Silversleuth Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

A bucket list trip is coming up, Nat Geo Galápagos 10 day excursion with visits to Santa Cruz, Bartolomé, Florena, Española, San Cristóbal and Baltra islands. A question for folks who have actually been there. Serious weight limits on checked and carry on luggage for flights make for some very tough choices on what gear to pack. I'll take 2 bodies and the Nikon Holy Trinity of 2.8 zooms plus a 105 macro and wonder if 300 f2.8 or 400 f2.8 glass is advisable or if the critters there are close enough to skip the big telephotos. Absent the weight restrictions I'd pack up the big glass, just in case. Your input and suggestions are sincerely appreciated.

::Ed::

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

On shore for relatively 'tame' wildlife, I usually see people using a 70-200 zoom, or 24-105.

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

My Lady and I did a 2 week tour with another company, INCA tours, and all I needed or for that matter wanted was my 5Dsr and a 28-300 lens. Most creatures are close enough that you don’t need anything larger (or heavier). You will hike over rough terrain and be getting into and out of zodiac style Panga’s. Take a dry bag for that. We referred to the days we were there as Galápagos Boot Camp because of the twice daily hikes and snorkels with the occasional kayaking excursions in between. I actually lost some weight on that tour. You will also do lots of snorkeling and I would recommend a Go Pro for those times. I had an Oly Tough underwater camera and was disappointed with its performance.
90% of the people on our boat were just using iPhones for a camera. My wife only used hers for video. Everyone without a DSLR wanted a link to my Dropbox share file.

A tortoise 🐢 head on collision on Floreana Island.

Silversleuth Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

My Lady and I did a 2 week tour with another company, INCA tours, and all I needed or for that matter wanted was my 5Dsr and a 28-300 lens.

Thanks, pmorin - That's good intel, much appreciated. Hadn't thought about a camera for the snorkeling aspect of the trip. I'll toss my little housed GoPro into the kit bag now. it's sounding like I can forget the big telephotos. My 80- 400 just may get in under the weight limit 🙄

Silversleuth Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

On shore for relatively 'tame' wildlife, I usually see people using a 70-200 zoom, or 24-105.[/quote]

Thanks, Paul. 70 - 200 will be in the kit.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

From my experience there, you won't need a very long lens - the 300mm should be fine.

Silversleuth Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

From my experience there, you won't need a very long lens - the 300mm should be fine.

Thanks for the feedback, ecobin. Much appreciated.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

The tortoise police will show up some time in November 🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯 Awesome catch 🏆

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

I would take something wider too. There are some very nice opportunities for close work.

Silversleuth Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

I would take something wider too. There are some very nice opportunities for close work.[/quote]

Thanks again, pmorin. Planning on my 14 - 24 and 24-70 and 70-200. With you and Paul’s experience and comments, I’ve decided to leave the big primes at home. Just the advice I’d hoped for.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

We've been twice, when out on the zodiacs I used the 300mm for shoreline wildlife.
Hicking 10 to 20ft shots are the norm.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

I went on a photo tour several years ago with my Canon gear. Looking back, I think most of my images were made with a 100-400. I also had 1.4x converter for extra reach. Although the animals are really tame, most guides will require you to stay on the trails so a bit of extra reach is nice to have. It is trip of a lifetime and you will love it!

photoman43

I was there about 10 years ago. I took two Nikon camera bodies; 70-200mm was on one body; 300mm f4 was on the second body. A 24-70 f4 is useful too. No real need for heavy f2.8 lenses. I was on a photo trip so a few had a 400mm or 500mm lens. If you have the Nikon 500mm f5.6 pf lens consider bringing it too. I would not take a 300mm f2.8 or a 400m f2.8 as they are too big and heavy for some of the locations. You may be walking a lot at some locations. On some of the islands you are restricted to specific trails and you cannot walk up to certain birds or animals.

Most needed accessories: Heavy duty knee pads; hiking shoes or boots; and hat with a broad brim. Most of the time you will be on razor sharp volcanic rocks. Tripod or monopod are optional, but many in my photo group used them on certain islands, but not all outings. I took a dry bag (waterproof) backpack too for trips on pangas.

For shooting out of pangas, make sure you know exactly what image stabilization setting to set and use.

Try and research each island you will be visiting and pick your equipment accordingly.

When my wife and I went we flew to the islands on big planes and did not have any special weight size limitations.

JBRIII

The snorkeling is to die for, I once had a dozen or more sea turtles within feet of me, while two sea lions circle me for their pleasure. The shot we missed was the pelican landing on my back!