Taking Nikon D3100 to WDW... lenses accessories?

[Molly1345]

I just got a Nikon D3100 with an 18-55mm lens and 55-200mm lens (completely new to it and a DSLR camera!) and am planning on bringing it along on my next trip to WDW in September. Which lens would you suggest I bring with me? I am thinking the 18-55mm, also considering buying a 35mm lens, but not looking to spend too much money. Also, would you suggest bringing a carrying case for the camera to take around the parks, or just on the neck strap? And should I bring a small tripod to take fireworks pictures? Thanks for the help!

 

[ciscobee]

If you are looking for lenses look no further than the 18-200 for a solid walk around lens. That way you can leave the other lenses at home.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/644744-USA/Nikon_2192_AF_S_DX_NIKKOR_18_200mm.html

Given the camera you have I would suggest a few pieces of kit that could really help out at WDW. First, get a new strap. If you want to go strictly with a single lens get a black rapid strap or a Upstrap if you are more of a shoulder carry person. The Nikon strap is crazy uncomfortable by comparison

http://www.upstrap-pro.com

http://www.blackrapid.com

Also, I would go with a cheap tripod solution like the Joby Gorillapod. It's very useful, helpful even for a full auto night shot with a long shutter. Also great for timer based selfies or Garbage can tripod family portraits. At only 1lb it won't break your shoulder.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...3_BHEN_Gorillapod_SLR_Zoom_Flexible_Mini.html

Also, skip the big bulky backpack or case in favor of one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Under-Armour-...45717?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1404876523&sr=1-5

Then just put two gallon ziplock bags in your new bag and have fun. If you run into weather stuff your gear in the ziplock bags, and then wait 10 min and the rain will stop

Above all, take as many pics as you can before you go, read lots, force yourself to take the camera out of full auto and experiment with aperture priority or shutter priority. The best pics come from skillz not gear. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!

 

[NowInc]

Personally, I'd avoid the gorillapod. ESPECIALLY if you end up getting the 18-200. Too front heavy for such a small thing (I own one and now hardly ever use it due to its flimsy nature).

If you are looking for a travel tripod that is sturdy, I'd go with one of the MeFoto models. I, and many others here, swear by them. Light, easy to set up, durable...and affordable. The one I use is the roadtrip, and I have never felt that I was limited in any major way (it isn't the most sturdy when its "all the way up", but if you are careful you can make do).

Regarding lenses (having been a D3100 shooter myself in the past and now having handed it down to my gf): If you are just getting started out in DSLR photography, the 35mm is a fantastic investment. It performs decent in low light, it is cheap, and it forces you to physically move around and learn composition.

If you are looking for getting some awesome "wide angle" shots, the 18mm may not be wide enough for you...if thats the case then I can suggest either the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 or the Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6. Both are sharp, waaaaaay cheaper than nikon branded glass in the same ranges, and will work with your camera. They will let you get very wide without having to dip into fisheye territory, and are very well built and have given me plenty of mileage.

Bags: If you are planning on actually investing a lot of money into this hobby (which is easy to do even tho you said you weren't planing on it), I wouldn't cheap out on what you are using to protect it. Personally I like the LowePro brand bags, an AW (all weather) model can save your butt in the case of sudden florida showers. Having owned 3, I can suggest with the most confidence that the slingshot 202 aw is great for the parks. You can strap your tripod to it, and fit all the gear you'd want for the day in a comfortable fitting form factor, that makes it easy to access the inside without even having to remove it.

 

[ddbowdoin]

if anyone is looking for a Tokina 11-16 for sale... I have one!

 

[Gig 'Em Mickey]

This thread is relevant to my interests. I will be getting a d3200 soon. Haven't decided to get just the one kit lens or both, but I am planning on buying a 35mm 1.8 to go with it as well. Will likely rent a lens or 2 to take on my next trip to experiment with also.

How much are you looking for the lens, ddbowdoin?

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

I am renting the 18-200 for my trip in November and possibly the Tokina 11-16 as well. I like tha ability to try before I buy. I only have my kit lens (18-55) and a 35mm. I'll leave the kit lens at home if I rent the 18-200 but I'll still bring my 35mm for my food and interior ride photos.

 

[Gig 'Em Mickey]

Have you used the 35 for dark ride photos before? I didn't think the kit would have the aperture for those so was going to try the 35, even though the frame will be a little tighter. But wide angle with large aperture is pricey.

 

[NowInc]

The 35mm was my ONLY choice on dark rides when I used my d3100. Now the new sigma 18-35 f1.8 would handle it the same way, but that didn't exist back then. LoL. For dark rides, with the "meh" low light performance of the D3X00 line, you just can't do with anything less than an f2.8.

 

[Jahona]

Clear or UV filters to protect the front of the lens. Glass is an investment and a scratched optic is expensive and leads to more time retouching.

You can find your filter size on the front of the lens.

