gsmith051 Loc: Fairfield Glade, TN

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gsmith051 Loc: Fairfield Glade, TN

We were there three times, June, July, August/Sept. and the weather was poor but we enjoyed every trip. They sold warm clothes on the ship too. I took my Canon 6D with 24-105 f4 plus 50 mm f1.8 and EF-S 55-250 f4 for a little more reach and 13.8 oz in weight. I don’t think I missed any shot that I wanted including whales. Have a great trip and be safe.

MauriceWeiner

You might visit a salmon hatchery. If so, I expect that there will be eagles around -- maybe nice to photograph.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Consider seeing "Lady Baltimore" in Juneau at the Raptor Center. She is worthy. A close up opportunity of a bald eagle. Amazing. She is now in a newer home there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Baltimore_(bald_eagle)

(Download)

HughJasol Loc: Phoenix, Arizona

Did this same cruise 18 months ago (May 2018) (and yes, that other stop is most likely Ketchikan) . . .

At the time, all I had was a Canon 80D (1.6x crop); I almost rented a 2nd body but ended up just taking the one body. Per various forum recommendations, I left the 70-200 at home and took my 100-400mm (if I had owned my 150-600mm back then, I might have taken that instead) ... the telephoto zoom is must for this trip - especially for shooting eagles, or any wildlife from the ship; there will be many situations where you'll want as much reach as you can get! I also took my 18-135mm - between that lens and the 100-400mm, I took 85-90% of my shots. I also took my 10-22mm (16-35mm FF equivalent), which I used less often than I thought (came in handy for shots taken topside from the bow of the ship).

Since that trip, I've sold the 80D, and now have 5D4, 5DSR, 7D2 and a 90D, as well as added more lenses. If I were to take that same trip again, I'd bring the 7D2 (1.6x crop) with the either Sigma 150-600mm or the Canon 100-400mm, and then the 5D4 with the 24-105mm f/4. I would probably pack my 16-35mm f/2.8 too. I might consider bringing the 70-200 f/2.8 (but if I had the f/4 version I would bring that over the f/2.8 for sure), especially if I chose the 150-600mm over the 100-400mm (otherwise no coverage between 105mm and 240mm [FF equiv of 150mm]).

Note - for whale watching, the long telephoto might be too much (I missed an awesome breach because of too much focal length), so I'd have my 24-105mm or 70-200mm ready to go for that; although a long telephoto will come in handy for seals congregating on buoys along the way.

We got lucky and had pretty amazing weather for early May in 2018 . . .Hope your trip happens; if it does, it'll be one to remember!

Basil Loc: New Mexico

I am probably taking 3 cameras: Canon 5D4, Canon 7D2 and a Panasonic Lumix LX100 (A great little easy to carry camera for indoor shipboard activities - has a very bright lens). When we are on excursions, the exact camera and lenses I take will depend on the excursion, but for example, for the whales (based in part of what you said and others on other forums) I will probably have the 5D4 with the 24-105mm and the 7D2 with the 70-200. Since there will be two of us, we each can carry one body/ lens and each have another lens at the ready.



I have the Sigma 150-600 but fear that might be a bit much to lug around on a trip/ excursion with lots of other people? For the Eagle excursion, I am really debating between that Sigma or my much lighter Canon 300mm f4 L prime with a 1.4x extender in my pocket. My theory is, the 300 x 1.4 x 1.6 (crop factor) would yield equivalent of 672mm. But the big difference is, that 300 prime with extender would be f5.6, whereas the Sigma 150-600 starts at f5.6 but switches to f6.3 right at 388mm. I know 1/3 stop isn't a huge difference but I'm thinking the slightly brighter lens would allow somewhat faster shutter speeds to stop action and lower ISO to get equivalent exposure. I think I am going to take a trip to Bosque Del Apache before we go on this Alaska trip and try both combinations out on some of the raptors down there and see which yields more/better results. PS: If I had your 100-400 I don't think I'd even be debating this question (Hmmm, Christmas is coming up).



That sounds like a plan - For whales, 24-105 on the 5D4 and 70-200 on the 7D2.

Aside from the 24-105, 70-200 and 300 (or 150-600, not both), I will also likely pop in my Canon 10-18 EF-S lens for the 7D2 since it's very light and will fit easily in a jacket pocket. Lenses I'm probably leaving home (unless someone convinces me otherwise): Canon 50mm f1.4, Canon 135 f2, Canon 18-55 EF-S, Rokinon 14mm.



I hope we have decent weather too, but even if we don't I'm sure it's going to be a blast.

Vector

Hi,

My wife and I did an Alaskan cruise for our honeymoon, sailing out of Vancouver, CA. We stopped at Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway and arrived at Seward 8 days later. We then took a bus to Anchorage where we stayed 5 days.

While in Juneau, you should try to visit the rainforest, and the Mendenhall glacier. Yes, Alaska has a rain forest, and guess what? When I went it rained! I don't seem to be able to attach a pic to this message but can post a pic if you or others want. The tour I did had a whale watch, rainforest and glacier tour. The young man who ran it was GREAT. I think I have his business card, assuming he is still working that job. In addition to giving info about the whales, he would offer advice on camera settings. They were generic but still helpful to novices.

Re: lens choices, what you have sounds good to me on the whale watch. Though by law the boats are supposed to keep their distance, you don't know where the whales will show up. When I went, I had the sigma 18- 400.

If you are a bit of a night owl, a fast prime can be useful to catch the shenanigans of those under the influence.

Enjoy!

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Sounds like a great adventure for a Honeymoon. This trip is going to coincide with our 46th honeymoon!

As for lenses, I just realized that I could rent the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II for 14 days for just $177 from lensrental.com. That might be a better option as I hear nothing but glowing reviews about that lens. On a 7D2 the reach would be 640mm and if I put on a 1.4 extender would put it at nearly 900mm equivilent (yes, I know the 1.6 factor is really just cropping the image).

Vector

For a whale watch I think the the combination of lenses and cameras you and your wife will have sounds great.
If it were only one person shooting, the 70-200 on the FF camera may be best. Again, you never know where the whales will surface. When I went one surfaced maybe 50 feet from the boat! I brought along a 100- 400 but never used it, preferring the flexibility, convenience, and lighter weight of the Tamron 100- 400.

Enjoy and Happy Anniversary!