
70-300, F4-5.6
10-22, F?? (too lazy to go look - it's not fast though)
100, F2.8
50, F1.4
85, F1.8

I'm not too concerned about inside, dark ride shots. I am still so new to shooting at WDW that limiting myself to outdoor shots doesn't bother me at all. But here are a couple of kinds of shots I would like to concentrate on:

- Shots of rides in motion - the tea-cups and Big Thunder as an example. Both day and evening shots. Do I want the 10-22 here or will that be too wide? am I better off with the 24-70?
- Performers and characters - candid portrait types of shots (I love the 85 and am thinking this might be a good choice here)
- Definitely want some decent shots from the Festival of the Lion King. NO idea what to bring for that, as I've never seen it before.
- Indiana Jones and Lights, Motor, Action - been to both, and can see the advantages of both wide angle and/or telephoto. Which do you use?
- Even though I'm not concerned about indoor, dark rides - would the 50mm be of any use in any of those rides?

I guess I'm trying to avoid carting 5 lenses around every day! I'll be shooting with a 40D, and DH will have the Xti, so technically speaking, I'll have 2 lenses readily available at any given moment!

Planning the photo gear is as bad as selecting time of year to go and resort to stay at

Big Thunder and Teacups should work well with a 10-22. These rides and the views they offer are compact so the wide angle is nice to have.

For Festival of the Lion King I prefer a fast 70-200. Your long lens is kind of slow at the long end, the 24-70 would be better if you can sit close to the front rows.

The 50 tends to be a bit long for indoor rides but the speed is nice to have, use it and decide if you want wider for next time.

 

[racreel]

The 24-70 would be a good walk around lens.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Even if you bring it all you don't have to carry every lens to the park every day. I bring along several options and then depending on the park and what I intend to shoot I'll select a couple to bring along for the day. I hate having a lens at home when I've thought of the perfect use for it on vacation.

Your longer telephoto would be nice on the safari ride and also for Lights, Motor, Action. A few wide shots of that are good but then it's nice to be able to get more close ups. I'd also think about the 85mm for Festival. It's a fast lens for the dark indoor venue.

 

[cpbjgc]

I would definitely bring your 70-300 - it may not be fast but it's good for outdoors and some shows (I know I got some nice Fantasmic shots with mine last time down).

The only lens on your list I don't think I would bring is the 100 F2.8. Since you have two bodies to share out the lenses between, I would bring the lot of them except the 100. Most of them look to be fairly light. The ones you don't use that day can stay in the hotel safe.

Have a great trip!

 

[Groucho]

Is the 100 a macro? I really enjoyed putting my manual-focus 105mm macro on for a while and shooting only with that. If it's not a macro or if you want to make sure that you always are ready to take a family photo, it can probably be left behind.

The 85mm F1.8 is probably going to be first on the chopping block unless you are very comfortable with it. It's a bit long for portrait shots at Disney on a crop-sensor camera and will take a very steady hand to use for on-ride photos (though it might do a good job on Madame Leota!) It actually may also do well on Festival of the Lion King.

The 70-300 is probably next to go; it can be nice at Animal Kingdom and maybe, to a lesser degree, a few other places; but it will need bright subjects.

Your 24-70 will almost certainly be your primary lens... with maybe the 10-22 close behind. I don't necessarily agree with everyone that the 50 is too long to use much (my first DSLR trip, I used my 50mm F1.4 for a hair under 50% of my photos!) and the extra speed and DoF can make a huge difference.

I would say to bring all the lenses and just take 2-3 each day. If your trip is long enough, you could do each park with a different group of lenses on different days.

BTW, it's not that bad to carry around 5+ lenses. Belt-mounted lens pouches can help, as can a bag with a good strap on it. A stroller helps too because you can hang the bag on the stroller when moving from place to place, but I don't recommend having a baby just for that reason!

 

[edolyne]

I just got back from Disney and I had packed my entire kit a 24-70, 70-200 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 100mm 2.8 L and a 580EX II. After the first day where I carried my 24-70, 70-200, 50 and flash I left it all in the room and just brought my 5D Mark II and 24-70 on my black rapid strap. That idea was the best one and I didn't end up with back pain by the end of the day.

I am not sure how long you plan on going but if you want to travel light into the parks I would suggest doing something like I did and focus on a specific area of photography each day and just bring the lens that best suits that.