What lens should you bring to Disney

I have read a number of posts were people ask what camera/lens combination should they bring to Disney or on other vacations. After each trip I bring my DSLR and compliment of lenses (In this case the 7D, 10-22mm, 24-70, and 70-200.) I am happy I made the effort.
It is a pain to carry around...plus anyone with you or around you will think you are nuts lugging all the heavy equipment around but the results are well worth it. (Especially those holding/watching it while you enjoy some of the rides.)

I have to finish sorting through 1500 pictures but here are a couple of my favorites so far. As I joke with my family....Memories fade, pictures are forever. (As long as you have proper backups and good ink/paper.)

I just thought I would share my thoughts for anyone contemplating only bringing a point and shoot on vacation.

Andy

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nice shots... just me.. id take my 24-105L and that is it... not sure if id want to switch lenses or carry that much equipment....

Funny, but accurate post Andy. You definitely covered yourself with those three lenses. Which one was on your camera the most?

nice pics and looks like by those lenses you were able to cover a good amount of length.

postunit wrote in post #13395717
Funny, but accurate post Andy. You definitely covered yourself with those three lenses. Which one was on your camera the most?

Here is a breakdown of the keepers I have so far:

10-22 = 11%
24-70 = 56%
70-200 = 33%

Got to love Lightroom.

In non specific situations I find my EFS 15-85 to be as versatile as it gets. One lens to cover it all....

I don't own the 24-105 but I rented one for a recent vacation and it stayed on my camera about 75% of the time. At night I usually switched to my 16-35.

We should be going next year. I'm thinking about picking up the Canon 28 or Sigma 30, and using just that and the 85mm for a light weight, two lens solution. We would have a P&S or two with us too, so we'd be covered for other focal lengths if needed.

tempest68 wrote in post #13397241
We should be going next year. I'm thinking about picking up the Canon 28 or Sigma 30, and using just that and the 85mm for a light weight, two lens solution. We would have a P&S or two with us too, so we'd be covered for other focal lengths if needed.

The last couple of trips I did not even bring a P&S camera because I lost too many "possible" good pictures by the camera being slow or not focusing on what I needed it to. (I know I could have messed with it more to get closer to what I wanted but using a P&S was to avoid all off that...not just caring it around.) Maybe others are better at using a P&S than I have been in the past too.

This year my oldest son (now 12, who wants to take pictures like dad) used a Canon PowerShot SX130 along with my wife and our younger son. They got some good pictures but many of them came out blurry...maybe user error but still, I had the same problems when trying to use a G5 years ago. The family pictures and pictures of the characters came out fine...but that is about it.

The one thing I could not justify that I wish I had multiple times (and my wife was opposed to traveling with) was a tripod. Maybe next time.

A couple more examples of pictures I would have missed out on with a P&S attached.

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Kids/wife are good for carrying things. Nice shots.

CincyTriGuy wrote in post #13397223
I don't own the 24-105 but I rented one for a recent vacation and it stayed on my camera about 75% of the time. At night I usually switched to my 16-35.

I agree, this would be the best compromise. There was only a couple of times the 70-200 was used and I do not think the extra length of the 24-105 would capture what I wanted. Taking pictures of the kids (from the ground) on the rides and more importantly pictures at Animal Kingdom. Granted, some of the animals were right up along the truck that made for some missed shots (I tried to make the best of it but I can't change lenses that fast) but overall it was worth it.

I can understand why people would leave this lens out, it was by far the biggest pain to carry around when not on the camera. I will post some of those pictures later...I have not finished going through the many animal pictures yet.

aaxsherm wrote in post #13397625
I agree, this would be the best compromise. There was only a couple of times the 70-200 was used and I do not think the extra length of the 24-105 would capture what I wanted. Taking pictures of the kids (from the ground) on the rides and more importantly pictures at Animal Kingdom. Granted, some of the animals were right up along the truck that made for some missed shots (I tried to make the best of it but I can't change lenses that fast) but overall it was worth it.

I can understand why people would leave this lens out, it was by far the biggest pain to carry around when not on the camera. I will post some of those pictures later...I have not finished going through the many animal pictures yet.

Here are some examples of the animal shots I mentioned needing the longer reach. I love the Komodo Dragon, such an amazing animal I think we can learn so much from.

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They denied my 1D + 70-200 2/8 IS combo last week at Disneyland.

Nice shots, you should add them to the "Official Disney Parks Thread". I have to agree, I definitely wouldn't want to leave my DSLR behind when going, the park is too much fun with a camera.

k-lo wrote in post #13397858
They denied my 1D + 70-200 2/8 IS combo last week at Disneyland.

They don't like pro photographers in the park. I have caught some grief from guards on a few occasions, and had one explain to me that all Disney property is protected by copyright (or trademark) and would require a property release to be used commercially (which they would never provide. This last time I had a guard at the gate try to make me "admit" to being a pro (which I'm not) because of my gear; I told him it was just a hobby, and that while some guys had big bass boats I had a big camera, then I told him I was really just compensating for something else anyway. He was amused enough to drop the issue.
I was talking to a caricature artists back in Feb. who has worked at the park for about as long as I've been alive; she was telling me that it used to be common for students from a local art college to come to the park and sit on Main st. making drawings of the buildings there. Apparently the Disney higher ups didn't appreciate that and put an end to it. She says the public excuse was that it distracted patrons but that the more likely excuse was to keep them from later selling their work.