Family Disney trip, 2020 edition

MEDISN wrote:

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!

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

I'm surprised Disneyland lets you take a camera hanging from a strap on the rides.  When I worked at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, that wasn't allowed as it could become a projectile.