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

hondafans wrote in post #9104173
We're leaving in 10 days for Disney World. I'm planning on carrying the 15-85, Sigma 30 and my 430EX, unless someone can convince me otherwise.

My 17-55mm lens (I imagine the 17-50mm lens would also do well) proved to be very effective in shooting Fantasmic! at nighttime. The 55mm, in particular, was a nice length. However as I said earlier I don't know how Fantasmic! is set up at Disney World. I'm pretty sure it's much further away. so you might be able to use the 15-85mm to get good shots.

hondafans wrote in post #9104173
We're leaving in 10 days for Disney World. I'm planning on carrying the 15-85, Sigma 30 and my 430EX, unless someone can convince me otherwise.

Honda,

I would bring them all with you and just bring what you need for the day when you leave your hotel. If you are going to animal kingdom for the safari, then you will want the 200L. Also, the 85 will come in handy for night time parades as the 30 may be too wide.

Why limit yourself? Disney is a great place to take photos and you will be kicking yourself for not having the right lens because you left it at home.

The flash will be good for indoor pictures with characters, but you can't use a flash on any of the rides, so you will want your fast glass for those.

Duane

hondafans wrote in post #9104173
We're leaving in 10 days for Disney World. I'm planning on carrying the 15-85, Sigma 30 and my 430EX, unless someone can convince me otherwise.

It sounds like our trips will be overlapping, as we leave in 13 days. I am taking my Sigma 30mm for sure but I still haven't purchased a zoom lens to take with me. I'm still debating among the 15-85, 17-55 and 17-50VC. I guess I better make up my mind soon!

DaveSt wrote in post #9106744
It sounds like our trips will be overlapping, as we leave in 13 days. I am taking my Sigma 30mm for sure but I still haven't purchased a zoom lens to take with me. I'm still debating among the 15-85, 17-55 and 17-50VC. I guess I better make up my mind soon!

We went to the Indianapolis Childrens Museum this past weekend and I started out with the 30mm. After about 20 shots I switched over to the 15-85 and it spent the rest of the day on the camera. I was able to get handheld 1/8 sec shots no problem and the results were excellent. I've had the 17-55 and really prefer the 15-85 to it. I'm sure the 30 will be used for indoor, and night parade shots, but think the 15-85 will be living on my camera for a long time. Get the 15-85, you won't be disappointed. Live is offering 10% on ebay right now and ebay is offering double ebay bucks for a total of 14% off and if you use Discover, that's another 2% so you should be able to find one for less than$650.

duane0524 wrote in post #9106502
Honda,

I would bring them all with you and just bring what you need for the day when you leave your hotel. If you are going to animal kingdom for the safari, then you will want the 200L. Also, the 85 will come in handy for night time parades as the 30 may be too wide.

Why limit yourself? Disney is a great place to take photos and you will be kicking yourself for not having the right lens because you left it at home.

The flash will be good for indoor pictures with characters, but you can't use a flash on any of the rides, so you will want your fast glass for those.

Duane

Thanks Duane. I just sold the 85mm and picked up a Sigma 50. I do have a nice pack so I don't think I'd even notice the extra weight and we'll be taking our six month old so the pack can stay with whoever is not going on the ride.

hondafans wrote in post #9115240
Thanks Duane. I just sold the 85mm and picked up a Sigma 50. I do have a nice pack so I don't think I'd even notice the extra weight and we'll be taking our six month old so the pack can stay with whoever is not going on the ride.

Lucky. We are taking our five year old, so I have to pack light and be able to carry my camera on the rides with me. I got a small backpack to use that should get the job done, but it will be one lens only most days which is fine with me. The last thing I want to be doing is changing lenses in an amusement park.

My advice would be to stick with wider angle glass. The whole point of taking pictures at Disney is the pictures to show that you are at Disney. Sure there will be times where you want to get tighter shots, but more often you want to capture "disney stuff" in your composition... ie the parade, the castle etc..
Taking shot with a 50mm you'll have to step back a bit to get a normal point of view, which usually means people in the crowd walking in front of your shot.

I have been to Disney about nine times now so i guess my opinion matters. Haha. The last fair/park i went to, at night, i challenged myself to only use the 50mm. I came away from it with some great images. If you are going to be behind the camera the whole time, i would say that the 50 would be the only lens you will need. However, if you plan taking some family portraits while at the park, i would suggest a shorter focal length. Good luck in your decision making!

I think that your existing kit is fine.

I'd actually take a G9 or G10 and be done with it -- Capture some shots, definitely get the short videos -- Disney is fun because of who you're there with, not the IQ of the photos......

S.Horton wrote in post #9115604
I think that your existing kit is fine.

I'd actually take a G9 or G10 and be done with it -- Capture some shots, definitely get the short videos -- Disney is fun because of who you're there with, not the IQ of the photos......

True, but then again if I told my wife I was leaving the "good camera" (her term) at home and buying a nice P&S camera to take to Disney I could probably count on sleeping on the couch for the next year or so. That would probably be the end of my DSLR experience.

Haha. Yeah i can see that. Having to explain to your wife the amount of money you spend on your camera and the one time you can justify the money spent, you leave everything at home. Don't hurl yourself into the dog house.

hondafans wrote in post #9115240
Thanks Duane. I just sold the 85mm and picked up a Sigma 50. I do have a nice pack so I don't think I'd even notice the extra weight and we'll be taking our six month old so the pack can stay with whoever is not going on the ride.

Based on what you are doing for the day, keep the big lens at the hotel, but you will want it for the safari ride. Also, outside of the wet rides, there is typically room for you stuff with you. You will want to take them on the rides for pictures inside.

Also, if you can get out on the deck at the California Grille, you can get some great shots of the magic kingdom at night, like this one last December.

And the 50 will be perfect for the parades at night and the rides inside.

Looks like the California Grille is sold out for the nights we'll be there. Can you get out on the deck without reservations?

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

50mm was too long for anything in disney on a crop I found. 17-85 does it all but sometimes not wide enough

hondafans wrote in post #9122688
Looks like the California Grille is sold out for the nights we'll be there. Can you get out on the deck without reservations?

I am not sure, once you are off the elevator you pretty much cna roam around, but I sort of remember needing to check in before you can get on the elevator.

There is a bar there, so you can claim that you are going to sit at the bar and see what they say.

And keep calling and checking as reservations open all the time.