KR Pletzer

Going on a transatlantic cruise in April from Barcelona to Miami with stops in Cartagena, Malaga, Funchal, and Bermuda. Trying to decide which camera and which lenses to take. Have Nikon D500 and D5500 with Nikon (50mm f1.8 G, 18-140mm f3.5-5.6, 10-20mm f4.5-5.6, 200-500mm f5.6) and Tamron (24-70mm f2.8 G2, 70-200mm f2.8 G2, 18-400mm f3.5-6.3) lenses. I shoot mostly nature (landscapes, wildlife, etc.), architecture (indoor and outdoor), as well as whatever else of particular or memorable interest may crop up. Am leaning toward traveling light with the D5500 and the Tamron 18-400 as primary along with the Nikon 10-20 for some indoor Cathedral shots and the 50mm if I need something faster. Thoughts; advice?

thewags Loc: Phoenix

I just returned from the Southern Rock Cruise. I have a good camera (Pentax K70) and a great camera (Pentax K1 full frame). I decided to take only the K70 for 2 reasons - it's lighter and less valuable. I think that was the right decision. I brought only one lens, 28-105. That was also a good choice, although in retrospect I wish I had brought my 50mm f1.4 as well. Many situations were in the ship, photographing bands in darker venues. Other than that, I think I made the right choice. Getting on and off the boat is a hassle, and you don't want to lug around heavy equipment. Plus the room safe is very small.

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

Take exactly what you describe. Light and versatile! Do not bother with a tripod.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Not what you asked but some advice. When in Cartegena go to the National Aviry. It is marvelous. Best excursion on our Panama Canal cruise last year.

PS: It is out of the way for your cruise. Are you sure you are going there?

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Great choice.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

I have taken several cruises and I modified my equipment on each one until I found the right combination. I take my D800 body, which has a lower top ISO than either the D500 or D5500. That is sufficient for almost all hand held low light shots with slower lenses. For lenses I take the Nikkor 10-24mm DX lens, a must for both interiors and land/seascapes. For everything else on shore, I take an AF Nikkor 28-105mm lens that I bought in the film days. For shipboard photography I take a AF S Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8 VR lens. I also take a Nikkor 70-300mm lens, but seldom use it for more than a few shots.

I also take a high quality rain cover for the camera and lens. That is a must for Cartagena, Nicaragua, the Panama Canal or anywhere in the Americas that is only a few degrees of latitude north of the equator because those areas often receive monsoonal rains. Cartagena has a year round average temperature of 85 degrees and humidity of 85%.

I would not take a tripod if you plan to go on a tour. I instead take a Sirui model P-326 carbon fiber monopod with a Arca Swiss quick release plate (no ball head), which extends to six feet, folds to only 15 1/2 inches and weighs only 0.9 pounds. I also take an SB-700 flash, CPL's for each lens (no UV filters), lens and sensor cleaning kits and spare camera batteries and a charger. I use disposable AA cells for the SB-700. Also, and this is very important, your cabin will have only a few electrical outlets. Make sure you take two one-to-three grounded AC adapters and two one foot long extension cords for chargers and other equipment with power supplies built into the plug.

Everything fits in a Tenba roll aboard camera case that fits in the overhead on most airplanes. In addition, I pack a Think Tank sling bag (in retrospect I should have bought a Lowepro sling bag) in the suitcase with my clothes. I pack socks and other small items in it so it does not take much space. I also take two soft padded lens cases that can attach to the the sling bag strap. One is for my second lens and the other for the SB-700.

gsmith051 Loc: Fairfield Glade, TN

Have a great time. I take a 24-105 f4.0 and a 16-35 f2.8 on most of our cruises, but it depends on where we are going and how much weight I want to carry. The 24-105 is used most of the time. /George

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

[quote=IDguy]Not what you asked but some advice. When in Cartegena go to the National Aviry. It is marvelous. Best excursion on our Panama Canal cruise last year.

