Raider Fan Loc: Lake County, IL.

The only other thing I would take would be a CPL. If you have great weather,crap shoot at best, the sun will play havoc with you shots.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

If you are serious about IQ, I would leave the 18-270 at home along with the tripod and get a monopod instead - much more convenient/faster while traveling. If you are not serious about IQ, I would take the 18-270 and leave the other two at home - lighter is better/faster. For wide angle stuff I would urge you to do sweep panoramas with the Sony if you have not done so already - you will be astounded ! With the Sony HDR, you may not need the graduated ND filters as you would without the in camera HDR. You will still need polarizer however.

DK Loc: SD

That seems like an awful lot of equipment. We only did land except for the Glacier Bay Cruise and it seemed to me that the less I took was better. Most of the time you are moving and don't have a lot of time to set up tripods and change lenses. If you go into Denali on a side trip, there is little room for equipment on the bus and little room to move around to get a shot. What you can get out of a window except for a few places where the bus stops and you can get out is it. I barely had room for a bag that was not much bigger than a brief case. I think it is important to take more than one body or a back up bridge camera because electronic equipment can fail or be dropped or some other calamity. I used a polarizer filter on the cruise.My MacBook Air rode in a pocket on the back side of my bag and went everywhere with me. I transferred my images to the computer every night and then also saved them on a flash drive which I put in different luggage. Alaska was an incredible experience. I am ready to go back and see what I didn't see before. Hope your trip goes well.

Fly'n Fish Loc: Jacksonville, Florida

you might want to take along a camera rain hood. It rains a lot up there.

frmr_av8r Loc: Helena, MT by way of Afghanistan

Great comments from all...haven't taken a cruise up in Alaska but did visit some friends in Juneau a few years ago...lots of rain but incredible photos...

I would definitely agree with the polarizing filter and something to protect the camera...and you...from the rain.

The suggestion about backing up your pictures daily is also a good one. Since arriving in Afghanistan, I have taken well over 2,000 pictures and every night I download them to my computer. However, I have also kept them on my camera memory stick because I have offered them up to any of my soldiers too since many of them don't get to fly over this place like I do...and also because most of my in flight photos are taken by my crewmen in the back of the aircraft.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!!

the hiker Loc: San Diego

the rockies are beautiful dont miss Banff or Lake Louise a cpl is a must have.also if you get a chance try try taking a train ride you wont regret it.you can call or email both Alaska and Canadian tourist dept and get maps and information to help you plan your trip all free it saves time when you get there.

Gal on the Go Loc: Annapolis, Maryland

My husband and I did an Alaska cruise last August. I took my Nikon D700 with a Nikon 24-70 2.8 and a Nikon 70-200 2.8. I agree with others that it is difficult to carry a lot of gear when going on the tours. Not much room and time to be changing lenses and setting up tripod. Our ship sailed in close to the Hubbard Glacier for great shots from the deck. Plan ahead to get a good spot for viewing and photographing. Tour to Mendenhall Glacier also provided great photo opportunities. We also did the five day land tour prior to the cruise and had opportunities to photograph Mt. McKinley from several different angles and distances. Wow! I was also fortunate to get a shot of a whale breeching when we took a whale watching tour out of Icy Straits. Glad you are spending time in the Canadian Rockies. Some of my best pics were taken while on a tour to the Yukon. We had only one day of rain in our twelve day trip so we were very lucky. Use your iPad to write a journal of what you do each day. So much to remember. I made a beautiful book of our trip using Blurb on line. They did an amazing job with my photos and notes from my journal. Enjoy your trip. It will be fabulous!

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Wow - I have always heard that New Zealand was so much like Alaska - and the Mountain area I have seen sure resemble our Rockies But then that is just what I've heard and seen on TV documentaries. Glad you are getting the chance to visit the North end of the Planet.
Harvey

ronsmith Loc: Morrinsville. New Zealand

I'm overwhelmed with the replies to my post and all the valuable info' I have been given, I fell well informed. All posts much appreciated.
Thank you all so very much.

Ron

Virgil Loc: The Hoosier State

I was still using film when we went so the first thing I did every morning was take a shot of our 'Itinery'. Helped refresh our memory when we got home of when, what and where. If you don't have a printed itinery make you own on a note pad. Doesn't hurt to have a note pad with you anyway so you can jot down those interesting facts you've heard, and there will be plenty. Interesting and beautiful place. Only thing we didn't like was a pizza we ate across from our hotel in Anchorage. I never did figure out if it was pulverized beef and bone or gravel and sawdust! Enjoy! Virgil

DK Loc: SD

I totally recommend the pizza at the Prospector (I think that was the name of the place) in Denali Village on the strip outside of the park. Best pizza we ever had. We ate there twice and my son-in-law even took one to eat on the bus ride back to Anchorage.

ronsmith Loc: Morrinsville. New Zealand

With all the information I have gathered, the biggest questions I have for all of you very knowledgable people, is regarding filters and a wide angle lens.
What do I buy regarding both?
Would my Tamron 17-50 be ok?
I could just go to town to the local photography shop and they would probably advise. But going with some knowledge would be good

Thanks for all the help
All the best
Ron

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The 17-50 is OK - especailly if you do sweep panos with the Sony !

ronsmith Loc: Morrinsville. New Zealand

Thanks Larry
Just had a peep at your web page, very impressive. I'll look at length when I have more time. ( need to go to work)
Ron