Ok, this Sunday I'm going to Disney World with my wife & kids...we'll be there for the week, and plan to see as much as we can within reason. I'm debating bringing any of my gear, or just using my wife's D40 kit. I know the D40 will do a great job, but the nagging voice in the back of my head tells me I'm going to want my lenses (10.5, 70-200, 18-200, 12-24). Should I just breakdown and bring my bag of D200's & all the other goodies?

I would bring the d40+18-200vr and the 12-24

I'd just run with the D40 and 18-200.

Although, my family isn't really overly tolerant of me taking photos (or taking time to take photos) when they are trying to play. SO, are you going to play or take picts? That's what will determine your lenses. 18-200 with a D40 would cover just about everything.

Steve

Like 90 5.0 said the D40 and 18-200 and 12-24 will do the trick. I would bring the 10.5 too. You'll have a blast with it there and it's so small why not? it works fine on a D40...

The 10.5 won't AF on the D40 however. It's up to you whether you are comfortable with manual focus.

nah the 10.5 does not need to be focussed

I am thinking about picking up a d40/x/60 size camera for travel

But i am not sure.

I bought my D80 because it was pretty close in performance to the d200 but a little smaller, I am contemplating buying a D3 and a D40(for my wife of course) .

There are times when i know I would much rather have the pro body camera , but at the same time i don't want to drag it all over the world with me...

One of the features I would really like that i am missing by not stepping up to a d200 at least is the metering with my ais/e series lenses and I Couldn't use my af-d's with the 40 but if i got one for travel i am sure it would have the 55-200vr stuck on it all the time...


Back on topic, I would bring the 12-24 or the 10.5 for sure you will want something wider than 18 for The epcot center

What parks are you going to?

I have a D3 and a D70. Like others said there are times your photographing, and time your taking snapshots. I'd recommend small and light at Disney. Disney can wear a family down while having so much fun, carrying all that extra gear will get old, you'll also be more nervous if you decide to leave it in the room! Small and light, take lot's of family snapshots, and let the kids take a few of Mom and Dad too!

loggerhead wrote:
... Small and light, take lot's of family snapshots, and let the kids take a few of Mom and Dad too!

+1

I vote for family first, too! Just enjoy the meaningful time together.

I took two different kits to Disney last winter... the first a lightweight cheapie (D40/18-55/55-200) and the second slightly better (D2H/17-55/70-300VR/10.5 fish) and flashes (SB400/SB600/SB800). In the end I used both kits a fair bit - the light kit for general park touring, and the better kit for specific visits in Disney (Animal Kingdom, the shows at MGM, etc). I'm glad I did. While the D40 kit really does take phenominal pics for the price, it was nice having a little more speed for the Lights, Motors, Action show, and some reach for the animals at Animal Kingdom...

Here's a few samples anyway...

D2H / 17-55 / 70-300VR...

I have been to Universal Studios with the 18-200VR on the D70 and I didn't need anything else... I chose that config because I was there to enjoy the shows, not only to take pictures, but the results were there. I would do the same at Disney's, maybe adding a fast prime for low light stuff (a 50 1.4 or 35 1.4 fits in my pocket)
I didn't have the D40x at that time. Today I would definitely take a D40/D40x/D60 with the 18-200VR...

By the way you never said how old your kids are, which can make a difference in how much gear you carry.

You can do like my dad did when I was a probably 8 and older and use your kid like a pack mule and load him down with vest,bag and pods hahaha

I still have his old camera vest hahaha.

I, like most people, vote for D40+18-200VR. But I would definitely bring the fish. It will produce some fun photos.

Am I missing something here? I though the choice is pretty obvious.

Don't forget he watch!

Try to bring D3 with 400mm f/2.8 AFS VR. Not need monopod

dreams wrote:
Try to bring D3 with 400mm f/2.8 AFS VR. Not need monopod


That sounds real versatile,

The longer time you have and the more parks you visit, the more you might find it possible to use any conceivable "kit." If you want to have fun, less gear is better. There is a lot of walking and standing, hot, humid, etc. If there for longer times, you can work out leaving some of the kit in a locker, car or room and retrieving it, etc.

A light tripod can be great for night shots, fireworks, etc. There is a lot of visual detail but a 70-200 is a beast to carry. 12-24 and 18-200 will cover pretty much anything.

If the family priority is family trip, not photo op., go light.

Thanks everyone for the comments & suggestions. I'll add the rest of the details here, but I think I've got my answer. My son is 2.5 & my stepdaughter is 12. We're going to enjoy ourselves primarily, but want to get some photos of the kids having fun (as well as ourselves). I originally wanted to leave any picture taking to my wife since I'm taking a week off from work, but know the bug will hit me while there (and the great photos you guys posted here are testament to that). I think it'll end up being the D40 kit, plus my 10.5 & 18-200.

Please feel free to continue posting your disney photos though if you like, it's getting me excited about the trip!

eyelikeart wrote:
Thanks everyone for the comments & suggestions. I'll add the rest of the details here, but I think I've got my answer. My son is 2.5 & my stepdaughter is 12. We're going to enjoy ourselves primarily, but want to get some photos of the kids having fun (as well as ourselves). I originally wanted to leave any picture taking to my wife since I'm taking a week off from work, but know the bug will hit me while there (and the great photos you guys posted here are testament to that). I think it'll end up being the D40 kit, plus my 10.5 & 18-200.

Please feel free to continue posting your disney photos though if you like, it's getting me excited about the trip!



I live in Florida, about 3.5 hours away from Disney, and I travel there several times a year. I have done both; a bag with my D200 and fast lenses, and lightweight set up. I found that I had much more fun with the lightweight set up.

The challenges you will encounter in a theme park like the Magic Kingdom are:

1. It is always packed all the time, more so during the summer. This means that getting from one area to the next will require long wait times in line under the hot sun. Heavy camera bags get even heavier under the hot sun after a couple of hours.

2. The weather changes rapidly and showers can pop up in a flash. I have Lowepro bags that are water resistant, but it is very inconvenient.

3. You will be traveling with a child, and as you already know, children require all sorts of special stuff that require a back pack. I have a 2 year old and a 6 year old. I find that renting the double stroller is great because one kid walks, the other is in the stroller, and when Daddy gets tired of the camera bag or goodies backpack it sits in the space next to my 2 year old on the stroller.

4. Getting into and out of the rides is brutal on camera gear as it bumps against hard surfaces constantly. One time I dropped my D1X on the tram going from the parking lot to the park; it was a gut-wrenching feeling.

5. The more stuff you carry, the more chances you have of loosing things. In the rush of things I once left a camera bag in one of the attractions. I remembered halfway through the park and ran back to get it. Luckily I was persistant and convinced the "crew" to let me back in. We searched and (thank goodness) we found my bag under a seat!

In sum, I would keep it as simple as possible. When I go to the parks now all I take with me is either a D1X with a 28-105 AF-D lens, or a D200 with a 35mm AF lens, or a film body with two small prime lenses. In any case I only pack one camera with me to the park. If I have a back up it stays at the hotel in a safe. Enjoy, and don't forget to post pics for us here!

Hey I live here in Orlando, and I have annual pass, I go almost every weekend.
there is always something going on, if you do not come often, i would make sure to bring what you have otherwise you are going to hate yourself.
There are concerts going on all the time at Epcot, I love using my 80-200, or 85 f1.4.
there are many flower, so I nice macro would help. see you there.