I can buy one new lens for Disney ....

OK, I know there are a ton of Disney questions and I have read them all at least twice. I would love to be able to change my entire lens lineup but the way things have been the past year that just isn't going to happen. So, I can swing one new lens and I am having a hard time knowing what the best way to go is. My choices are as follows:

(1) Keep my 17-85IS and add a Sigma 30 f/1.4 for night time shots. The 30mm would probably come in handy at home as well now that winter is coming.
(2) Get a 17-55 f/2.8 and use that as my only lens, or perhaps pull out the 50mm f/1.8 when needed. In general I don't like the 50mm focal length so I'm not sure how useful it would be.
(3) Get the new 15-85IS and use the 50mm as above.

Any thoughts, especially from those that have been to Disney (Florida) would be most welcome. I need to travel light (carry one lens if possible during the day) because my wife and 5 year old will be with me.

17-85mm + the 50mm 1.8 should cover most of your needs.

drumsfield wrote in post #8885998
17-85mm + the 50mm 1.8 should cover most of your needs.

This should do it, but i would try and add the 55-250IS if you can, it will be handy when taking pics of the parade

borism wrote in post #8886142
This should do it, but i would try and add the 55-250IS if you can, it will be handy when taking pics of the parade

I actually have a 55-250IS already. Maybe I don't need a new lens after all. What fun is that though ....

If you really want to buy a new lens, I think the Sigma 30 is probably the best indoor/low light/kid lens available for crop cameras. I'd get that one.

That said, I think your 17-85 IS will be fine. I just used my 18-55 IS for my whole disney trip last time and it was great. Used ISO 1600+ and IS often, though. maybe bring your 50 1.8 if you want since it is light.

tkbslc wrote in post #8886192
If you really want to buy a new lens, I think the Sigma 30 is probably the best indoor/low light/kid lens available for crop cameras. I'd get that one.

That said, I think your 17-85 IS will be fine. I just used my 18-55 IS for my whole disney trip last time and it was great. Used ISO 1600+ and IS often, though. maybe bring your 50 1.8 if you want since it is light.

Thanks for the input on the Sigma. I have been looking at that lens for at least a year now and it seems like a perfect fit for my 30D. Maybe if I want a higher quality zoom for the trip I can just rent a 17-55 or 24-105. That would at least show me if I am missing something by sticking with my 17-85. In then end it sure might save me some money.

drumsfield wrote in post #8885998
17-85mm + the 50mm 1.8 should cover most of your needs.

I always thought of the 28-135mm as "The Disney Lens" for full-frames. If so, the 17-85 should be the Disney lens for cp cameras.

The 17-55mm was absolutely essential for me to get the Fantasmic! shots that I wanted, and the f/2.8 along the whole zoom range let me shoot both the boats coming by close and Mickey far away without having to switch lenses. However, I know that Fantasmic is situated differently in Florida than it is in California, so YMMV.

hbdragon88 wrote in post #8886568
The 17-55mm was absolutely essential for me to get the Fantasmic! shots that I wanted, and the f/2.8 along the whole zoom range let me shoot both the boats coming by close and Mickey far away without having to switch lenses. However, I know that Fantasmic is situated differently in Florida than it is in California, so YMMV.

I bet there are plenty of areas at Disney that would benefit from a fast lens. I would also love to have a 17-55, but that's a lot of cash on top of an already expensive trip. That being said, what I want to capture the most will be pictures of my wife and daughter and not necessarily pictures of the park itself. Heck, I've even though about picking up a 18-55IS for the trip to go for an even smaller and lighter setup. If I add a fast prime I might be able to make any walk around lens work I suppose.

DaveSt wrote in post #8886160
I actually have a 55-250IS already. Maybe I don't need a new lens after all. What fun is that though ....

I know , I read your sig.. but you mention that you wanted to travel light

The lens that got my attention at this time is the 15-85IS and the Tamron 17-50 VC.. that is my dilemma at this time (f2.8 vs wide range both great IQ), I believe the 15-85 is the ultimate travel lens, plus the preliminary pics from the digital picture are very promising

I think that renting a 24-70 or a 17-55 is not really practical since you mention that you want to travel light..
very heavy lens both

But to be honest,
I think you can be ok with your 17-85, 55-250 and a 50 f1.8 but if you have itch for a new lens you have the itch

Keep what you have you will be fine. If you feel that you want to spend a few bucks, then I would sugguest the 30mm. I used my 50 1.8 last December when we went and it was just not wide enough for the indoor rides.

borism wrote in post #8886861
I think you can be ok with your 17-85, 55-250 and a 50 f1.8 but if you have itch for a new lens you have the itch

I think you have me pegged there. I have the itch now, and it generally doesn't go away without my wallet getting a little bit lighter.

Sigma 30mm f1.4 will suit your needs very well. Small and unobtrusive a lens it is and also sharp as heck. You will love the IQ and scope it provides for shots in the indoor shows.

jmho

I think I have decided on the Sigma at this time. I have a hard time shooting at f/2.8 in my house (without flash) as it is, so this just might be a great lens for quick shots around the house. I will probably troll the used boards for a little bit, but you can get this lens for about $380 new so it sounds like a pretty good deal. Thanks for the input!

(2) but...

Get the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens and forego the 55mm "nifty fifty". Use the price of the "nifty fifty" to buy a yop-line CPL.

The constant f/2.8 aperture, the ability to get great IQ wide open and the excellent later generation IS, makes the 17-55mm a great low light glass as well as a top motch general purpose lens.

IMO: the only two shortfalls are the high price and I wish that it reached out to 80mm or so. However, I would not be willing to give up the other advantages of this lens forthat extra reach since I normally pair it with a 70-200mm f/4L IS lens which provides plenty of reach.