Best lens for trip to Alaska? (Page 3): The question is are you going on a cruise or on a land trip? I did both many times and each one would need different lenses. On a cruise forget...

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

The question is are you going on a cruise or on a land trip? I did both many times and each one would need different lenses. On a cruise forget the 150-600 lens it would only be extra weight.

mfd14534

rockiroad wrote:

I am learning so much from all of you. The SX50 is something I will look into. The price doesn't seem to be too bad either. I know I could go crazy buying, but want to make sure I am buying what I really need. This one does sound reasonable. It probably would better quality than using extenders - ??

Yes it would be better than using an extender on a zoom in most cases. But you need to learn the limitations of the camera. As I mentioned, you need to keep the ISO low (<400), you need to have good light, you should shoot in RAW (but I've had decent JPGs come out of the camera also). The things that are so great about this camera is the zoom range and the sharpness and the price. What would it cost you to buy a 1200mm zoom for your Canon?

Take a look at this review: http://stokesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/canon-sx-50-hs-for-bird-photography-i.html She compares the Canon SX50 with a a $5000 Canon body + $10K 500mm Canon lens. Does the SX50 take the same quality images as the DSLR setup? No, but it is an excellent price/performance tradeoff.

mfd14534

blacks2 wrote:

The question is are you going on a cruise or on a land trip? I did both many times and each one would need different lenses. On a cruise forget the 150-600 lens it would only be extra weight.

Exactly! And that's another reason to consider the SX50.

sumo Loc: Houston suburb

We have a trip set for 6 june --- fly into Fairbanks. Tour that area for a couple days, then train to Denali, overnight two nights, then train to Talkeenta overnight there and train into Anchorage..overnight..then on to Seward to catch Celebrity Millenium ship for 7 day inward passage cruise to Vancover

My wife says she bought me a lens for my birthday (last Jan) but I have to pick it out.I have a Nikon 600 and seriously thinking to buy the Sigma 50-500mm. Why that lens you say, versus the 150-500 and save $500. I like the idea of coming back to a 50mm while on hike. I also have a 70-300 nikkor and discovered I am many times too close even for the 70m with that lens.. I also plan on taking 28-85 Nikkor. Will not take SB 910 flash and no tripod. Any other suggestions???

Should I have started another thread??.. But figured rockiroad and I want to know the same stuff.

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

rockiroad wrote:

Hi - I have a Canon T3I and was wondering what lens would be best for a trip to Alaska. I am thinking a wide angle for landscape and a longer zoom. I have an 18-55 Canon Kit lens but have been told the kit lenses are not very good. Also have a Sigma 28-70; Canon 50 & 85 Prime; and a Canon 55-250. I don't want to miss any shots since I am sure I will not be able to go again. Would love to hear any ideas, suggestions. Thank you.

You will have a wonderful experience. We also took the 8 day cruise then stayed on after to tour other areas. A very memorable experience. Alaska is like no other place i have ever been.
IMO you will want a longer lens than the 55-250. While on the ship we passed a glacier where a bear was actually walking up it. I took the shot, but even with crop it was not a keeper. We passed goats and rams on the sides of mountains. Whales breaching and slapping the water off in the distance, all needed a long tele. If i go again, i will leave my dslr at home and just take my sx50 and light monopod.

ollie Loc: Ogdensburg, NY

I too am going to Alaska (end of May early June) We're doing the inland waterway Vancouver to Whittier. My standard travel pack is a tripod, Nikon D800 w/ 24-70 Nikon lens and D7100 with a
new 80 - 400 Nikon I can't wait to use. Any tips on what else might be good to have would be appreciated. Any special places to see that might not be in the literature from Norwegian

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

ollie wrote:

I too am going to Alaska (end of May early June) We're doing the inland waterway Vancouver to Whittier. My standard travel pack is a tripod, Nikon D800 w/ 24-70 Nikon lens and D7100 with a
new 80 - 400 Nikon I can't wait to use. Any tips on what else might be good to have would be appreciated. Any special places to see that might not be in the literature from Norwegian

Did that a few times in the past. First, forget the tripod, useless on the ship and out on tours you have no time to set it up, it's just extra weight. Both of your lenses have VR you really don't need a tripod. As for extra tours, since you are taking Norwegian Line you are going to Wrangell there is a super nice jet boat tour going up the Skeena river to a lake with a glacier in the background. It's pricey but worth it, weather permitting. Since you are going May-June it is a little early for Alaska. If you have time, from Whittier you can take a one day boat tour glacier viewing, highly recommended.
Forgot to mention, most likely you depart from Vancouver, get there a day early and you will see one of the premier city in North America.

