Fkaufman3 Loc: Florida, LA ie lower Alabama

We have been on amazon 2x now, first time on cruise ship 30 up the river to Manaus , had tokina 1-600 used take pics from ship, excurtions 70-200 2.8 very humid and hot, next trip to Ecuador and headwaters, short tele and wide angle sufficient. Enjoy the trip esp the sloths are so cute.

mjames42 Loc: Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001, Sol 3

In consideration of this, if you choose to add a bridge camera, I'd recommend the Nikon Coolpix P900. I've enjoyed mine immensely and it has a 2000mm reach.

edhjr Loc: Needham, MA

My wife and I have been on that trip. It is great!!!

Those small boats are never!!! still -- you will need to hand hold everything.

If you can would run out and buy the new 300VR f4 and a couple of teleconverters (1.4 and 2.0 at least) if you don't already have them.

That lens was not out yet when I travelled and my 200-400 was not very useful because we scarcely ever shot on dry land where we needed a long reach.

Enjoy!!

Another would be a 70-200VR with the converters and cropping to DX if you feel the need.

guligian Loc: Louisville KY

I went on that trip last year with International Expositions. I rarely used my 55-300mm---my 18-140mm was my primary lens. You'll shoot lots
of close ups of spiders, frogs, snakes, birds and people in villages. The jungle is thick so distant shots are rare.

FredCM Loc: Central Illinois

If the Amazon jungle is similar to those in Costa Rica, there are lots of very tall trees along the river with wildlife way up high. Howler monkeys, various birds, sloths, etc. Will you be able to crop pictures of these creatures to make enlargements? If you're traipsing through the jungle, then you won't need the reach of either lens. But on the ship on the river, you probably will. Don't worry about sloths, they roll up and look like basketballs way up in the trees.

Gaddysmom

I've done the trip twice and thought it was fantastic. I'd leave the Sigma at home and ignore all the advice about monopods-- you won't need one and it would not do you much good much of the time. As to the humidity, the silca gels are a good idea, but most of the ships have a cabinet on the top deck specifically intended for camera and binocular storage. That may sound a bit scary in terms of security, but on such a small ship there is no reason to worry, and, you won't be the first or only passenger who used it for expensive gear. By using it, you will not be taking your gear in-and-out of air conditioning.

If you plan to download your images to your computer on the trip, I would get a 220 surge protector to take, and, know that there are limited outlets in the cabins. Between battery chargers and the computer you will need more. Do take extra batteries-- I burned through mine every day.

I also suggest that you buy some of the evaporation/cooling bandanas or hats. I took a bandana on my first trip and used it for the jungle walks. I was cocky on my second trip and did not. I got heat stroke and was sick as a dog. (The crew was great and I almost grew to like the Peruvian electrolyte drink.)

ENJOY!! One of my favorite trips ever.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

check to see if there is a reputable place to rent a lens when you get to your location. usually not that expensive to rent and will save you the hassle of transporting an extra lens.

Gaddysmom

There wasn't a camera store/rental in Iquitos a few years ago, and I doubt if there is one now either.

glblanchard

I agree with PixelStan, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity, why not take full advantage of it? Take both lenses and a backpack!

stringplayer Loc: Atlanta, GA

Even more excellent recommendations. Lots to think about. Thanks so much.

sp

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

I would leave the Sigma home and consider the teleconverter option, BUT, moisture intrusion is the big issue here. I would probably opt to go with just the Nikon 28-300 lens. The cautions made by previous posters are worth consideration. I did a safari with the Sigma 150-500 lens but I had it on a second Nikon body so I never had to open the camera to weather. My basic camera was a Nikon D300 with a Tamron 18-270 lens on it. I probably took 80% of my pics with the D300.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

but, there is always that one photo

Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida

Don't fall out of the boat. I understand that the Piranha are vicious.

edhjr Loc: Needham, MA

We swam in a lake that is part of the Amazon with "pink" dolphins and no one got even nibbled on!