Two cameras or one camera with multiple lenses for Alaska: Hello, I am planning a trip of a lifetime to Alaska in June. It will mostly be for birdwatching, but I have a feeling if I...

annconstantino

Hello,

I am planning a trip of a lifetime to Alaska in June. It will mostly be for birdwatching, but I have a feeling if I never saw a single bird the whole trip there would be plenty to photograph in landscapes. Part of the time I'll be on my own with a rental car, part of the time I'll be with a birding group with its own transportation.

I'm trying to decide whether to bring 2 DSLRs, my D500 with my Tamron 150-600 and my Sony a77with an 18-135. I prefer to shoot RAW/NEF so have already decided my phone camera or a bridge camera would not suffice for what I imagine will be amazing landscapes with a lot of high contrast. If I took only one camera I have a Nikon 18-55 and a Nikon 70-300 from an older DSLR purchase. I hope this makes sense. I'm confusing myself just typing it out....

Anyway, I'm trying to decided whether to take two cameras and not have to change lenses, or just bring the D500 with 2 or 3 lenses.

What do you think? Thanks very much in advance.

Ann

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

annconstantino wrote:

Hello, br br I am planning a trip of a lifetime t... (show quote)

Ann, welcome to the Hog!!
I would just take one camera and the lenses to cover most things you’ll encounter.
Personally, this never change lenses thing is WAY overrated.
Plan for the main objective first, everything else should be secondary.
Take the essentials and have fun!!! Good luck
SS

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

annconstantino wrote:

Hello, br br I am planning a trip of a lifetime t... (show quote)

Hello again!

OK, my opinion on this would be to take the D500 with the 3 lenses you have to go with the Nikon. I know absolutely NOTHING about the Sony you have. However, I have been to Alaska twice. The first time I only had a point and shoot cameraand it just did not play well with the subjects I was shooting. The second time, I had my D7200, D5200 (since sold to help pay for the D500), my original Tamron 150-600 (I’ve since upgraded to the G2), Nikkor 55-300 (kit lens), Nikkor 18-105, and Tamron 10-24. That worked out well for me. On the last trip there in July, 2016, we took 3 bear viewing flights and that Tamron 150-600 got me shots I would not have gotten otherwise.

Hope that helped somewhat. Feel free to PM me with any specific questions.

Edit: Just want to say I agree with SharpShooter’s comment on never changing lenses. To clarify, I took 2 bodies because I wanted a back-up body just in case one crapped out or bounced down a mountain, or took a swim in a lake!

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

I definitely would take two cameras in case some thing happened to one I would have a backup and also there is advantage to having two cameras with different setups if you can have them both with you, even if one is a point and shoot or a bridge.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

annconstantino wrote:

Hello, br br I am planning a trip of a lifetime t... (show quote)

I would definitely bring the D500 and the 150-600, as a lot of the birds you'll see will be waterfowl and can be along ways off with no ability for you to walk closer. Swans tend to stay away, although south of Anchorage along the Seward Hwy at Potter's Marsh sometimes they will be in close. As for small songbirds, you'll have to rely on your birders club to show you where to go. They are elusive critters and rarely sit still for photographers. Your 70-300 would be a good choice for that. Lugging 2 cameras and lenses will be a heavy task, especially if you have to do any hiking.

If you're looking for shots of bald eagles, the Homer Spit is a great place--lots of eagles there. Valdez is another, and for a different eagle experience, the Chilkat River north of Haines along the highway has lots of eagles fishing. Fairbanks has a couple locations that are good for sandhill cranes, specifically Creamer's Field, which is set aside as a sanctuary and has a nice walking trail around it.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

annconstantino wrote:

Hello, br br I am planning a trip of a lifetime t... (show quote)

Since you are renting a car, i would take both cameras. When my wife and i went to alaska last year, i took both by d500 and d750, and both were useful. birds will not be the only animals you will encounter, bear and moose are abundant. i would use the full frame d750 for landscape and the cropped sensor d500 for wildlife. enjoy the trip and if you have the time, the bus trip through denali is well worth the trip.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

SharpShooter wrote:

Ann, welcome to the Hog!!
I would just take one camera and the lenses to cover most things you’ll encounter.
Personally, this never change lenses thing is WAY overrated.
Plan for the main objective first, everything else should be secondary.
Take the essentials and have fun!!! Good luck
SS

Roger that. Plan your outing and mount up the lens or lenses that will cover your specific needs for that event. Don't take along the big 150-600 if you think you won't need it, but don't leave behind a shorter, faster lens, either. Things can change fast, so practice changing lenses out quickly.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

annconstantino wrote:

Hello, br br I am planning a trip of a lifetime t... (show quote)

Ann, Welcome to UHH. I believe in back up. With that said, i would bring two cameras. Your D500 with your Tamron 150-600 and your Sony a77with an 18-135. You should be covered for what you want to shoot. Have fun!

annconstantino

Thanks, all. I think I will try practicing quick swapping out. I guess what I'm worried about is putting on the short lens for a landscape shot and then some awesome bird appears and I would miss the bird shot while changing lenses. I know the beast is going with me.

Orrie, so glad to hear about abundant bear and moose. We are staying in Denali for 3 days. I'm so excited!

Greg, thanks for the tips on where to find eagles. I won't be going through Fairbanks, but hope to see cranes other places.

Mike, I appreciate the encouragement to take the Tamron.

Thanks, Sharpshooter, fun is at the top of the agenda!

Ann

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

I’m in the two-camera camp. Easier to cover the widest mm spectrum without having to constantly change lens. Some times even have my shirtpocket job (Nikon P7800), especially if panos are expected. You are almost guaranteed that you will be confronted with situations needing a wide shot and will have a long lens on the camera, and vice-versa.

annconstantino

Stan and Dean, I think I am starting to lean that direction, but will practice the quick change just to be sure. Thank you.
Ann

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

Take two, definitely. I had noticed that whenever I was out somewhere with only one camera along with the 150-600, I was reluctant to bother changing lenses for a scenery shot knowing I'd just have to change it back again for a bird or animal shot. I'm sure I missed many good scenery shots because it was just too much hassle to change lenses.

Now I ALWAYS take two cameras with me.

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

SharpShooter wrote:

Ann, welcome to the Hog!!
I would just take one camera and the lenses to cover most things you’ll encounter.
Personally, this never change lenses thing is WAY overrated.
Plan for the main objective first, everything else should be secondary.
Take the essentials and have fun!!! Good luck
SS

I second that.
Enjoy your trip.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

annconstantino wrote:

Hello, br br I am planning a trip of a lifetime t... (show quote)

The more you take, the less you will enjoy. Trust me. I took that trip and the only thing I took was the Sony HX400V. 24 to 1200 mm Ziess T* lens. Or an equivalent. Travel right, travel lite.

Bob Smith Loc: Banjarmasin

You will love it I took an 18-135 and a 10-24 bit hardly used the 10-24. Had a little Sony pocket camera with a 30x zoom just in case but apart from the odd whale miles away didn't need that either.