lens for Milky Way (Page 2): LOL! Have a great time. Would be a once in a lifetime for me. I've been to Maui twice and regret not having gone up to top of volcano. I hear it's cold up...

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

shutterbob wrote:

OK, OK. Enough of you have said that the D750 is a much better choice that I will get another photo backpack to lug the 750 with me. Still need a lens. 14-24 f2.8? I will be packing only one lens on this hike so it needs some versatility.

LOL! Have a great time. Would be a once in a lifetime for me. I've been to Maui twice and regret not having gone up to top of volcano. I hear it's cold up there!

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

shutterbob wrote:

OK, OK. Enough of you have said that the D750 is a much better choice that I will get another photo backpack to lug the 750 with me. Still need a lens. 14-24 f2.8? I will be packing only one lens on this hike so it needs some versatility.

That lens on the D750 is pretty much a perfect combo for your shot. Enjoy the results.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

shutterbob wrote:

OK, OK. Enough of you have said that the D750 is a much better choice that I will get another photo backpack to lug the 750 with me. Still need a lens. 14-24 f2.8? I will be packing only one lens on this hike so it needs some versatility.

Now it's a matter of preference, with no really compelling reason to go with any one over another. The Sigma is plenty wide on a full frame camera, I think. I've taken most of my MW shots at 16.5mm equivalent and never thought I needed to go wider. With the full frame you don't really need the extra speed the f1.8 gives you, but remember that a full stop faster means half your ISO, so you'll get a cleaner image than with the f2.8. My vote is for the Sigma.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Desert Gecko wrote:

. The Sigma is plenty wide on a full frame camera, I think.

Think again, the Sigma 18-35mm is a CROP sensor sized lens, it will not cover the full frame sensor.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

MT Shooter wrote:

Think again, the Sigma 18-35mm is a CROP sensor sized lens, it will not cover the full frame sensor.

the tokina has same aps-c problem but as ken says:
"This is an APS-C lens, but it works fine on full-frame and 35mm film from 16mm to 20mm."
so who cares?
The alternative is to rent a real lens for the trip.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

MT Shooter wrote:

Think again, the Sigma 18-35mm is a CROP sensor sized lens, it will not cover the full frame sensor.

I did not know that was designed for a crop. I seriously considered it for myself before deciding on a Samyang prime.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

You mentioned a carbon fiber tripod would be making the trip. Isn't it fairly windy up there? It's been my experience with carbon fiber tripods unless you're in a very still environment, you need to hang some extra weight from the center to stabilize the tripod in the wind. They may be lighter than aluminum but they're not as stable, based on my experiences.

shutterbob Loc: Tucson

rmorrison1116 wrote:

You mentioned a carbon fiber tripod would be making the trip. Isn't it fairly windy up there? It's been my experience with carbon fiber tripods unless you're in a very still environment, you need to hang some extra weight from the center to stabilize the tripod in the wind. They may be lighter than aluminum but they're not as stable, based on my experiences.

It is a very sturdy Manfrotto that I have used in some fairly nasty conditions. And there are many rocks that I can secure to the tripod with a short section of rope if necessary. I have never been down into the crater but from what I have read it is much less windy than the ferocious gusts that occur on the rim.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

I would take the 750 and I would put it in a small backpack if the weight is too much on your shoulder.
I hiked the rockies over 10,000 feet and it kicks your butt cause Mountains where I live are about 1200 feet.
so living in the North east if I see 30 stars in the sky thats a LOT, went out west a few years ago , couldn't wait to shoot the MW, but it was cloudy for 8 days, so No shot.
Then went on a cruise, its dark out in the Atlantic, again it was cloudy every night.... I can't win...

Scott_P Loc: Eagle River, WI

shutterbob wrote:

OK, OK. Enough of you have said that the D750 is a much better choice that I will get another photo backpack to lug the 750 with me. Still need a lens. 14-24 f2.8? I will be packing only one lens on this hike so it needs some versatility.

Hard to go wrong with that combo. Forget about the so called weight issue with the 14-24, it's a tank but it will give you the results you're looking for. Here are a couple I took with my D700 using the 14-24 f/2.8 in the UP of Michigan earlier this year.

Milky Way Pano over Copper Harbor, MI

Milky Way over Keweenaw Bay on Lake Superior

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

shutterbob wrote:

It is a very sturdy Manfrotto that I have used in some fairly nasty conditions. And there are many rocks that I can secure to the tripod with a short section of rope if necessary. I have never been down into the crater but from what I have read it is much less windy than the ferocious gusts that occur on the rim.

If needed, you could put some rocks in the back pack and hang it from the tripod. Hope you have great weather and get some spectacular images...

shutterbob Loc: Tucson

Scott_P wrote:

Hard to go wrong with that combo. Forget about the so called weight issue with the 14-24, it's a tank but it will give you the results you're looking for. Here are a couple I took with my D700 using the 14-24 f/2.8 in the UP of Michigan earlier this year.

Nice shots. What were your exposure settings and ISO set at?

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

shutterbob wrote:

I will be going to Maui early next year and will be hiking down into the crater of Haleakala. I will be in the crater while it is dark and want to shoot the night sky from this very dark place. I was planning on using my D750, but after much thought have decided not to pack that much weight at 10,000 ft elevation. I will be bringing my D5300 instead. I will need a suitable lens and am wondering which would be better, a Sigma 18-35 f1.8 or Tokina 11-20 f2.8.

I would use the fastest 35mm lens you can lay your hands on and shoot subs to create a mosaic of the Milky Way.

Be sure to take a solid tripod and a remote shutter release.

Image https://goo.gl/photos/NmkNeXsP4Aw8wLW49 will give you an idea of the field-of-view of a 35mm lens on a full frame camera.

Image https://goo.gl/photos/c9v2dJDjM8N9QwEw8 shows a mosaic created from 28 images. You can do it will fewer images but I like lots of overlap.

Alternately, I'd take a 14mm lens and shoot the Milky Way in about two shot.

Have fun on your trip! Great site for pictures.

bwa

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

shutterbob wrote:

I will be going to Maui early next year and will be hiking down into the crater of Haleakala. I will be in the crater while it is dark and want to shoot the night sky from this very dark place. I was planning on using my D750, but after much thought have decided not to pack that much weight at 10,000 ft elevation. I will be bringing my D5300 instead. I will need a suitable lens and am wondering which would be better, a Sigma 18-35 f1.8 or Tokina 11-20 f2.8.

Enough comments about all this weight! Just send me a ticket and I will happily carry all your equipment for you. That way you can take both cameras and both lens!

shutterbob Loc: Tucson

wdross wrote:

Enough comments about all this weight! Just send me a ticket and I will happily carry all your equipment for you. That way you can take both cameras and both lens!

Lol. A friend of mine said the same thing.