dblackard Loc: Rockport Texas

I am planning a trip to alaska next summer and would like some recomendations for a lens and also any shooting tips i could use. I have a nikon d7000 with the kit lens, and also a 55 - 200 mm and a 50 prime. I cannot afford a hefty price zoom right now , would a 70 by 300 suffice?

AK Dreamer Loc: Alaska & Nevada

Absolutely! Make sure it is VR as a majority of your shots will be hand held. This is my opinion but there are several other Alaskan photographers that contribute to UHH and you could consult them as well. By the way, your 55-200mm lens would suffice. I haven't had much luck getting quality photos with a TC but others on this forum have. That may be a good option for you.

mmollberg

Rent a lens to take with you, very reasonable

alaskanfrog Loc: Alaska

if you have a budget that allows you to buy a good telephoto lens, then get the best one you can afford. It's actually a good idea to have a basic selection of no less than 3 different focal lenses to choose from.

As an Alaskan, I know that there are literally 10's of thousands of photo opportunities to get great shots, and that's just at Denali National Park. There are hundreds or thousands of opportunities to photograph Alaska's wildlife and the wilderness is nothing short of spectacular. Biased opinion? Perhaps, but it's my home, it's HUGE and I have a lot to be proud of.

One thing I almost neglected to mention, are the numerous tribal cultures you can encounter in Alaska. In Southeast Alaska, there are 4 indigenous tribes, including the largest tribe, The Tlingit, then the Haida, Tsimshian, and then the smallest tribe, the Eyak. All 4 southeast tribes follow a totemic "matrilineal" custom and all 4 tribes have totem poles. In south central Alaska there are numerous other tribes, including 2 different tribal groups commonly known as "Aleuts." In South Central to Northern Central Alaska, including Fairbanks northward, there are numerous bands called Clans of the "Athabascan Tribe." The upper regions of Alaska and along the Alaskan coast line to the Alaska Peninsula are several groups commonly referred to as the "Eskimo" tribes, including the Yupik/Cupik, Inupiak and one small band of the "Inuit tribe."

So as you can plainly see, there are so many choices to choose from and you will never see it all even if you spent a full year in Alaska. Your choice of lens will depend greatly on where you plan your visit to Alaska. In "Southeast Alaska" there are so many photo opportunities it's impossible to list them all. If you're taking a cruise ship, coming up the inside passage of Southeast Alaska offers some of the most spectacular vistas you can imagine. There are eagles, black and brown bears, killer whales, hump back whales, "Minky" whales, California Gray Whales and numerous species of porpoises and dolphins. The "Minky Whale" is the smallest species of the "Baleen Whales," and closely resembles a California Whale in color and shape, but is roughly 1/3-1/2 the size of a California Gray.

In most cases, a good quality "Telephoto Zoom" lens will offer you the best chance at getting a great shot. Of course, coming to Denali is equally spectacular. From Prince William Sound, to Fairbanks offers so much wild life, including the afore mentioned black and brown bears, to wolves Dall Sheep, and Moose. In Prince Williams sound there are also killer whales, Humpback Whales and the elusive white Beluga Whale.

A 70-300 lens is a good start. However, a general purpose lens such as a 28-55 also known as a "portrait lens" is important too. Make sure you have extra memory cards and extra batteries. There is nothing worse than having a great photo op and you run out of memory space in your camera memory card, or your camera battery dies. In this case, it's actually best to over prepare than under prepare. Having a good selection of lenses to choose from will afford you the most and best possibility to capture a photo you want.

Itpurs Loc: Carson City, NV

I would also recommend a good wide angle lens ie:10-24 mm. Alaska is a great place to use such a lens. As suggested, I would rent or borrow if you can't afford to buy right now. If this is a once in a lifetime trip, it's well worth looking into renting.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

2X on what Itpurs said. That and the 55-200 and you will have enough range covered to get by.

Unless you are driving your own vehicle, you need to travel, somewhat light.
Camera, 2 lenses, flash, batteries. mem cards and a bag for all to fit in.

If you can, tell us more about your plans!!!!

It's an exciting trip to take!!!

Wife & I did one week cruise, plus one week land cruise (included tour bus from Prudoe(?) Bay to Fairbanks) and then one week in rental car(Did some very cool stuff). We had a wonderful time!!!!!

Pat

jf65625

DB: Wish I could go with you. Have spent 2 summers up there; traveled on the Harley, so had limited gear. I wouldn't do this again without a good long lens and a solid tripod, even if I had to drive.

I stayed so long the first time, that I got rather cold, so I brought the bike back on the Alaska Marine Highway ie. Alaska State Ferry down the inside Passage to Prince Rupert, BC, and BC Ferry to northern tip of Vancouver Island, BC. Fantastic photo ops the whole way!

By the way, if you're a fisherman, rent some gear up there and catch a few wild salmon. But, if a she bear wanders into you camp and asks politely for a taste, do be a good host and offer her every morsel of food you have. But, you weren't asking for that story. Have a great trip, and good luck to you.

the f/stops here Loc: New Mexico

DBlackard, you have been given excellent advise. Your lens selection can be dependent on where you are going and what you want to photograph. Your 55-200 will probably be your favorite lens. I say that because I lead photographic trips to Alaska every year and my 70-200 is my favorite. If vyou are considering the purchase or rental of a longer lens, I might recommend the Sigma 150-500 with VR if you intend on capturing wildlife. Someone else recommended the 10-22 wide angle lens and I definitely agree. Without going too crazy on lenses, just enjoy your trip.

dblackard Loc: Rockport Texas

thanks for all the replies and advice!! i am so looking forward to this trip. I am actually going to fly into anchorage and rent a car to drove down to soldatna where my aunt lives. will be doing lots of day cruises into prince william sound and also kenai fjords nat. park, visiting all that is around there. there is sooo much to do there. going to seward, whittier, homer, palmer ect. plan or horseback riding, possible rafting or kayaking, some northern light shows in anchorage at the theatres, road side glaciers and hopefully wildlife!! and the sealife center, conservation center, reindeer ranch ect. will be going again next summer as well or maybe a cruise. so where would i rent a lens from?? we do not have local camera stores where i live.

alaskanfrog Loc: Alaska

You might want to check into "Stewart's Photo" in downtown Anchorage when you arrive. I'm not sure if they rent camera gear or not, but I'm pretty sure that they will know.

Here is a link for Stewart's Photo Shop: http://www.stewartsphoto.com/

krashzmom Loc: Columbia, SC

I'd like to hear that story. I went to Alaska 2010 and just got back from Canada last month and I have YET to see a bear. :-) I did see a grizzly bear warning sign. :-) I got a Canon Rebel t3i for Canada, unfortunately I didn't for Alaska. There were loads of photo ops. I got lots of good shots with my Canon d10.

krashzmom Loc: Columbia, SC

Boy, y'all are really making me impatient to get back to Alaska. We're supposed to come do Denali Park and work our way down to Whittier to head to Vancouver on a cruise. We did the inner passage last year.

I'd never heard of Athabascan until we went to Canada to Athabascan falls. Is there any kinship there? Anyway, I wanted to see about the 55-200 lens to go to those places. also. Is there any lens that doesn't cost as much as the camera that would be better? I have a Canon and I'm not experienced enough to know what I'd need either.

dblackard Loc: Rockport Texas

I remember on a trip to canada the athabascan glacier at the end of that long scenic drive. icefields parkway maybe. been awhile. i wondered too if any connection.
would i be able to use the VR 70 - 300 lens without a tripod?