MiroFoto

JayBird
Why do you feel the Tamton 18-270 is no good to take to Alaska.
I plan on buying just that lens for this month Alaska trip .... or Nikon 18-300 I have a set lens 18-140 and wanted to leave it at home ( have Nikon 7100 camera)
Please let me know.

Thanks Miro

jaybyrd Loc: Oceanside, CA

I purchased my Tamron 18-270 when it first came on the market. IT is a fast focusing lens but mine is quite soft above 200mm at any significant distance. The new iteration may be better. I knew that the possibility of longer range shots in Denali were most likely going to be the norm and my 70-300 was significantly sharper at 300mm and distance. And the 18-140 is a very sharp, bright lens!! It is my #1 walking around lens.

DrPhrogg Loc: NJ

I did that last year. I shoot a Canon 3Ti. I used a 28-105mm and a 70-300. I had a T 200-500mm for wildlife. (bought before the 150-600 came out) I had 3 other lenses that never came out. I carried a LowePro 250 backpack when I wasn't hauling up a mountain, and Slingbag for walkaround. My wife had a 100mm Canon Macro that saw a lot of use. I had a monopod I used on the tour boats because a tripod would get in other people's way. I carried a tripod on the Denali tour bus. Give a choice, take the 8 hour tour, not the short one. When in Talkeetna, make sure you get to meet the Mayor. He resides at the general store. The brewpub across the street make an outrageous beer-cheese soup and reindeer meatloaf. Their beer is excellent too. Here is a link to the Talkeetna Lodge Denali-cam. It is 65 miles from the mountain and is on 24/7, although not much can be seen at night, but remember, there is more daylight there in the summer.
http://www.talkeetnalodge.com/lodge/webcam/
It seems to be down tonight, but that should be fixed soon.
Have a lot of fun.

Jackinthebox Loc: travel the world

Wow, we have seen you leaning up to one. That was close but he seemed kind of quiet.

MiroFoto

Thank you JayBird.
The new one is 16-300 but nobody can give me a report. I have already decided, but now I am re-thinking Nikon 18-300....again.
I am not sure what yours soft means, but it is a red flag.
I definitely hate lens changing

Miro

jaybyrd Loc: Oceanside, CA

Miro;
By "soft", I mean that the focus is not sharp as it should be. If I am using it about 40ft or closer between 200 ad 270, it is usually tack sharp. But once it starts to go beyond that, the focus isn't as sharp as I would like it to be. And when taking distant shots of wildlife, the focus is usually unacceptable, especially if I want to crop and enlarge the photo.
Below 200mm, the focus is usually, spot on.
Hope that this is helpful.

pilot64 Loc: Atlanta, GA

Just came back from small boat cruise and denali visit last week. I had a Tamron 18-270, a Canon 16-35 2.8, and a Tamron 150-600 plus a Tamron 1.4 teleconverter. The Tamron 18-270 and teleconverter was more than adequate for most shots. The 16-35 works well for the landscapes. The 150-600 is difficult to use because of the weight, and you don't get a lot of chances to mount it on the bus. I was able to use it with bracing against a solid object, but that is not real reliable.

About Denali. Longhorn is spot on when describing the bus trip. Tips: Don't sit in an emergency row- the windows don't open; Sit on the right side of the bus to shoot uphill on the way out. You will get several spots to stop for good landscape shots. Have your camera ready at all times. Have raingear for your camera available.

On the ship. I can only speak for the small boat cruise, but I know the big boats have side trips to take you in close. You should have plenty of opportunities to shoot eagles, whales etc. from the boat. Here the 150-600 can be used, but you will need a stable platform (tripod, monopod, beanbag) and a lot of patience. Things happen fast, so be ready. On the kayaks and the inflatable boats, I stuck with the 18-270 with the mounted teleconverter (makes it act as a 25-378). Tips: Bears like Salmon. They hang out where there are fish (fish hatchery). There was dead whale on the shore and bears were feasting. It may still be there. (It was at least 40 feet long).

On land: If you go to Sitka, go to the Raptor Center and the Bear Rehab Center (Fortress of the Bear) if you have time. In Denali, do the Jeff King Dog Training Center.

Take raingear for you and raingear for your gear. Enjoy your trip. Wish I was going back.

Nightski

Take everything ... the one thing you leave home will be the thing you want when you get there ... of course be aware that this comes from a lady that hikes everywhere with her 30 pound pack .. tripod strapped on the back and I have 5 camera batteries, my remotes with extra AAA batteries, my flash with extra eneloop batteries, a full frame camera and four lenses, and some cleaning supplies, and a water bottle, and a pump bottle of bug spray, and a tarp in case of rain. I hiked from sun up to sun down for a week carrying all that stuff and I used every bit of it except the flash. I'm seriously considering a lighter tripod. I was a little sore when I got home. ;)

DrPhrogg Loc: NJ

Agree. On most of the trip the OP is taking, there are places to leave the pack and select only the gear you need that day. That is why I got a Slingbag.