tugcapt

Planning on taking a trip to Maui and Oahu in January. I have a Nikon 610. My longest lens is a 28-300. Wondering if that will be long enough to get photos of the seals and turtles in Hawaii while staying the required distance away from them.
Anyone have experience there? I’m leaning towards renting or buying a 150-600 for the trip. Looking for any thoughts.

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

If you are staying the required distance from them, the 28-300 should be adequate, however there will be times you might be compelled to catch a surfer or some other beach dwelling target, so the 150-600mm will serve you well. Bring a steady tripod.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Your 28-300 will be just fine for these situations, including surfers, at most places. I would take a wide angle if you plan on going to Pearl and touring the Missouri and airfield hangers.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Use this an excuse to buy the big lens! However, you may be going to the wrong islands for seals and turtles. You may need to go to the "Big Island" for that.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

tugcapt

I am at work right now but called my wife and told her about renting it for $120, but I could get a used one for 1200. She told me to just rip the bandaid and order. Th is for the input guys.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Do you know how big, large and heavy an 150-600 is? How are you going to get it to Hawaii? How many times are you going to use it? If you have a 28-300 zoom on a 24MP full-frame camera, you really already have the more appropriate lens.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Heh Tugcapt...listen to what chg_canon says.
And, while you are allowed to bring cameras..that you can carry; a lens that big may have security asking questions and inspecting. Commercial photography is not permitted without a permit..and they may conclude that only a commercial photographer requires a lens that large. Also, no tripods are allowed. If you want to completely ruin your visit, then bring the lens. If crowded, they don't offer an extra seat in the 'welcome' theater presentation or on the launch for your equipment. And, they may not even allow you to take it on the Missouri as there is hardly room in places for you! Of course you can apologize to everyone bumping into you and your lens on the camera. I haven't even gotten to the sub.

rangel28

In the mornings in Kauai the monk seals tend to come on to the beach to sun themselves. I was able to get good photos using a 70mm-300mm lens with the bulk of my photos around 200mm.

bnsf

Would it have been cheaper if you would have purchased a 2X and a 3x converter instead? They sell converter kits with different converter settings and would be cheaper than a lens. Don't forget with this big lens you will need to bring a monopod or tripod to hold this heavy lens. More baggage to put on the plane.

10MPlayer Loc: California

Agree. I think you're much more likely to see turtles on the big island, especially on the Kona side. I don't recall seeing seals in Hawaii. Maybe I wasn't in the right place. Then again, I'm jaded as I live within a three hour drive of Monterey and Carmel in California where the sea lions hang out in droves. Sometimes they even come up the Sacramento River and can be heard barking in the Capitol city, 100 miles inland. Good luck getting those great shots.

If I recall correctly these shots were taken with my 18-200 Canon kit lens. But then, Monterey is not Oahu and these animals are used to people. I was able to get within about 10 feet of the sleepy guy. There was a stone wall between me and him. I would never approach one of them directly. The big ones have a mouth full of teeth like a bear and they're just about as big.

Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread but I had to throw in my shot of the elephant seals that live further down the coast near San Simeon. I used my Tamron 150-600 on that one.

Monterey Sea Lion - Monterey Jetty

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Monterey Jetty Sea Life

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Sleepy Sea Lion - Monterey, CA

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Sparring Elephant Seals

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These big boys go about 2000 lb. each

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MikeFast

A 150-600 is going to get heavy if you have to carry it around for very long

10MPlayer Loc: California

But worth it if you want the closeups. No way I could have gotten those elephant seal shots without a long lens, legally or ethically. They seafront is fenced off. I usually use a monopod to help take a load off.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

A monopod should be adequate and would be a lot nicer to travel with than a tripod.

I would put a monopod in my checked bag for the trip. Could get by without it if necessary. But the rest of my camera gear ALWAYS gets carried on... no way I'd check it! Confirm the airlines size regs and be prepared to show that it's camera gear that's too delicate to be checked, in case they try to insist you do so.

A 150-600mm weighs around 4.5 lb. That might not sound like much, but added to camera, other lenses and accessories you can end up with a 25 lb. backpack pretty quickly. That's not heavy for short treks, but can be a real pain lugging through the TSA inspection and hauling around in an airport... or jogging to meet the connecting flight at the other end of the terminal! When I've traveled with a full frame camera I usually carry a 20mm, 24-70mm, 135mm and 300mm f/4 lens (~3 lb.), along with a high quality 1.4X teleconverter (which works very well on both the 135mm and 300mm lenses). Since then I've gotten an excellent 100-400mm (~3.5 lb.) that can replace both the 135mm and 300mm. It also works well with the 1.4X TC, if needed. Total weight is ~22 lb with flash, light meter, spare batteries, etc. in a LowePro backpack that fits in an airplane overhead compartment.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Exceptional shots, but I'd hate to have a $5 million beachfront place downwind of that group 😒😒😒😒😒