What lenses? (Page 2): Bill if a post is a reply to a particular post and not a general comment you should use "quote reply" so everyone knows what you are replying to. Like this.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Bill McKenna wrote:

All good points. Thanks!

Bill if a post is a reply to a particular post and not a general comment you should use "quote reply" so everyone knows what you are replying to.

Like this.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Birds in the Galapagos are used to people. I have never been there but I have heard that many times.
If I was going I would take the D500 only, no need for two cameras. That 200-500, in my case, will stay home and instead the 70-200 perhaps with a tele-converter would be my choice.
Take also something like a 50 mm lens for general scenes or perhaps a 35 mm lens. Enjoy your trip.

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

Bill McKenna wrote:

I’m traveling to the Galápagos Islands in October. I’m taking my Nikon D850 and D500 cameras. My question is what lenses? I have a Nikon 70-200mm 2.8, and a Nikon 200-500mm 5.6. I keep hearing that you can get so close to the wildlife that you don’t need 500mm of reach. The lens is bigger and is just one more piece of gear to take. I’m inclined to take the big lens, but maybe some of you could shed some light on my question. Thanks. Bill M.

Take the D500 and 70-200. You will be fine.

skipwv Loc: West Virginia

I took an assortment of lenses and ended up using my 18-300 almost exclusively. The animals and most of the birds will wait for you to approach, so even the 300mm length wasn’t used all that much. The zoom gave me all the flexibility I needed for scenery and wildlife. I definitely would not bother with a big, heavy super zoom. Enjoy your trip; it’s a fabulous place.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Bill McKenna wrote:

I’m traveling to the Galápagos Islands in October. I’m taking my Nikon D850 and D500 cameras. My question is what lenses? I have a Nikon 70-200mm 2.8, and a Nikon 200-500mm 5.6. I keep hearing that you can get so close to the wildlife that you don’t need 500mm of reach. The lens is bigger and is just one more piece of gear to take. I’m inclined to take the big lens, but maybe some of you could shed some light on my question. Thanks. Bill M.

300 PF with 1.4X .....or, 70-300 P

FSATIN Loc: Westchester, NY

I went last year and loved this trip. I brought my 6d mii and my 24-105 and 70-200 canon lenses. I did miss some Bird photos but for the most part I was very happy. Check with your tour group about weight restrictions. They only allow so much luggage on the boats if you are planning to cruise the islands. You spend a lot of time in Zodiacs that are bumpy and sometimes wet with splash, so keep that into account. Probably if you are not bringing a tripod, I would say that less is better. When you land on the islands a 70-200 is more than enough reach. Have fun.

george19

Bill McKenna wrote:

I’m traveling to the Galápagos Islands in October. I’m taking my Nikon D850 and D500 cameras. My question is what lenses? I have a Nikon 70-200mm 2.8, and a Nikon 200-500mm 5.6. I keep hearing that you can get so close to the wildlife that you don’t need 500mm of reach. The lens is bigger and is just one more piece of gear to take. I’m inclined to take the big lens, but maybe some of you could shed some light on my question. Thanks. Bill M.

I went in 2007, and doubt much changed. I’d put the 70-200 on the D500 and get a shorter zoom (24-70 or 85, ideally with macro capability) for the D850.

I didn’t use the long zoom for much, and found no need for the 200-500, even if I had it at the time.

Also…get some knee pads…you’ll get that close. And…I fit everything in a Swiss Army computer backpack with a rubberized bottom…really handy and gave me piece of mind.

And…you might consider some form of underwater gear. The snorkeling is amazing.

KenProspero

Bill:

I'm going to the Galapagos in February. My question for you is what kind of trip are you taking. I'll be on a small (16 passenger) Catamaran. Although the group is small, it will be a group and it I suspect photography won't be a priority for most, so I am concerned with set-up time.

My current plan is to take my Travel Lens (Nikon Z 24-200).

Also -- I plan on snorkelling, so I'll bring a camera that's rated for 20m (I have a Fuji Point and Shoot).

photoman43

robertjerl wrote:

If you have two bodies you should have two lenses. Think how you would feel if you missed a shot because you were swapping the lens from one body to another.

You might consider a small wide angle, they do have landscapes there. You can do panos with a tele (I did a mountain range with a 400mm.) but a wide or even ultrawide on the D850 would probably work better.

When I was there, my 300mm f4 got a lot of use. I had two bodies, one with a 70-200mm and one with the 300mm. Make sure you know what the Minimum Focus Distance is for each lens you may take. That is why I love and use my Nikon 300mm f4 pf lens. It is very light in weight, very sharp and can focus close. To keep weight down, the Nikon 70-200mm f4 is a lot lighter than the f2.8. Consider renting the desired lens for the trip if you do not want to buy.

