I’ll be going on a Viking River Cruise in September. We’ll be visiting Geneva, Zurich, Zermatt, Basel, Strasbourg, Speyer, Mainz, Koblenz, Cochem, Bernkastel, Treir, and Paris. I plan on taking a Nikon D750, and the following lenses: Nikon 20mm F/1.8G, Tamron 24-70 F/2.8 G2, and a Tamron 70-200 F/2.8. I have a Nikon 200-500 F/5.6 but I won’t be taking it along.

Outside of the ‘normal’ things to shoot does anyone have any suggestions of ‘must see’ places and things to photograph?

I realize there are quite a few cities listed above. I’m hoping someone may have previously made the same trip or had visited some of the same places. I went on a Viking River Cruise in April 2017 to the Netherlands. It was absolutely wonderful.

Thanks.

I’ve used both the Nikon 14-24 and Tamron 15-30 on my D850. My experience with the Nikon 14-24 was it’s a little soft around the edges. It’s built like s tank and feels good in the hand. Focus and zoom rings are silky smooth. The Tamron 15-30 build quality is also very good. But admittedly to me the Nikon “feels” better. The Tamron gives up 1mm on the low end, but picks up 6mm on the upper end which is handy. It also has vibration reduction. To my eye the Tamron is a little sharper on the edges over the Nikon. I prefer to purchase Nikon lenses when it makes sense and in this case it didn’t. I sold my Nikon and kept the Tamron. It’s nice that it was about $700 less than the Nikon, but for me over the life of the lens, price wasn’t a big factor. Although, with the $ I saved I purchased some other gear.

I'm an amateur hobbyist that shoots some macro, mostly landscapes and wildlife, working on BIF skills in preparation for 5+ weeks in Alaska. Nikon D 500 and D 750 bodies with a variety of lenses. Normally RAW and Lightroom post processing. Tripod or monopod when i can.

I'm experimenting with Auto ISO for wildlife to maintain desired shutter speed image quality, in varying light conditions. My goal is tact sharp image.

Any advice to speed my learning curve or redirect my thinking is appreciated.

A cheap lens it isn't, but it is an extraordinary one. It is truly my most used lens and I use it for pretty much everything I shoot, or at least it is along in my bag. It is lightning fast in focusing, at least when coupled with a D5, D500 or D850 (all have the latest, dedicated processor AF system). Believe it, or not, they have shaved some weight off with the FL. It doesn't have the focus breathing issue of its predecessor and, finally, they have not only replaced the focus lock buttons of the VR I, but have made them dual functioning. The newest version is sharp as a tack. I'd place it my top 5 Nikor lenses. It's not cheap, but I'd have gladly paid more to get what I needed -- this particular lens is that important to my work. Sorry to sound like a Nikon salesman, but this is one superior lens that is useful for quite a lot of work. (I would not say any of that about the previous version.) I know, I rant!

I was just next to a guy trying out the Sony a9, 20 frames a second and you can put it in silent mode and not hear a thing. He was using the Sony 100-400 and he was getting some amazing shots of birds in flight, he was experimenting with different focusing modes, he was moving from a full frame Canon with a new the newer 200-400 and the 600 f4 Canon lenses. He felt the results were favorable.
I was shooting beside him with my Nikon D500 with the 200-500 Nikon lens and I felt their was no difference in the shots. But I am no expert, but, his outfit weighted less than mine by quite a bit. And, Sony is releasing a new 400 mm 2.8 for their e mount. But rumor is that it will cost an arm and a leg.
And, it seems to me that Sony introduces new camera's faster than any company out their. I feel like if I buy a body it will be 2 generations old within a year. Don't get me wrong, I believe Sony is moving very fast in the mirrorless market but my Nikon is still delivering great results and with the amount of Nikon lenses that I have in my stable I will continue to stay with Nikon for now. Sony has not wowed me enough to switch, FOR NOW.