Recommendations for vacation lenses and gear

[RC]

• Use a Blackrapid strap - having your hands free and the camera at you side/lower back makes it less obtrusive, but still very quickly accessible

Keep in mind for Disneyland, the parks can get very congested and you might not want your gear on your side. Been to lots of Disney on both coasts and Disneyland has always been the most crowded--often difficult to walk.

Focus on efficiently, minimum gear, and being streamlined. [/list]

 

[KKCFamilyman]

• • Use a Blackrapid strap - having your hands free and the camera at you side/lower back makes it less obtrusive, but still very quickly accessible

  
  Keep in mind for Disneyland, the parks can get very congested and you might not want your gear on your side. Been to lots of Disney on both coasts and Disneyland has always been the most crowded--often difficult to walk.
  
  Focus on efficiently, minimum gear, and being streamlined.

Yeah great advice. I am looking at my 24-105 and my 50mm for low light. Now to find a good bag. Just got it back from Canon yesterday for the light leak tape job and my 50mm had front focus issues they had to fix.

I think I may get the g1x to carry at my side or preorder the Sony rx100. Leaning towards the Sony since it is pocketable. That's it. I do hope to enjoy the trip.

 

[dlleno]

24-105 is probably the only lens you'll use in Disney. And I second all the advice here to concentrate on preserving the photograhic moments of your family as upposed to the scenery. For example, when my wife and I go to the zoo with our kids and grandkids, I'm usually the one a few steps away, or ahead, capturing the kiddos. I sneek in an occasional animal portrait but the memories I take away will be of the little ones. the 50mm will be perfect for those indoor shots of kids looking through windows.

The last time we all were at a zoo, we saw a group of togs (no kids) carrying around huge amounts of 1 series bodies, L lenses, and Gitzos. It was more than enough to generate serious tog envy and I'm sure they got some cool animial portraits -- but not of any little girls or boys looking at them

At disney, take the time to wait for the characters and get the kiddos obtaining signatures (by all means get them autograph books). Go to goofys kitchen at least once. spend the time at poohs corner and capture kids with Eyeore, etc. let them play on the fire engine.... the 24-105 will be perfect.

 

[KKCFamilyman]

Yeah I think I am ready
I have 3 x 16gb sandisk extreme iii sd cards and 3 x 16gb CF Sandisk Extreme iii cards
2 batteries total
body, 24-105, 50mm, 270 ex ii (smaller and lighter for fill flash) don't see a need for the 430.
Still need to find a comfortable bag for all that and I am anal about making sure it's safe.
Also little stuff like hoods and UV filters
Finally bringing a Crumpler strap for comfort. Can't wait to try that out.

Finally was going to preorder the Sony RX100 to attach to my belt for candids to take quick like rides or days I want to leave the dslr home. I agree the pics of the kids are more important. Thanks. I will dump those pics daily to my laptop and back that up to an external nightly. I do IT so that's hardly trouble. I am pretty sure 96gb a day of storage should cover it. I do want to get the 70-200f4is for home when the kids are running around and was tempted to get it for the trip but everyone here is right it's too much to carry. I wish I knew that the upcoming mirrorless would release in time because I would have brought just that. Again any times on a bag that would have easy side quick access would be appreciated.

 

[KKCFamilyman]

I probably would just go with the new 24-70 if it was out but not sure if that would cut it but then I truly would not need any lens. It would be a decent low light lens 2.8 with the iso capability of that camera would be nice.

 

[gary samples]

canon 70-200mm great len you will love it

 

[KKCFamilyman]

canon 70-200mm great len you will love it

Which version?

 

[bdunbar79]

canon 70-200mm great len you will love it

Which version?

EITHER the 70-200 f/2.8L II IS (best) or the 70-200 f/4L IS (excellent)

I don't know your bugdet, but just from an objective standpoint, both of those lenses are truly excellent. The 2.8 is much more expensive than the 4.

 

[KKCFamilyman]

Thanks but the only zoom lenses available to me are the 70-300 l or 70-200 2.8 is ii. The latter just seems to heavy for vacation and the first seems to slow. Any suggestions?

 

[dickgrafixstop]

Take what you have and use it. IF you need to go long, buy the cheap 70-300 without IS (about $100) for the trip. It has the range for
the wild animal park from the tram and you'll be surprised how decent it is on a price/performance basis. Make sure you have plenty of
SD cards - take nearly double what you expect you'll need because all of these stops are "photo rich". Any decent sling bag should work,
and since they all look like camera bags, the insurance recommendation is spot on. Southern California is usually bright, so don't forget
a polarizer and some neutral density filters (extra batteries and a charger). Take the money you save and go all out on a family vacation -
a good dinner without the kids will do wonders for your wife's ability to tolerate your "camera time."

