sumo Loc: Houston suburb

I read everything I can on UHH about Alaska and lenses. I have never taken a cruise and never been to Alaska, therefore I set up an Alaska trip for the two of us, set for 6 june —
fly into Fairbanks…. Tour that area for a couple days, then train to Denali, stay over two nights, tour the park, then train to Talkeenta overnight there and train into Anchorage…..overnight…..
then on to Seward to catch Celebrity Millennium for a 7 day inward passage cruise to Vancouver.

I have a Nikon 600, 3 nikkor lens, 70-300, 24-85 and a 1.8 50mm.
My wife says she bought me a lens for my birthday (last Jan) but I have to pick it out….I continue to vacillate with decision.

Thinking to buy a 28-300 Nikkor Lens, & sell/trade the 70-300 OR buy the Sigma 50-500mm ($1509)….
I like the idea of 500mm reach, but still being able to come back to a 50mm for those closer shots.
OR would you go for the Sigma 150-500 ($899) and add $296 and also get the 28-300 Nikkor ($896) for a total of $1795. (B&H prices)
one dilemma I have is, after Alaska how much would I use the 50-500mm versus 28-300mm for a walking around lens?

too many decisions here and a short time to finalize what the hell Im gonna do….if I buy lenses like I buy stocks, I will do the wrong thing.

I will NOT take SB 910 flash and will not take a tripod (suggestions from UHH members say no flash and no tripod in previous Alaska comments) and I just purchased a Think Tank Airport commuter backpack. Have 6-16Gb cards and 2-32GB cards.

Any ideas/suggestions???

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

Check out Sarge69 post at the airfield in Ft.Myers and see the results of his 50/200 lens.. Really good...

Good trip planning, except you're missing the Kenai/Homer area...

Enjoy your fabulous trip...

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I don't think you are going to need a long lens for this trip. You aren't going on a wildlife adventure. You are going to spend time cruising on the ship, taking pictures of whales, glaciers, ice, landscapes, and the small rustic ports that your ship stops at. I doubt that you will need a long lens except for the occasional eagle that will fly by.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Be sure to stop by here when you are in Fairbainks. They have the best view of the city from up there too.

http://www.uaf.edu/museum/

I've also heard this is cool place nearby, well, it's actually hot:
http://www.chenahotsprings.com/

These guys are helpful and very knowledgable, located in downtown fairbanks:
http://www.morristhompsoncenter.org/

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

My suggestion would be for a 2 lens kit. The Nikon 24-120mm F4 VR II N, and the Sigma 150-500mm OS HSM. Great coverage and get them both for under $2000 right now.

amehta Loc: Boston

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Or the Sigma 150-500mm with the Nikon 24-85mm you already have. I don't think the focal length gap will be missed.

stableduck Loc: Chugiak, Alaska

2 days in Denali park without a long lens! I think you would be sorry! people in Alaska rent long lenses just for the park. its one of the places you should see the most wildlife.
On the ship, whales breaching, glaciers calving, seals laying on the ice, and who knows what will be along the shore.

doduce Loc: Holly Springs NC

First, we took this same trip in 2012--tremendous experience. Everything was great and the train was spectacular. If the weather is good, try to stand in between the cars and shoot from there. But even inside is great. I'd go back for a couple of weeks tomorrow. Second, I had a 18-300mm on my Nikon D90. It was adequate in the park, but great elsewhere. I had a 12-24mm with me but it was only on the camera a short while. But absolutely agree with those that say longer is better. If I had known, I would have bought the Sigma 150-500mm.

Sheila Loc: Arizona or New York

If you don't think you would use the Sigma afterward, have you thought about renting one for the trip. If you are undecided about which lens to buy, renting could be a way of helping you decide.

amehta Loc: Boston

While not taking a tripod makes sense, a monopod would be very helpful.

lone ranger Loc: Port Saint Lucie, Florida

the 500 mm will be excellent for long shots of animals from the train etc.
the 50 mm i would not use, because its strictley a snap shot lens instead, I would advise you to purchase the nikon 28-70 mm 2.8 lens, its expensive, but it will give you wide angle shots, normal shots, medium range zoom, you will not need a flash, as the lens is super fast and super sharp, amazon , and B&h sell it for $1600 but if you feel its to steep for you tp purchase it, at this time, go to borrow lenses .com and rent it, for your trip, I think you will find that you do , less lens changes, and truly enjoy the lens, I"m envious of your wonderful trip, enjoy it, and be sure to post foto"s once you return..........Owen

dalematt Loc: Goderich, Ontario, Canada

Last May, my wife and I did the Alaska cruise. I took only 2 lenses: 18-55 and 55-300. The long lens was used far more frequently.

Enjoy the trip!

lone ranger Loc: Port Saint Lucie, Florida

good point,

Fkaufman3 Loc: Florida, LA ie lower Alabama

That's amazing, we are going on almost the same tr, fly to anchorage on June 7 then land tour to Denali and the area to Dawson then train to Seward then cruise down to Vancouver, looks like we may meet up sometime on land part of trip. We are on holland America leave Florida on 6th June, never been up there. I also use Nikon d600 but also canon 7d.

lone ranger Loc: Port Saint Lucie, Florida

enjoy..............