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

ollie wrote:

I too am going to Alaska (end of May early June) We're doing the inland waterway Vancouver to Whittier. My standard travel pack is a tripod, Nikon D800 w/ 24-70 Nikon lens and D7100 with a
new 80 - 400 Nikon I can't wait to use. Any tips on what else might be good to have would be appreciated. Any special places to see that might not be in the literature from Norwegian

Go to cruiseaddicts.com and find your specific cruise on the forums page. You will even meet others who are taking that cruise on that date along with you. They will have many experienced travelers and will recommend some great sites and tours for your ship cruise. If you stop at skagway, you can rent a car very inexpensively for the day and take the drive that follows the railway. Many stops along the way and great vistas. IMO much better than the rail plus cheaper.

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

Great advice, however the drive from Skagway does not follow the RR it is on the opposite of the valley, never the less a beautiful drive.

LEGALDR Loc: Southern California

rockiroad wrote:

Hi - I have a Canon T3I and was wondering what lens would be best for a trip to Alaska. I am thinking a wide angle for landscape and a longer zoom. I have an 18-55 Canon Kit lens but have been told the kit lenses are not very good. Also have a Sigma 28-70; Canon 50 & 85 Prime; and a Canon 55-250. I don't want to miss any shots since I am sure I will not be able to go again. Would love to hear any ideas, suggestions. Thank you.

LEGALDR Loc: Southern California

rockiroad wrote:

Hi - I have a Canon T3I and was wondering what lens would be best for a trip to Alaska. I am thinking a wide angle for landscape and a longer zoom. I have an 18-55 Canon Kit lens but have been told the kit lenses are not very good. Also have a Sigma 28-70; Canon 50 & 85 Prime; and a Canon 55-250. I don't want to miss any shots since I am sure I will not be able to go again. Would love to hear any ideas, suggestions. Thank you.

You have all of the fire power that you need. The question is do you want to carry it or do you want a a 18mm-270mm and travel lighter. Your call.

Tom H Loc: St. Louis, MO

I spent most of last summer in Alaska and loved it. I used my both my Sigma 8-16 and my Pentax 55-300 a great deal. I was usually shooting very wide or very long. I would have loved to have had a longer lens. I haven't heard anything bad about Tamron's 150-600. I'd buy it in a second if it were available for my Pentax. After returning I bought the Sigma 50-500 -- makes me want to go back up there.

If you on a tour and won't have the time to be changing lenses and really working a scene, consider a so called "travel lens" that goes from very wide to very long.

What every you have, be sure you practice with it and are comfortable with our equipment. You will have a number of experiences that will likely be once in a life time opportunities.

rick.harvey Loc: Invercargill, New Zealand

This is a very topical forum post for me as my partner Lyn and I are heading to Alaska for a small boat cruise in August this year. As we are coming all the way from New Zealand and then going on to do a trip across Canada to Halifax, then down through Boston, New York then on to New Orleans, it will be a balancing act - general luggage vs camera gear. However I think I will stick with my 18-55 and 55-200 lenses. In the meantime I'll watch this forum for more posts.
Cheers, Rick

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

rockiroad wrote:

Hi - I have a Canon T3I and was wondering what lens would be best for a trip to Alaska. I am thinking a wide angle for landscape and a longer zoom. I have an 18-55 Canon Kit lens but have been told the kit lenses are not very good. Also have a Sigma 28-70; Canon 50 & 85 Prime; and a Canon 55-250. I don't want to miss any shots since I am sure I will not be able to go again. Would love to hear any ideas, suggestions. Thank you.

I think your 18-55 and 55-250 will be just fine.

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

rick.harvey wrote:

This is a very topical forum post for me as my partner Lyn and I are heading to Alaska for a small boat cruise in August this year. As we are coming all the way from New Zealand and then going on to do a trip across Canada to Halifax, then down through Boston, New York then on to New Orleans, it will be a balancing act - general luggage vs camera gear. However I think I will stick with my 18-55 and 55-200 lenses. In the meantime I'll watch this forum for more posts.
Cheers, Rick

Rick, what ship line are you using? We went with Alaskan Dream Cruises last summer. We went many places the big ships pass by. And with a flexible and friendly captain, if we saw a bunch of whales, we would just stop for a few extra hours to photograph them and they would make up the time overnight. They would even interrupt serving a meal so folks could go on deck for photo opportunities. I highly recommend the small ship experience.