Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Very nice captures!

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

1. salt spay can ruin any camera, stay away from all salt spray.This also especially applies to your grandson and the D7000. Some Grand kids' brains do not develop until kids are 45 years old.
2. Settings for D500, Aperture Priority (two to three stops down from wide open, 5.6 or F8 on your zoom, center weighted metering, GROUP AUTO FOCUS, adjust ISO so you can shoot at least 1/1000 of a second and 1/2000 second is better, VR on. As you are going out shoot into the water and adjust your exposure compensation to get a well exposed shot. After first Dolphin, check exposure again and make final exposure compensation adjustments. Shoot at the highest frames per second you can, 10 fps with the D500.
3. Settings for the D7000 should be the same except for GROUP AUTO FOCUS, which the D7000 has not.
4. I would only take the D500 with the 70-200 lens. And extra camera and boat movement are not a good combination.
5. Make sure both you and your grandson's camera neckstraps are on at all times.
6. I would suggest making sure you are shooting with the sun at your back coming over your shoulder, makes for better splashes and better exposures.
7. Wear special deck shoe's that will keep you from sliding.
8. Boat will be moving and bouncing, sometimes makes it hard to keep your balance while you have two hands on the camera. I usually like to lean against the boat with my back up against it. Make sure the camera and lens are not resting on anything but in your hands.
9. Do not use a mono pod and any devise other than your hands to hold the camera, elbows should be against your sides and the camera should be firmly held against your face. With your left hand, reach out and hold the lens just behind the lens hood.
10. You may want to put a UV filter on your lens for additional protection against salt spray. You may also want to take some spare lens cleaning material like a micro cloth to keep salt spray off lens and body. And, if your getting any spray, make sure to move away from that. (I have mentioned that twice,it is that important)
11. Wear at least a wind breaker that you can quickly put the camera in if a big splash comes your way.
12. I personally only would shoot this with a water proof camera. Make sure you have full replacement insurance on everything your taking because there is a great chance you will need it. FACT.
13. Have fun

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Thank you Don!

Doc Barry Loc: Huntsville, Alabama USA

I suggest you have a polarizer. I attached a photo I made recently of old Fungi (Fun Guy) in Donegel Bay, Ireland. Others photographing him didn't do so well because of the glare and not having a polarizer.

grandpaw

First of all I want to thank everyone for the great responses I received and all the valuable information, I very much appreciate everyone helping me out. I hope to put it to good use. If I get some good opportunities I am fairly confident that I will get some keepers to bring home.

For me, I have decided to go with the Nikon D500 and Nikon 70-200VR F2.8 lens for longer shots and the Nikon D600 with my Tamron 24-70mm F2.8 with OS for closer or group images.

I have however think if my grandson does want to take photos he will still get the Nikon D7000 but with my Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 that has OS in it also. I think he will have better luck and it will be lighter to hold. He may not even want to take pictures and if he doesn't I can leave that one in the car.

I will have plenty of charged up batteries and plenty of memory space available. All my lenses have good UV filters on them and I will also have a polarizer filter in case I need it. Hopefully I will have some images to share Wednesday or Thursday. Thanks again for all the advice. grandpaw

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Will be interested to see what you get! I will be trying my luck this September in OBX. We do a wild horse tour every year, and try to get a dolphin watch as well if weather permits.

ClarkG Loc: Southern Indiana USA

Is your camera water- resistant? If not, buy a “rain sleeve”. To put over the camera! I’ve been on 3 of these type of excursions and you CAN count on some salt water spray to get on your camera. You will also want to put on a glass UV filter over your front lens. Salt spray can ruin your lens coatings! Have fun!