What’s In My Camera Bag for 2026 Disney Travel

Here’s what’s inside my camera bag for travel photography at Walt Disney World, Disneyland and beyond–the Nikon mirrorless cameras and lenses I use, tripod, and other gadgets. I’ve once again made changes to the photo gear I carry in the parks and on other trips for 2026.

For those who are unaware, I’m a photographer. That actually used to be one of the main areas of emphasis for this website! Camera reviews, photography tips, and photo-heavy trip reports were among the most common posts. We didn’t even cover news, unless through the lens of my commentary in a photo of the day or completely unrelated topic (the more things change, the more they stay the same). Photography is not a topic that comes up nearly as often as it used to, but the vast majority of the photos on this site are still taken by me and I put tremendous effort into capturing and editing the images here.

There are a number of reasons for photography content taking a back burner on DTB, but most of them are positive. We’ve had a baby, so sometimes my camera bag has been swapped out for a diaper bag, and other practical concessions have been made when we travel or visit the parks. Smart phones have democratized photography to such a degree that most of you are also photographers. You have the ability to take excellent photos with the portable supercomputer and near-prosumer grade camera in your pockets, rendering real cameras (and my recommendations) largely obsolete for 99% of readers.

Nevertheless, I do still put a lot of time, effort and pride into my photography. I absolutely live for the act of taking photos at Walt Disney World and beyond. Few hobbies bring me more joy than the ritual of photography itself. I love getting up before sunrise, running around at sunset chasing that fleeting light, or staying until the bitter end of the night in Magic Kingdom as the park clears out.

I find peace in the photography process, and more connected to the world (or Walt Disney World) around me. I feel most alive at these times, even when I’m dead tired. If you’ve ever wondered why this website does so many Early Entry and rope drop runs, photography is the real reason. My not-so-ulterior motive for getting up at the crack of dawn. Field testing strategy is just the byproduct of my quest for photos.

Honestly though, my camera bag has become a bit boring and slimmed down over the years. As I grow older and (maybe?) wiser, I find myself prioritizing function over uniqueness. But since the question is still asked from time to time, here’s a look at what’s inside my camera bag for 2026…

Nikon Z8 – Without a doubt, the Nikon Z8 is the nicest camera I’ve ever used. This is most notable with the autofocus, which is a big leap forward from the Nikon Z7II (which I’ve retained as a backup), which is why I made the upgrade in the first place.

The autofocus is so good it almost feels like cheating. Autofocus alone has been a game-changer for me, especially with challenging subjects like parades, dark rides…and our toddler!

The Nikon Z8 is also great in other important regards, including dynamic range, high ISO performance, color depth, and more. It also has in-body stabilization, an electronic shutter, and a range of features that are unique to the mirrorless system. Even after using it for over a year, I continue to discover new capabilities.

Unfortunately, the Z8 is also overkill for me. Before upgrading to the Z8, I debated between it or a step down to the Nikon Z6III for a while, and was leaning towards the latter. Then I found a great deal on the Z8, which helped make the decision for me.

Honestly, it was not the right one. The Z8 is physically large, and has a ton of features that I simply don’t need. It’s undeniably great, but “too much camera” for me at this point in my life. Ten years ago, this would’ve been a revelation. But now as I otherwise downsize gear, I regret the purchase. GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) got me one last time!

Point being, if you’re reading this and wondering which camera I’d actually recommend, the Nikon Z6III is probably going to be the best option for 99% of people reading this. Unless you have a specific use case, the Nikon Z8 is likely also overkill for you.

Nikon 14-30mm f/4 – While Sony has an exceptional 12-24mm and Nikon’s 14-24mm is still the gold standard, I wanted a smaller ultra-wide angle lens. After doing a ton of research and field-testing all three, this was my pick. I’ve now had this for several years and am still incredibly satisfied.

I’ve owned over a dozen different ultra wide angle lenses over the years, and the Nikon 14-30mm is the most well-rounded of the bunch. In addition to its size, this lens is sharp and the ‘long’ end of the zoom range is good enough for regular field of view photos.

That may seem minor, but the added ‘reach’ makes it more versatile and allows me to get away with not changing lenses in some scenarios (especially when paired with the megapixels of the Z8, which makes massive crops easy).

This is definitely not the best overall ultra wide angle on the market, and the f/4 aperture makes it a poor option for dark rides, night parades, or anything with moving subjects and darkness. That does not apply to static low light landscapes; it’s a great nighttime handheld option thanks to the in-body image stabilization.

If I were a more creative photographer or still willing to lug around 25 pounds of lenses, I’d pick something different. Maybe I will again someday. Every so often, I start reading reviews of the Nikon 14-24 and find myself tempted by that once again. So far, I’ve resisted…but I’m one hot deal away from that all changing.

Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 – This is the biggest relatively recent addition to my lens lineup, replacing 2 primes and the Nikon 70-200mm. The game-changer nature might be obvious to photographers just in its name. The 35-150mm zoom range coupled with a variable aperture of f/2-2.8.

As I wrote at great length in My New Favorite Lens for Disney Parks Photography, the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 is on my camera the vast majority of the time. At this point, I usually only carry this and the Nikon 14-30mm f/4. For me, these two lenses are the perfect companions, an ultra-wide for landscapes where faster apertures aren’t necessary plus a workhorse zoom that covers almost everything else.

