What lens is essential for WDW? About This Page:

[Leeshamak]

So~
I am going back to Disney in 10 days! YaY!
What am I most excited about? Using my Nikon D80 to take all the pics, of course
I am wondering which lens to bring to the parks~ if not ALL of them. I have a 50mm 1.8, an 18-135mm, and a 70-300mm.
Any ideas???
Any tips???
Please share....

[LizardCop]

My recommendation, it you're wanting to just carry one lens, would be the 18-135. It should give you the versatility to handle the "inside" shots where a wide angle would be best, and still allow you to get some good outdoor shots, even some of them from farther away where I usually get my best "people" shots.

If you can carry two, I would carry both zooms and leave the 50mm in the room. You still have 50mm covered and I don't think the extra F-stop or so will make that big a difference.

If I'm carrying one lens, I tend to put my 80-300 (35mm eq) on and I carry a Kodak 12Mp point and shoot for inside shots, or anything the zoom won't go down to.

I'm seriously considering a 36-360 (35mm eq) for that "one lens" to carry, but haven't made up my mind yet. My other zoom is a 140-600 (35mm eq) and it's fun for those really long shots, but not the one to carry around all the time...

[karyntay07]

I think Bill gave some great advise. My fiance has a Nikon D70 and carried multiple lenses on our last trip. I know little about the terminology, but I can say versatility is key if you're looking to carry one lens. He did have some absolutely fantastic shots that he took with his zoom lens (I don't know the specs on it) - but he only took that lens around for 2 days so he wouldn't have to lug it everywhere. Happy picture taking!

[Leeshamak]

THANK YOU!!!! Yes, most definately some Great Advice I think I will bring the zooms with me and leave the 50mm behind~ You folks rock!!!!!!

[Leeshamak]

Originally Posted by LizardCop

My recommendation, it you're wanting to just carry one lens, would be the 18-135. It should give you the versatility to handle the "inside" shots where a wide angle would be best, and still allow you to get some good outdoor shots, even some of them from farther away where I usually get my best "people" shots.

If you can carry two, I would carry both zooms and leave the 50mm in the room. You still have 50mm covered and I don't think the extra F-stop or so will make that big a difference.

If I'm carrying one lens, I tend to put my 80-300 (35mm eq) on and I carry a Kodak 12Mp point and shoot for inside shots, or anything the zoom won't go down to.

I'm seriously considering a 36-360 (35mm eq) for that "one lens" to carry, but haven't made up my mind yet. My other zoom is a 140-600 (35mm eq) and it's fun for those really long shots, but not the one to carry around all the time...

I forgot to say that I will be bringing my super tiny pentax Optio s5i as well. That camera is great for when I need to be inconspicuous.
Thanks for the great answer!

[home4us123]

DH thought the same thing, the 18-135 if you just wanted one lens.

[sek59]

I use a 28-210 zoom and it seems to cover all my needs, I don't know about you, but I have to watch myself using too much zoom, as the wide shots are great too!

[LizardCop]

Originally Posted by sek59

I use a 28-210 zoom and it seems to cover all my needs, I don't know about you, but I have to watch myself using too much zoom, as the wide shots are great too!

One of the really great things about digital is that "film" is cheap. I have developed a habit of shooting the first picture at the wide angle setting, then zooming in for what I thought I wanted to begin with. Ya never know what you'll get

[A & J's Dad]

Ditto everything Bill said.

Cheers
Craig