Which is the best all around lens for a whale shoot?
Feb 7, 2012 16:47:50 #
If you're lucky enough to have two cameras - take both, one with a longer lens and one with a wide angle - it will be easier than trying to change lenses (and safer too). Just make sure both are secure around your neck.
Feb 26, 2015 19:00:20 #
Dontrain
Loc: Chicago suburb
When I took those whale pictures off Point Loma we were cruising around in a private Zodiac-type craft that allowed up us to get up close (too close for my nerves). That little craft tended to bounce around and I was worried about getting blurred pics. But all went well and we celebrated the holiday on shore. At time I only had a D40 a nice camera but low pixel count I(amongst other things) by today's normal. I wish I could do that trip again with my newly acquired 7100. Have a whale of a good trip.
dh
dh
Feb 26, 2015 19:11:51 #
kwaye wrote:
I am going on a humpback whale watching tour in Dominica and would like to only take one lens on the tour with me. Which would be the best choice lens to have on the camera. I have a 18-55mm, 55-200mm and a fixed 35mm lens. I would only like to take one lens with a polarzing filter. I understand that the tour boats get pretty close up to the whales. Any helpful hints would be well appreciated.
On a boat with the real possibility of salt water spray, which ever lens you take, this would be the perfect time to use a protective filter.
Feb 26, 2015 21:09:17 #
kwaye wrote:
I am going on a humpback whale watching tour in Dominica and would like to only take one lens on the tour with me. Which would be the best choice lens to have on the camera. I have a 18-55mm, 55-200mm and a fixed 35mm lens. I would only like to take one lens with a polarzing filter. I understand that the tour boats get pretty close up to the whales. Any helpful hints would be well appreciated.
I have done quite a bit of whale watching. For good pictures, you need the following:
1) Cooperating whales - some just never give you a good shot, and others, it is WOW! And I have witnessed breaches 3 times. You have to be fast to catch one of those.
2) Good weather - I have gone out when weather on shore was sunny and perfect, and several miles out, it was not so nice. The farthest out I have done on a whale watching boat is about 27 miles from Santa Barbara where the Blue Whales could be seen. The weather will dictate whether a polarizer will be of any use. I have found that all to often, the weather is not sunny enough.
3) The camera needs a good zoom. I find my 18-250mm works best on my crop sensor. Sometimes whales are far away and sometimes they come real close. I have had one surface right beside the boat, perhaps 13 feet away. You have no idea of how bad whale breath is! Whales pay no attention to the 100 yard rule.
Whales surface fast and where you are not looking. You need to turn quickly to get them. And you need to find them quickly in your viewfinder. And the camera needs to shoot quickly and burst mode is useful. Some of the best shots are when they are about to dive and the tail fluke goes into the air.
I have included a shot taken near Santa Barbara of two Humpbacks with one starting its dive.
Have fun. And be sure to take along a plastic bag to protect the camera when the boat is moving fast. Lots of splash.
And by the way, when you don't have a whale in your sites, set the zoom to wide angle. When you see him surface, you want to find him in your finder as fast as you possibly can. Then zoom in as needed.
Whale taken at 150mm with crop sensor
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A Blue Whale taken at 250mm - you can see his blow holes
(Download)
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