Alaska
May 31, 2014 09:53:46 #
Will be going to Alaska next week, 3 days in Denali, canon 7d and 6d would you take 70-200 2.8 is or sigma 50-500 lens for wildlife on bus tours into park.?
May 31, 2014 09:59:05 #
May 31, 2014 11:22:38 #
I take it you'll also have a wide angle zoom with you in Denali also? The vistas of Denali need a good wide angle lens.
May 31, 2014 13:07:23 #
I have the 24-105l as well as a 19-35 tamron. Will do land for ten days then cruise down to Vancouver
Jun 1, 2014 08:25:29 #
You definitely need a long reach zoom like the 50-500 for wild life in Denali. You will get the chance to do a lot of photography while on the bus, windows down. They do shut of the engine to help minimize vibration. The landscapes are so vast that you can take a lot of photos at 50 mm end of your zoom.
Three months in Alaska in the summer of 2010. I used a Canon sx10 and wanted more zoom and better quality but It did a great job as it was portable and always with me, ready to shoot. I was just learning about photography and used the auto settings. It worked, but I wished I knew about manual settings. It would have worked a lot better.
Three months in Alaska in the summer of 2010. I used a Canon sx10 and wanted more zoom and better quality but It did a great job as it was portable and always with me, ready to shoot. I was just learning about photography and used the auto settings. It worked, but I wished I knew about manual settings. It would have worked a lot better.
Jun 1, 2014 08:27:45 #
The big lens for wildlife, but more importantly a wide angle for the amazing vistas! The bus trip is very good - the guides are great, and you are in constant awe the entire way!
Jun 1, 2014 09:21:21 #
Fkaufman3 wrote:
Will be going to Alaska next week, 3 days in Denali, canon 7d and 6d would you take 70-200 2.8 is or sigma 50-500 lens for wildlife on bus tours into park.?
Definitely the 50-500.
Jun 1, 2014 11:16:29 #
Defilnitely the long zoom for wildlife, but the wide angle for more panoramic views.
Just a bit of a heads up. Everyone who visits the Park wants to see Mt. McKinley. However, the mountain is so big that it tends to generate its own weather, and as a result, you have about a 40% chance of actually seeing it. Often you'll get glimpses of the mountain through the clouds, but that offers up some interesting photo ops. Also, one of the best views of Mt. McKinley is located at a large pullout at about mile 138 of the Parks Hwy. For another great view, nearby, the Denali View Princess Lodge just above the Chulitna River Bridge is a great place. It's also a great place to get something to eat or just a cup of coffee. But the view from there is great.
Just a bit of a heads up. Everyone who visits the Park wants to see Mt. McKinley. However, the mountain is so big that it tends to generate its own weather, and as a result, you have about a 40% chance of actually seeing it. Often you'll get glimpses of the mountain through the clouds, but that offers up some interesting photo ops. Also, one of the best views of Mt. McKinley is located at a large pullout at about mile 138 of the Parks Hwy. For another great view, nearby, the Denali View Princess Lodge just above the Chulitna River Bridge is a great place. It's also a great place to get something to eat or just a cup of coffee. But the view from there is great.
Jun 1, 2014 11:57:35 #
Fkaufman3 wrote:
Will be going to Alaska next week, 3 days in Denali, canon 7d and 6d would you take 70-200 2.8 is or sigma 50-500 lens for wildlife on bus tours into park.?
Bring everything you can carry especially a heavy duty tripod and a spare card.
Jun 1, 2014 14:26:29 #
50-500. I have been to AK several times as well as Kenya and you will need the reach. 70-200 is a great lens but it would be almost just duplicating your 24-105.
Jun 1, 2014 15:00:50 #
If the weather is murky with heavy overcast, be a advised to crank up the ISO so that you can keep your shutter speed at faster settings to offset camera movement and bus movement. Yes, the bus driver/naturalist will stop and shut the engine down when there is an opportunity for wildlife shots but for many of the scenics, you will be shooting from a moving bus. Good luck and great shooting!
Jun 1, 2014 15:46:50 #
I have taken numerous trips through Denali on the bus. I would take both cameras and both lenses. The 7D with the longer lens and the 6D with the 70-200 and IS. I have taken good photos of grizzlies and wolves off across a hillside with the maximum telephoto, and have had opportunities of bull moose and caribou 10 yards from the bus. The IS on the fast 70-200 will be handy on the bus. Remember the bus may have 30 people moving around while you are leaning out the window to capture something up close.
I like to try and get a seat on the front left of the bus, giving you a window view out the left. Then, take advantage of the steps and doorway of the bus for a view out of the right side. The driver will open the door when stopped for wildlife. You may not be able to get off the bus, but it can give you a good vantage point rather than fighting others for a view out a right side window. This works great when there are two of you.
I like to try and get a seat on the front left of the bus, giving you a window view out the left. Then, take advantage of the steps and doorway of the bus for a view out of the right side. The driver will open the door when stopped for wildlife. You may not be able to get off the bus, but it can give you a good vantage point rather than fighting others for a view out a right side window. This works great when there are two of you.
Jun 1, 2014 15:52:32 #
Thanks to all that responded and gave great advise, will heed all of them
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Jun 1, 2014 15:54:23 #
Fkaufman3 wrote:
Will be going to Alaska next week, 3 days in Denali, canon 7d and 6d would you take 70-200 2.8 is or sigma 50-500 lens for wildlife on bus tours into park.?
The Sigma.
You have to take your pics from the bus and the distances are large.
Be sure to buy a hat with a mosquito net and bring plenty of repellant. Notice the fleet of mosquitos around the moose. That is typical.
May you have the weather we were treated to last year!
Jun 1, 2014 16:16:15 #
Oh yes, I almost forgot, get on one of the earliest buses possible. I forget at the moment, but the trip back to Eilson visitor center is 3 hours and Wonder lake is maybe an hour more. You will have around 18 to 20 hours of light in June to deal with. Wildlife moves throughout the day but is most active early.
Enjoy your trip
Enjoy your trip
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