Alaska Cruise and Lenses?

We are taking the NCL Pearl, August 3rd to Alaska. I have the new Canon 70D with the following lenses: 18-55, 18-135 and 55-250. I am considering renting the Wide Angle 10-22. I don't want to buy it before I actually use it and see if I will use it.

Are there any other lenses I should consider for this trip? is the 55-250 adequate for whale watching photos.

We are taking the NCL Pearl, August 3rd to Alaska. I have the new Canon 70D with the following lenses: 18-55, 18-135 and 55-250. I am considering renting the Wide Angle 10-22. I don't want to buy it before I actually use it and see if I will use it.

 

Are there any other lenses I should consider for this trip? is the 55-250 adequate for whale watching photos.

I would take only one lense. With that many you'll always be changing lenses and probably miss some shots. I use a Canon with only one lense and it works fine.

I used my (pentax) 18-135 about 90% of our trip. I only put my 12-24 on once, and my 70-300 was only used a few times, mostly in Glacier Bay. For our whale watching excursion, I took only the 18-135 (both for the range and for its weather sealing).

Jim

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I have an 18-300 and even then I don’t feel it’s long enough, easy to handle though. Although you will occasionally be closer to whales, the regulations are that you can’t get closer than 100 yards . Will the 250 be adequate at 100 yards for you?

I would take the 18-135 for a good walk around lens and the 55-250 for wildlife. I have a 10-20 but rarely use it in Alaska.

I would take only one lense. With that many you'll always be changing lenses and probably miss some shots. I use a Canon with only one lense and it works fine.

Here are some photos that I took in 2008 and the focus length of the lens it was taken with.

We are taking the NCL Pearl, August 3rd to Alaska. I have the new Canon 70D with the following lenses: 18-55, 18-135 and 55-250. I am considering renting the Wide Angle 10-22. I don't want to buy it before I actually use it and see if I will use it.

 

Are there any other lenses I should consider for this trip? is the 55-250 adequate for whale watching photos.

We faced the same dilemma when visiting South America last December. My solution was to purchase a Canon SL 1 body for my wide angle lens that hung from a wrist strap. My Telephoto stayed mounted to my T3i across my chest. You don't need your middle lens or to change lenses ,just cameras.

I shot mostly with the small zoom

When I needed the large Telephoto , I just dangled the wrist camera and pulled up the larger camera for closeups. I kept the larger camera set to the "sport" setting to capture wildlife.

Thank you for the advice. I upgraded from the Rebel T2i. I could take both bodies have lenses on each camera. I love everyone's. I am learning so much on here.

You name it, it can be a useful lens. Anything from 10 to 800mm can be a benefit in Alaska.

In 2010, my wife and I had four cameras and six lenses (10-22, 16-35, 24-105, 70-200/2.8IS, 100 Macro, and 500/4). I think everything got used except the 16-35. (We usually divided it up such that she had 10-22 and 70-200, while I had 24-105 and 500.) The 10-22, 100 Macro, and 500/4 were rented.

In 2012, my wife and I had four cameras and six lenses (14/2.8, 16-35, 24-70, 70-200/4IS, 100 Macro, and 400/4 with a 1.4x). I think everything got used except the 16-35. (We usually divided it up such that she had the 14/2.8 and 70-200 while I had the 24-70 and "560".) The 14/2.8, 70-200, 100 Macro, 400/4, and 1.4x were rented, along with a camera so I could "play". We also put our trusty but dusty 40D with 10-22 on a clamp on the balcony divider for time lapse video shots.

For this year, we've stocked up a bit and broadened our options. I decided I didn't want to have to "stagger" our lens options, and since I'm willing to carry more than my wife, I'm rolling with a Zeiss 15/2.8, 24-70, 70-200, and 200-400 with built-in 1.4x, on three cameras. She'll have 14/2.8, 24-105, and 70-200 on two cameras as her primary kit, with 100 Macro and 300/4IS if she wants to take them.

Yes, we're "hard core", but we enjoy our photography and love the results we get in Alaska.

I have to agree with Peety3....10-800mm is useful in Alaska.

Last year I took a 24-70, 70-200 and a 2x TC giving me coverage from 24-400 and I still was short of what Alaska demanded. This year I'm bringing enough lenses to take me from 24 to 600mm!