Oahu trip: Going to Oahu for 15 days and looking for some advice on lens to take, etc. Presently own a D7100 and a D7000 that I use for backup - not planning to take the 7000. Have an...

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

Going to Oahu for 15 days and looking for some advice on lens to take, etc. Presently own a D7100 and a D7000 that I use for backup - not planning to take the 7000. Have an 18-300 Nikkor and a 150-500 Sigma. Is there another lens I should consider acquiring to get those special shots, such as sunrise, flowers, sunset, surfers on the north shore, etc. I have been using the scene modes alot but want to venture out in the "A" world - any suggestions there as well? And yes, any suggestions on where to go on Oahu would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help!

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

[quote=Patriot66]If your in health Patriot climb Diamond Head. I did it several times and the view of Wakakai Beach is wonderful. David

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

[quote=Meives]

Patriot66 wrote:

If your in health Patriot climb Diamond Head. I did it several times and the view of Wakakai Beach is wonderful. David

Thanks David, I did that a number of years ago but was not schlepping camera gear at the time. Better start doing my exercises I guess.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Will you have a car?
They do have a bus system that gets around...Don't know about getting to the special places.
When I was there, I used Fromers or Fadors travel paperback. Excellent guide for scenic road trips. I had a car.
There are a few lighthouses.
Historic train.
Hawaiian Cultural Center. I paid for a guide that got us to most shows during the day. Evening show was very nice!!!!
Punch Bowl.
Vista points.
The Palace (only state that was once a kingdom).
The Arizona and Missouri, ships.
This all off the top of my head. Lots to see & do!!
The 18-300 will serve you well.
Pat

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

Are you going to Hawaii on vacation or for a specific photo trip?
Me personally, if I was going on a nice vacation with my wife I would just bring along a good quality point and shoot and plan to really relax and enjoy the whole experience.
No way I'm lugging along anything like that big Sigma plus an assortment of additional lenses unless I'm on assignment.

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

Swamp Gator wrote:

Are you going to Hawaii on vacation or for a specific photo trip?
Me personally, if I was going on a nice vacation with my wife I would just bring along a good quality point and shoot and plan to really relax and enjoy the whole experience.
No way I'm lugging along anything like that big Sigma plus an assortment of additional lenses unless I'm on assignment.

Going to Bellows AFS and will have a car. Actually going with an old friend. Wife does not have any vacation time so she told me to go and enjoy - who am I to argue with the wife. But then I am 66 and looking for a little rest time as well. Good thought about the Bigsig. So going to take D7100, 18-300, battery pack, SB700 flash and monopod - oh yea, and battery charging stuff as well..

Mmatu

How about a wide angle lens? I have been there twice, I took my 18-250
Sigma, that worked great for me... At Pearl Harbor, no camera bags or any other bags allowed.. I was there last in 2010, they might have gotten firmer Take the early morning tour. Have a great vacation. Take extra memory chips. If you go to Maui, take the sunrise tour on the mountain it is awesome.( dress ward)

UncleBuck Loc: Malvern, Arkansas

Nikon Dx 35 f/ 1.8 excellent lens, , gives you some low light capability, very light weight

Patriot66 wrote:

Going to Bellows AFS and will have a car. Actually going with an old friend. Wife does not have any vacation time so she told me to go and enjoy - who am I to argue with the wife. But then I am 66 and looking for a little rest time as well. Good thought about the Bigsig. So going to take D7100, 18-300, battery pack, SB700 flash and monopod - oh yea, and battery charging stuff as well..

JoAnneK01 Loc: Lahaina, Hawaii

Your 18 - 300 will suffice nicely. If you are planning to go to the Arizona Memorial go to the National Parks website and see if you can make reservations. If not, go early on the day and you should be able to get a time to go out to the Memorial. You have the Bowfin, Pacific Air Museum and the USS Missouri all there. It is more than a full day just seeing these along with the Memorial. If you have a military ID you can get on Ford Island with your rental car and won't have to pay for the touring bus. Have a great time and enjoy.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Patriot66 wrote:

Going to Oahu for 15 days and looking for some adv... (show quote)

If you are going to the North Shore don't forget to stop at
Matsumoto's Shave Ice place. It's the best Shave Ice I have ever had. If you are into snorkeling then check out Hanauma Bay. If you go there, go early because the parking fills up quick and there might be a wait to get into the park. In tourist places like this, it's always best to go snorkeling early anyway because the water doesn't get mucked up as much with all the suntan lotion. Do a google search for waterfalls that are easy to get to. As always, be mindful of where you park and be as discreet as you can with your camera equipment.
As far as your lens, I would only take the 18-300. In my opinion that's all you will need. As far as your flash, really? You are going to lug around a camera with a flash attached to it? It's your first time there, you need to relax and enjoy the culture. While I have been there several times, it's been awhile since my last trip. Thanks for bringing back pleasant memories of this amazing place. Safe Travels!

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

Thank you all for the good ideas. Will try to post some shots when I get back to cold Minnesota!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Patriot66 wrote:

Going to Oahu for 15 days and looking for some adv... (show quote)

Unless this is a photography trip, and you're being paid, travel as light as you can. Enjoy it. I've been to the Big Island several times, and all I brought was a little camera in a belt case.

The Sigma 150-500 would not be on my must-bring list.

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

jerryc41 wrote:

Unless this is a photography trip, and you're being paid, travel as light as you can. Enjoy it. I've been to the Big Island several times, and all I brought was a little camera in a belt case.

The Sigma 150-500 would not be on my must-bring list.

I agree, took out all I needed from my think tank bag and moved it to a backpack bag I own. Going to bring a defuser for the pop up flash with rather than my SB700 as well. Going light seems like a good idea to me - thanks for the advice.

Valley Gran Loc: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

A high point of my most recent trip to see my daughter, who is stationed on Oahu, was TantalusDrive/Round Top Drive.Spectacular views of Honolulu. On your trip to the north shore, I'd suggest lunch at Mackey's Shrimp Truck (at 66-632 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa) for outstanding garlic shrimp! Above all, BEFORE LUNCH time, Laniakea Beach (Kamehameha Hwy) is the BEST place to see the giant green sea turtles. (See http://malamanahonu.org) You might get to see Wooley-Bully basking in the sunshine!

CaptainBobBrown

Yeah, unless you shoot birds, the 18-300 on the D7100 will be all you need for Oahu...and a small fuel efficient car. Of course, sunsets off Waikiki and beach shots from a distance would be better shot with the Sigma. If you're heading out to the north or west sides the 18-300 would be fine too.

Bob Brown, FBI (From Big Island (of Hawaii))