Family Disney trip, 2020 edition

Highgrovemanor wrote:

After searching multiple forums and reading so many 2011-2013 threads chatting up the 20/1.7 as the ultimate, thought I would start up a more current thread to discuss.

Priorities: enjoy trip with twin 5 year old boys. Maybe 1 or 2 more Disney trips in their future, so more trips to round out photo ops in mask-free future to follow.

My current gear is pretty good, as lets say up until 6 years ago I could easily roll a new lens purchase into the travel budget. Not any more, as last year's G9 splurge must be it for awhile.

Show stopper: I was thinking selfie stick with phones for uber-light, but Disney says no-selfies.

Current thoughts: Do the photo-package (all you can eat), so my shots are bonus-round but not needed. Old threads were quite valuable, and have me thinking 9-18mm Oly during the day and 50/1.7 for dark. I do have the 20mm, but its slow focus speed is a non-starter IMO. I would like to shoot some video, along with some pictures. Other lenses include 7.5 FE, 12-35/35-100 2.8s, 45/1.8. Think single body, 2 lenses max.

Question 1: take the weight penalty of G9, right? Other options are G7, or GX1? G7 youtube videos seem its okay for 4k, but its focus drove me to G9. I like the GX-1 form factor (have EVF), but its quite dated and worst video of the bunch.

Question 2: Anyone gotten Gorilla tripods in w/o grief?

Question 3: Am I thinking of this right?

Many thanks

Steve

Hey Steve,

We are season pass holders at Disneyland here in OC and have made several cross-country flights to Disney World with our kids.

Everyone has different "acceptability" for weight and convenience. When our kids were stroller size, I brought along too much stuff and didn't use most of it. Now I bring what I can carry at the ready. When carrying a camera on my body for the day, I tend to go pretty light - one body, one lens. The thing is, if you're climbing in and out of rides, navigating food areas, bathrooms, chasing kids in general, having a larger camera banging into your ribs and rides all day isn't fun.

What I ultimately settled on was my smallest ILC body and a 14-17mm prime (28-35mm FOV). For everything else the iPhone. Video is just plain easier with an iPhone.

I will say I was reluctant to buy the photo packages but they are such a convenience I 100% recommend, especially if you ever want to be in the photos with your family. Trying to get the kids to stay still and smile 100 times a day with sugar coursing through their veins is enough of a challenge. Let the Disney photogs do their thing so you can enjoy being in the moment.

Enough words!

Could only get one kid in the picture - sometimes you just can't win That's the EM5 + 20/1.7 around my neck. As you mentioned the 20mm is just too slow and I find the FOV too narrow for Disney.

So much of the day is spent waiting...waiting for rides, waiting for food, waiting for someone in the bathroom. It's a good opportunity to make some fun photos.

Some of the lighting is wretched - either too dark or strong colors. Make the most of it.

For rides, the wider FOV is really helpful. Ideally a 28-35mm is flexible enough to get some fun perspectives and selfies.

Other advice for photographing kids - I tend to get down on their level when I'm shooting. Lots of "lunges" lol to get eye-level but makes the environment/perspective from their view more interesting.

Final advice - don't let photography get in the way of time with your family. Those moments are fleeting. Be quick and efficient but not distracting. If Mrs MEDISN rolls her eyes when I reach for camera, I put it back and enjoy the moment