What I love about the Tamron 35-150mm is its professional build quality, heft, and balance. One common complaint about this lens is its weight (2.6 pounds). Many say this is too heavy for travel, but it’s much lighter than the 70-200 alone, and certainly lighter than the 2-3 lenses it replaced for me. So that’s all really a matter of perspective.

Everything else about this is good-to-great. The images are sharp, and the autofocus is snappy except in the most demanding of circumstances. The bokeh is smooth and pleasing to the eye, and the flare gives images a distinctive look.

The Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 is easily my favorite do-it-all lens for Disney photography, and I now use it about 75% of the time. As an ultra-wide angle evangelist, the fact that it dethroned the 14-30mm for me should say all that needs to be said. That’s my ultimate endorsement.

It’s still far from an inexpensive lens, but given what it compares to and potentially replaces in your camera bag, this lens offers tremendous bang-for-buck. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, there are alternatives by Samyang and Rokinon that are similarly well-reviewed.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 – I don’t use this lens much because I find the Tamron 35-150mm to be a “good enough” alternative, but I do still bring this along from time to time, almost exclusively for difficult dark rides, night parades, and shows.

While it doesn’t have the “secret sauce” of the Sigma 35mm, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 is otherwise amazing, easily justifying its added cost over the old nifty fifty. It focuses quickly, sharpness is off the charts, and bokeh looks fantastic. It’s a great and cost-effective lens, especially if you find the Tamron to be too heavy. This is light as a feather by comparison!

TTArtisan 11mm F2.8 Fisheye – Fisheye used to be my signature style. I’ve owned more fisheyes than any other lens type and I used to shoot with them more than just about any other lenses. Now I look back at my older photos that gratuitously and unnecessarily use the fisheye and wonder, what was I thinking?

This cheap and small manual focus TTArtisan fisheye is more than sufficient for my exceedingly limited use of fisheye (less than 1% of all photos). I really enjoy its sunburst, but honestly, wish the lens were even more over-the-top. If you’re going to use a fisheye, might as well go all-out!

I’d recommend spending as little money as possible on a fisheye lens, or not buying one at all. I do not actively endorse this particular fisheye lens, even though it’s the one I use.

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 – The first Sigma Art lens is still the best. The bokeh is beautiful & buttery, the lens is insanely sharp, and the photos have a distinct “look” to them that pops straight out of camera. I cannot articulate what makes this lens special, but it has a certain je ne sais quoi that I’ve never found in any other prime lens.

It’s also the perfect focal length for walk-around shooting if you’re going to be using a prime, and is insanely good for dark ride photography, with snappy autofocus and that wide open f/1.4 aperture. I can’t say enough positive things about this lens.

Despite trying many similar lenses during the last 10 years, none have ever come close to the unique quality of the Sigma 35mm. At this point, I’ve given up on looking. No prime lens is ever going to top this one for me. At the same time, I’ve found myself not “needing” this level of quality nearly as often, so this is only in my camera bag about 10% of the time. Especially when taking photos of our daughter or at Disney (which describes 98% of my photography), the versatility of the Tamron 35-150 outweighs the “look” of this lens.

Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ II – For years, I resisted mount adapters, telling myself (and others) that I’d fully commit to a system and buy/sell lenses accordingly. That was before selling, buying, selling, and rebuying DSLR gear. It was also before knowing that Sigma would never (seemingly?) make its Art lineup for the Nikon Z mount. With the Tamron 35-150 in my bag, I barely touch the Sigma or this adapter anymore.

My Favorite Camera Bags for Disney & Travel – That article discusses the camera bags I use, as there are several in my rotation along with others I’ve outgrown. As a parent of a toddler, my needs are going to be different than that of other photographers. But honestly, I’ve come to appreciate the 50/50-split style even when traveling solo. It’s nice to have a section dedicated to photography equipment, and another area for other gear.

Nikon SB-700 Flash — This is a workhorse flash; I can bounce it, diffuse it, and adjust its intensity. I’m far from an expert on portraiture photography, but I like this flash and recommend it.

Luxi L III Tripod — This is the perfect Disney and travel tripod. Trust me, I’ve used this for 15 years. I’ve searched high and low for a superior replacement, but I keep coming back to the Luxi L. I’m convinced that there is no better mix of weight, height, stability, set-up/take-down quickness, and price. I reviewed the Luxi L here years ago, and still agree with that. Every tripod is a compromise in some regard, and the Luxi L is the best compromise for Disney photography. Velbon no longer makes this tripod, so tracking it down might take some ‘work’ on eBay or elsewhere.

If you want more in-depth reviews of a broader selection of equipment, the best place to start is Tom’s Ultimate Disney Parks Photography Guide, which covers a variety of topics from links to tutorials, tips, and tricks to recommendations for point & shoots, DSLRs, lenses, and more. (Many of these are pretty old and haven’t been updated in a while, but the underlying ideas and principles still apply.)

Your Thoughts

What do you think of the photography gear in my camera bag? Have you similarly downsized equipment? Or have you gone in the other direction? Do you shoot Sony, Nikon, or something else? What’s in your camera bag? If you use any of these cameras or lenses, what do you think of them? Any questions? Hearing feedback from other photographers is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!