 

[myone]

I was just at SD Zoo 2 days ago and here is what I observed.

1) It's hot and sunny. The animals will be sleeping or hiding under shades and not easily seen. Thus, they are not easy to be shot no matter what lens you have.
2) About 1/2 of the animals on display are behind thick glasses. With the amount of reflections and glare, it is impossible to get good shots. I even tried circular polarizer filter, doesn't help
3) For everything else behind wires and cages, you will need 70-200.

I was shooting 5D3 and the longest lens I have is 24-70, which doesn't do any good. My wife was shooting a T2i with 24-105. She was able to get some good shots, but for some, it is still not quite long enough.

After a while shooting animals, you will get bored because they do not move much. The best bet is to put the focus on your kids, and only shoot animals that are interesting to see. After all, your kids will give you expressions. The animals will be just laying on the floors or branches, sleeping.

 

[robbymack]

After reading this I can honestly say I would never go on vacation with the OP. I understand and sympathize with his wife. My simple rule of thumb, if the camera takes up more space than a extra pair of shoes it's too much. The reasoning here is no one should go on a vacation that requires more than one extra pair of shoes, otherwise it's not really a vacation. All that is needed for a family vacation is one camera and one lens. It definitely does not require multiple posts/threads on an internet forum. It shouldn't be this hard. My $0.02: there is so much to do and see in Southern California you shouldn't waste it setting f stops and shutter speeds.

 

[serendipidy]

+1
My wife has a method to curb excessive photography on my part while on vacation; when I start over shooting..she starts shopping

 

[Random Orbits]

+1
My wife has a method to curb excessive photography on my part while on vacation; when I start over shooting..she starts shopping

Those shots better be the best of our life for that price!

 

[Loswr]

All that is needed for a family vacation is one camera and one lens.

Ok. I choose a 1D X and 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS.

 

[tron]

All that is needed for a family vacation is one camera and one lens.

Ok. I choose a 1D X and 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS.

I see you chose a cheap and light combination ;D

 

[KKCFamilyman]

After reading this I can honestly say I would never go on vacation with the OP. I understand and sympathize with his wife. My simple rule of thumb, if the camera takes up more space than a extra pair of shoes it's too much. The reasoning here is no one should go on a vacation that requires more than one extra pair of shoes, otherwise it's not really a vacation. All that is needed for a family vacation is one camera and one lens. It definitely does not require multiple posts/threads on an internet forum. It shouldn't be this hard. My $0.02: there is so much to do and see in Southern California you shouldn't waste it setting f stops and shutter speeds.

That's why I posted on this thread. I have never been to CA and have never traveled with ff yet. Otherwise I would have went with my old 60d and 15-85 and have been good but I have this gear and want to have the great shots it takes of memories that are worth it rather than kids hanging around the couch or the cats. That's also why we bought a little Sony nex to be lightweight some days. So I should comeback with crappy shots with a power shot ? Am I supposed to put those on my walls?

 

[Loswr]

So I should comeback with crappy shots with a power shot ?

Heck, don't bring a camera with you at all. I'm sure they still sell those little disposable 35mm film cameras at se
Sea World and the zoo. :

 

[dlleno]

After reading this I can honestly say I would never go on vacation with the OP. I understand and sympathize with his wife. My simple rule of thumb, if the camera takes up more space than a extra pair of shoes it's too much. The reasoning here is no one should go on a vacation that requires more than one extra pair of shoes, otherwise it's not really a vacation. All that is needed for a family vacation is one camera and one lens. It definitely does not require multiple posts/threads on an internet forum. It shouldn't be this hard. My $0.02: there is so much to do and see in Southern California you shouldn't waste it setting f stops and shutter speeds.

That's why I posted on this thread. I have never been to CA and have never traveled with ff yet. Otherwise I would have went with my old 60d and 15-85 and have been good but I have this gear and want to have the great shots it takes of memories that are worth it rather than kids hanging around the couch or the cats. That's also why we bought a little Sony nex to be lightweight some days. So I should comeback with crappy shots with a power shot ? Am I supposed to put those on my walls?

I hope that we keep to answering your questions and refrain from pontificating or trying to manage your vacation for you. You have goals -- and there are a great many of us interested in helping you fulfil them. I can fit more than a pair of extra shoes in my camera bag, for example -- my wife and I are still together, and we love the photos I get. my feedback is that I applaud you for planing ahead and there's no reason why you can't expose some of your thinking here to benefit from the experience of others.

I travel with a 17-55, a 28-135, and a 70-200. Every vacation day has its goals, both personally and photographically and I bring that portion of my equipment that suits the needs of the day while balancing the security risk of leaving a lens in the hotel safe, for example, if I don't want to carry it with me that day.