Make sure you bring strong knee pads and hiking shoes. The volcanic stuff you will be walking on is terrible on athletic shoes and knees. You will be getting low for a lot of your shots.

george19

KenProspero wrote:

Bill:

I'm going to the Galapagos in February. My question for you is what kind of trip are you taking. I'll be on a small (16 passenger) Catamaran. Although the group is small, it will be a group and it I suspect photography won't be a priority for most, so I am concerned with set-up time.

My current plan is to take my Travel Lens (Nikon Z 24-200).

Also -- I plan on snorkelling, so I'll bring a camera that's rated for 20m (I have a Fuji Point and Shoot).

You should be fine with that. You shouldn’t worry about set up time. Birds are birds, and move as they do. The mammals, reptiles, amphibians are mostly slow. No need for a tripod.

Again…macro and knee pads.

1grumpybear

Bill McKenna wrote:

I’m traveling to the Galápagos Islands in October. I’m taking my Nikon D850 and D500 cameras. My question is what lenses? I have a Nikon 70-200mm 2.8, and a Nikon 200-500mm 5.6. I keep hearing that you can get so close to the wildlife that you don’t need 500mm of reach. The lens is bigger and is just one more piece of gear to take. I’m inclined to take the big lens, but maybe some of you could shed some light on my question. Thanks. Bill M.

I had the pleasure of spending 10 days there. The last week of Dec. 2009 and the first three days of Jan. 2010. Shot over 15,000 pic with a Nikon D2x and a D3. The first pic of the seal on the bench, I could have walk up and petted it.
There were a few times when I wished I had the 24-70 on. Mainly used 80-200 on the D2X and the 300 2.8 on the D3. I was in a group of about 10 and guide made it clear that we were to stay in the group and no wandering from the group. About day 3 or 4 he allow me to wander as long as he could see me when we were out hiking. The animals have no fear of humans. Its not like a African Safria where I use 200-400 90% of the time. I use the 300 about 60% of the time. It wasn't that I couldn't get close to the animals but we had to stay on the trail. If you spending a day in Quito take a tour of the city.

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

If you crop the d 850 you get the same affect.

nikon123 Loc: Toronto, Canada

Many of you have opined already and seem to favor long lenses. My problem with such lenses is camera shake and blurred images. The built in VR does not appear to help me much.f you cab handhold a 200-500 lens and get sharp images, I'm most impressed! I believe that for all photographic outings to new and unfamiliar territory, one needs a variety of lens equipment. I have not been to the Galapogos but knowing what I know about myself and travel photography, here is the equipment in my 'arsenal' that I would take.
- one camera (I use the Z6)
- f/4 14-30 mm to cover wide angle
- f/1.8 85 mm
- f/2.8 105 mm, macro.

These are fast lenses and great in low light. I have found that the images are very sharp and can be blown up to many times their original size should I want to print.
my 2 cents.

Have a great trip!

Miamark Loc: Florida

Bill McKenna wrote:

I’m traveling to the Galapagos Islands in October. I’m taking my Nikon D850 and D500 cameras. My question is what lenses? I have a Nikon 70-200mm 2.8, and a Nikon 200-500mm 5.6. I keep hearing that you can get so close to the wildlife that you don’t need 500mm of reach. The lens is bigger and is just one more piece of gear to take. I’m inclined to take the big lens, but maybe some of you could shed some light on my question. Thanks. Bill M.

i took a Nikon D90 film camera a 80-200 mm lens; a 100mm macro and a 35-70mm all with f2.8 apertures . You do not need the 500 mm lens. The crop sensor on the D500 will suffice. You will get amazingly close to all birds and wildlife that you really do not need a long telephoto beyond a 200mm on a full frame. I think that it would be wise to bring a shorter focal length because you will get so close to the Boobies that you have to avoid stepping on them or their eggs.

AnotherBob

Bill McKenna wrote:

I’m traveling to the Galápagos Islands in October. I’m taking my Nikon D850 and D500 cameras. My question is what lenses? I have a Nikon 70-200mm 2.8, and a Nikon 200-500mm 5.6. I keep hearing that you can get so close to the wildlife that you don’t need 500mm of reach. The lens is bigger and is just one more piece of gear to take. I’m inclined to take the big lens, but maybe some of you could shed some light on my question. Thanks. Bill M.

My wife and I went to the Galapagos many years ago, with a Nikon D60 and two kit lenses, (our first DSLR) and a small Sony point and shoot. We used the long end of neither camera's range very often, and missed few shots for lack of a longer lens. Many bodies and lenses later, I now have, among others, a D500 and the 200 - 500mm lens; I wouldn't take that long lens, too heavy and too bulky for that trip. The 70 - 200 would work well on either body; you would likely miss having a shorter lens, not longer. Yes, many of the animals are up close, but it's the breadth of the islands that you will miss if you don't take a wide angle or at least "normal" lens. For those few shots when you regret not having a longer lens, concentrate on low ISOs to enable a crop. Enjoy! For us, it was a once in a lifetime trip.