Edit: Last time I was at Disney I used an 18-105 lens with VR. Having a lens with VR makes a huge difference when shooting indoors.

 

[NowInc]

Clear or UV filters to protect the front of the lens. Glass is an investment and a scratched optic is expensive and leads to more time retouching.

You can find your filter size on the front of the lens.

Edit: Last time I was at Disney I used an 18-105 lens with VR. Having a lens with VR makes a huge difference when shooting indoors.

Just make sure VR is OFF if you are using a tripod. It does the reverse of what you want it to.

Ideally, however, you should be shooting in either Shutter Priority or Manual mode for dark rides. A shutter speed of around 1/100 is usually JUST slow enough to avoid MOST blurry situations. If you shoot in auto, you're going to have a bad time...as the shutter will default to something like 1+ seconds.

 

[ciscobee]

Personally, I'd avoid the gorillapod. ESPECIALLY if you end up getting the 18-200. Too front heavy for such a small thing (I own one and now hardly ever use it due to its flimsy nature).

Odd, seemed fine with a 5D3 and a 24-105.

 

[Molly1345]

Thanks everyone for the advice, I'm going to either buy or rent a 18-200mm and 35mm before my trip. Also looking to get a nicer strap and a Lowepro Transit Sling 150 AW. Still looking around at tripods, my brother has a couple I'm going to try, but I would like a compact one that's easy to travel with and carry around the parks.

 

[ddbowdoin]

Thanks everyone for the advice, I'm going to either buy or rent a 18-200mm and 35mm before my trip. Also looking to get a nicer strap and a Lowepro Transit Sling 150 AW. Still looking around at tripods, my brother has a couple I'm going to try, but I would like a compact one that's easy to travel with and carry around the parks.

one suggestion... pay once, cry once when it comes to tripods. Seems a lot of people start cheap, move to aluminum, end up in carbon fibre. Just skip all the first steps and go carbon. Light, strong, and if a solid brand is purchased with last you a long, long time.

Skip Gitzo... all name, big $$$, lackluster quality control.

Really Right Stuff... big $$$ (will cost more than your camera) and will last a life time. Every piece... from the CF legs to the smallest bolt is 100% US made.

 

[NowInc]

one suggestion... pay once, cry once when it comes to tripods. Seems a lot of people start cheap, move to aluminum, end up in carbon fibre. Just skip all the first steps and go carbon. Light, strong, and if a solid brand is purchased with last you a long, long time.

Skip Gitzo... all name, big $$$, lackluster quality control.

Really Right Stuff... big $$$ (will cost more than your camera) and will last a life time. Every piece... from the CF legs to the smallest bolt is 100% US made.

This X1000!!

I was one of those people who ignored what I was told and ended up going cheap on my first tripod and regretted it.

The saying goes like this:

You will buy your first cheap tripod, and then it will sit in your closet,.
You will buy your second slightly less cheap tripod, and then THAT will sit in your closet...

Then you will buy a good expensive tripod, and that will go with you everywhere.

 

[ddbowdoin]

This X1000!!

I was one of those people who ignored what I was told and ended up going cheap on my first tripod and regretted it.

The saying goes like this:

You will buy your first cheap tripod, and then it will sit in your closet,.
You will buy your second slightly less cheap tripod, and then THAT will sit in your closet...

Then you will buy a good expensive tripod, and that will go with you everywhere.

I maybe went a little extreme... I have the Really Right Stuff TVC 33 with two heads. I have an FLM 48F for medium format and down and a Gitzo 1570M for my 8x10. I am ashamed to say that this set up was roughly 1500 bucks.

 

[NowInc]

I maybe went a little extreme... I have the Really Right Stuff TVC 33 with two heads. I have an FLM 48F for medium format and down and a Gitzo 1570M for my 8x10. I am ashamed to say that this set up was roughly 1500 bucks.

I wouldn't say the average person has to go THAT far..lol. Around 200-400 bucks will get you a reliable rig that will last. Its a good investment, one that you...in theory...only have to make once. A good tripod will last pretty much forever. It really is near impossible to convince someone on this fact, but its true...its the main thing you don't want to "cheap out" on...regardless of what you think. Go cheap...and you WILL regret it.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I wouldn't say the average person has to go THAT far..lol. Around 200-400 bucks will get you a reliable rig that will last. Its a good investment, one that you...in theory...only have to make once. A good tripod will last pretty much forever. It really is near impossible to convince someone on this fact, but its true...its the main thing you don't want to "cheap out" on...regardless of what you think. Go cheap...and you WILL regret it.

I like supporting US companies, so a hundred bucks or so gets money out of a foreign made rig and into a US company.

It's all about weight, the TVC33 weighs just over 4lbs and holds 50+ pounds. If you were planning on hiking with this thing strapped to a bag the last thing you want is a heavy a$$ aluminum thing. Of course if you're using some small camera you don't need as much support.

No way 200 bucks gets you into a reliable carbon leg set up, no way... tack on some cash for a head as well.