PS: It is out of the way for your cruise. Are you sure you are going there?[/quote

It is Cartagena Spain that he will be going to to not the one in the Caribbean I would think, just an fyi

I went the other way last October, Barcelona Valencia, Cartagena, Gibraltar, Cadiz, Canaries instead of Funchal (did Fuchal another time a few years ago). I took my 6d I did leave the battery grip at home this year to reduce size and weight, Canon 24-105L 4.0 lens and a Canon 50 1.8 for really low light circumstances. I also took a carbon fibre monopod with a ball head (because I didn't have a two way tilt head). I think your choice of lens that you mentioned will be great with a good range of telephoto, much more than I had. If there is any picture quality difference between the two camera bodies I would take the one that takes the best pictures. It might be a bit heavier but the pictures will be worth it.

I cannot state enough how money Black Rapid Shoulder camera straps I saw, I use one as well, I could walk all day with my camera and heavy 24-105 lens and not get a sore neck or shoulders, you might want to give that a go. I do pick what lens I am using on a particular outing and take only the camera, lens spare battery in a pocket and the monopod if I think I will use it and go, no lugging a camera bag around that stays back in the room.

I hope you have a great vacation on your cruise tons of great photo ops for you!!!

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

16-35, 24-70,70-200 50mm 1.4. + 1 flash
FF body.
...and long lens + monopod if sports/wildlife is likely.

whwiden

I might consider taking those lenses but with the d500 for its dual card slots. If the Tamron is acceptable for sharpness at the shorter end, great. Otherwise consider the 18-140. Your basic lens choice seems smart.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Ah! Cartegena Spain makes sense. Didn’t know there was one.

Looks marvelous!

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

[quote=happy sailor][quote=IDguy]Not what you asked but some advice. When in Cartegena go to the National Aviry. It is marvelous. Best excursion on our Panama Canal cruise last year.

PS: It is out of the way for your cruise. Are you sure you are going there?[/quote

It is Cartagena Spain that he will be going to to not the one in the Caribbean I would think, just an fyi

I went the other way last October, Barcelona Valencia, Cartagena, Gibraltar, Cadiz, Canaries instead of Funchal (did Fuchal another time a few years ago). I took my 6d I did leave the battery grip at home this year to reduce size and weight, Canon 24-105L 4.0 lens and a Canon 50 1.8 for really low light circumstances. I also took a carbon fibre monopod with a ball head (because I didn't have a two way tilt head). I think your choice of lens that you mentioned will be great with a good range of telephoto, much more than I had. If there is any picture quality difference between the two camera bodies I would take the one that takes the best pictures. It might be a bit heavier but the pictures will be worth it.

I cannot state enough how money Black Rapid Shoulder camera straps I saw, I use one as well, I could walk all day with my camera and heavy 24-105 lens and not get a sore neck or shoulders, you might want to give that a go. I do pick what lens I am using on a particular outing and take only the camera, lens spare battery in a pocket and the monopod if I think I will use it and go, no lugging a camera bag around that stays back in the room.

I hope you have a great vacation on your cruise tons of great photo ops for you!!![/quote]

It didn't occur to me that he meant Cartagena, Spain because when we did our transit of the Panama Canal from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, our last stop before the overnight cruise to the canal entrance was Cartagena, Colombia. I did not connect the fact that he listed Cartagena before Gibraltar.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Travel right, travel lite.
So, yea, go with your gut, I agree with your leanings. With the higher iso's available on the D5500, I would leave the 50 at home as that ACTS like a 75 mm on your camera which would not be good inside Cathedral's, the 10-20 would be a better choice, besides, you don't want to look the tourist changing lenses all the time.

KR Pletzer

Thank you all for your comments and advice. And, yes, it is Cartagena Spain not Cartagena Columbia; I should have been more clear.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If you don't want to bring a compact camera, bring the D500 and the 50mm and 18-140mm or the 18-400mm.