Vacation + Daddy Slacking = I'm stressed

Hey, guys. First off, please excuse me for being a bit scatter brained here. And please excuse me for asking to be spoon fed here as well. I'm usually super-research-guy to the extent that it takes me months to make a purchase but I'm in a time crunch here and could really use some help.

First off, the gear I own:

• Rebel XTI3 Body
  
• 10-22mm
  
• 50mm 1.8 prime
  
• 28-135mm
  
• 70-300mm (a cheap kit lens that I haven't used in forever)
  

For Disney, I'd by the 18-200 IS, and bring that and your nifty fifty and enjoy the vacation. It's not L quality, but its pretty decent, a lot lighter, and will cover just about anything you need. If you are like me, you aren't going to make poster sized prints from vacation pics... More likely a scrapbook or Facebook. I did Disney one time with a pro body and f/2.8 L lenses... 24-70, 70-200, etc. I was dog tired from hauling that all around, never wanted to hand it over to someone to take a pic, couldn't go on some rides, and often felt I looked silly. I've learned on vacation trips like that it is better to prioritize enjoying the experience. You do a LOT of walking at Disney.

I appreciate the advice. I have been to Disney numerous times (about once per year over the past 10 years) and have been carrying gear for the past few years. I much prefer a P&S and what we likely will do is take the P&S out during certain days and use other days/nights for prescribed DSLR days. This worked well for us in the past.

That said, the reason I'm looking to change is because I'm just not entirely satisfied with the PQ of the 28-135mm. The upcoming vacation is just motivation to go ahead and make a purchase so we come back with some nice shots and I'm not kicking myself over the 28-135mm softness that drives me nuts. Someone PM'd me with the suggestion to go lower and that's actually a good suggestion; like yours. So, I'll look in to that option. Truth be told, I hadn't really considered it. And I should have.

Any non-Canon branded lens suggestions to save on cost but not detriment quality?

Thanks!

What happens if the best shots present themselves on the days you have the P&S?

Maybe look into the 15-85?

I'd get the EF-S 15-85 and leave everything else home. I own all kinds of lenses, but on vacation I usually find that all I really need most of the time is something from wide (about 24mm FF equivalent, 15mm on 1.6X) up to short telephoto.

UWA and long telephoto are nice, but often not all that necessary for a vacation. The 15-85 will probably cover almost everything you need to shoot at a place like Disney.

15-85 or 17-55. Both are great options

I'd throw the Sigma 17-70 2.8-4 OS into the mix too. It's even on rebate right now for $399.

convergent wrote in post #15316403
For Disney, I'd by the 18-200 IS, and bring that and your nifty fifty and enjoy the vacation. It's not L quality, but its pretty decent, a lot lighter, and will cover just about anything you need. If you are like me, you aren't going to make poster sized prints from vacation pics... More likely a scrapbook or Facebook. I did Disney one time with a pro body and f/2.8 L lenses... 24-70, 70-200, etc. I was dog tired from hauling that all around, never wanted to hand it over to someone to take a pic, couldn't go on some rides, and often felt I looked silly. I've learned on vacation trips like that it is better to prioritize enjoying the experience. You do a LOT of walking at Disney.

I have to second this suggestion. I have the EF-S 18-135 and I really like it. But the 18-200 would seem more usefull on a Disney trip.

Mike

MikeWa wrote in post #15316881
I have to second this suggestion. I have the EF-S 18-135 and I really like it. But the 18-200 would seem more usefull on a Disney trip.

Mike

The reason I'd prefer the 15-85 is that on vacation I'd find having 15mm-17mm a lot more important than 86mm-200mm.

JeffreyG wrote in post #15316895
The reason I'd prefer the 15-85 is that on vacation I'd find having 15mm-17mm a lot more important than 86mm-200mm.

I guess that depends on the age of his kids. If they are riding rides, I doubt 85 is going to do much for closeup shots. And I can't think of anything at Disney that I could have gotten at 15 that I couldn't get at 18. But, that's why they make so many lenses... everyone likes different stuff. Sounds like the OP has plenty of experience at Disney.

All,
Thank you very much for the feedback. The great thing about communities like this is it gets you outside of the box and because of this, I am looking more at the 17-55mm lens rather than the L series I had held in such regard (not that they don't deserve it).

I did some more digging and I played around with my current set of lenses. I even went back through all my old photos and found that nearly 80% of my photos were shot under 50mm with my crop bodies. The few instances I used zoom were when I used the cheapy 70-300mm which, in this case, is a moot point as nothing else really expands that zoom range.

So, after talking with the Mrs and realizing that I'm not yet sold and hate to rush in to a purchase design so large (relative to use), I'm considering renting a 17-55mm or the 18-135. I found a place that actual delivers to disney goers on property and the cost to rent a lens (or even two) is pretty nominal.

Now, if someone happens to have a 17-55mm or 18-135mm they want to sale, that's a different story.

Thanks again for all your input and suggestions.

believe me the 18-200 served me well at Disneyland in Feb and WDW in August - but you need a fast prime when night falls and my sigma 30 f1.4 served me well here. The 18-200 may not be the best lens out there but substantially sharp at f7 beyond whatever distortion at the wide end can be addresses through Adobe Camera Raw.

bikinpunk wrote in post #15317310
Now, if someone happens to have a 17-55mm or 18-135mm they want to sale, that's a different story.

Lots of 17-55mm f/2.8s for sale in the Selling forum last time I looked. I just picked one up a couple of weeks ago from the forum - very nice lens!

i agree, anything wide angle to short telephoto is all that's needed on vacations. 15-85 would be my lens choice. Every once in a while there are landscape opportunities that pop up on vacations that require reach. But I agree, wide angle will make up the majority of your vacationing photos.