Alaska Cruise ... Camera Recommendations ...

[jdg345]

Is it worth bringing a DSLR or is something like an iPhone sufficient for the vast majority of photos?

If the former, lens recommendations? I don't want to be lugging a bunch of kit around if not necessary.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Haven't been, but going this summer. Bringing my Nikon DSLR with a 55-300 and an 18-55 mm lens. I personally feel my iphone camera will not do justice to the scenery.

 

[jdg345]

Haven't been, but going this summer. Bringing my Nikon DSLR with a 55-300 and an 18-55 mm lens. I personally feel my iphone camera will not do justice to the scenery.

That is sort of what I am thinking too ... I don't want to be there and wish I had taken something better, but at the same time, don't want to lug a bunch of stuff with me everywhere.

I have a 35mm/1.8 and an 18-300mm that I was considering. What gear bag are you using? I was looking at the Fastpack 250 AW II.

Which Body? DX or FX?

Oh, and which sailing are you going on? We are planning on going too!

 

[Tigerlulu]

I’d take a doc body to give you extra distance and consider renting at least a 300mm—but if you have one that’ll probably be fine. You might want more reach but if you’re using dx I’d think that’d be fine. What an awesome trip!

 

[jdg345]

I’d take a doc body to give you extra distance and consider renting at least a 300mm—but if you have one that’ll probably be fine. You might want more reach but if you’re using dx I’d think that’d be fine. What an awesome trip!

doc body ?

 

[Tigerlulu]

doc body ?

Sorry, dx. My phone keeps auto correcting it. Lol

 

[KVH]

The phone will be good for general landscapes but you're going to want some reach, especially for Alaska. Some things you just can't get close to there.

 

[Pens Fan]

You will definitely want something for wide angle shots. I used my Canon 6D with a 16-35 lens a ton. But then you also will need a longer lens for wildlife. I have a 70-300 lens that I took on our bear watching excursions, for example. I also had my "walk around lens" with me - a 24-105. I didn't always carry all three lenses depending on what we were doing on any given day, but I was very glad that I had them all available throughout the trip. We spent time in Vancouver pre-curise, and a week in Alaska after the cruise was over, so in total we were gone for 18 days. I took thousands of photos as you can imagine.

I really like Think Tank Photo's selection of bags. My husband and I have bought several from them.

 

[anricat]

I took my mirrorless. Most of the perks of a DSLR but about half the size. I have a Canon EOS-M and I love it. I got the lens adapter and now I can mount just about any Canon lens to it. I used two lenses in Alaska, the standard 18/55 that came with the camera and a 55/250 that I bought.

At no point did I have any regrets about taking a large lens with me. Here are my photos if you want to take a look: https://www.flickr.com/photos/31056658@N08/albums/72157669500558083

Here's just a sample of some of the photos I was able to get with the 55/250 lens.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I took my DSLR and an 18-300 Zoom Lens. I am so glad I did too. You need the reach to catch pictures of the wildlife.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

That is sort of what I am thinking too ... I don't want to be there and wish I had taken something better, but at the same time, don't want to lug a bunch of stuff with me everywhere.

I have a 35mm/1.8 and an 18-300mm that I was considering. What gear bag are you using? I was looking at the Fastpack 250 AW II.

Which Body? DX or FX?

Oh, and which sailing are you going on? We are planning on going too!

I don't have a huge arsenal of lenses. I don't want to lug everything either as we have binoculars to bring as well. I think those 2 will get me through. I have a DX body. I also want to bring along my tripod. See what fits in the luggage.

I have a backpack I bought from Amazon that I absolutely love after trying way too many types of bags. Victoriatourist V6022 Laptop Backpack for SLR Camera and 15 Inch Laptops with Waterproof Rain Cover, Black. It holds the body, lenses, accessories, laptop. I think it may even hold a change of clothes. It feels a bit bottom heavy when I wear it, but I don't find it bothersome. It's a nice, well-made bag that did not cost a fortune.

We are on the 6-August sailing. How about you?

 

[ladyofthetramp]

I took my mirrorless. Most of the perks of a DSLR but about half the size. I have a Canon EOS-M and I love it. I got the lens adapter and now I can mount just about any Canon lens to it. I used two lenses in Alaska, the standard 18/55 that came with the camera and a 55/250 that I bought.

At no point did I have any regrets about taking a large lens with me. Here are my photos if you want to take a look:

Beautiful pictures. A lot of folks love their mirrorless cameras. I agree. would not travel w/o a large lens

 

[cyclenut]

Is it worth bringing a DSLR or is something like an iPhone sufficient for the vast majority of photos?

If the former, lens recommendations? I don't want to be lugging a bunch of kit around if not necessary.

I bought a DSLR because I was sailing Alaska and wanted great pictures and I'm so glad I made the investment. If you have one, TAKE IT. I bought a T2i with two kit lenses (18-55 and 55-250). I added a used 50mm 1.4 to the kit. Worked GREAT. Sailing Panama Canal in April and considering an upgrade, but thinking back to Alaska and the pictures I was able to take there, I'm likely standing pat with my trust T2i. I did add a lowepro camera backpack to haul around my gear though. I've also given away my 55-250 lens to my daughter and don't have anything quite that long anymore. I suggest for Alaska you have at least a 250 or 300.

You can use your iPhone for wide angle shots. I also found it helpful in HDR mode. I don't take the time to do any photo editing (I know I should) so I can sometimes get better shots with the HDR mode when lighting is difficult. You can do that with your DSLR with much better results, but it takes a LOT more work and patience. I also carried a cheap point and shoot that was more portable for some of the shore excursions because I was too worried about getting my camera wet.

 

[OKW Lover]

Is it worth bringing a DSLR or is something like an iPhone sufficient for the vast majority of photos?

If the former, lens recommendations? I don't want to be lugging a bunch of kit around if not necessary.

Yes, its definitely worth bringing along your DSLR. The scenery there is spectacular!

As far as lens goes, it somewhat depends on what you have. For our second Alaska cruise I decided to get a better wide to tele zoom. Went with a Sigma 18-300 which served well for sweeping vistas and zoomed shots of the various points of interest.

 

[GPaLarry]

Whatever camera you bring, make sure it is protected from potential rain. It can be sunny one minute, then spritzing the next. It helps if it is bear-proof, too.

 

[xlxo]

I took my DSLR and an 18-300 Zoom Lens. I am so glad I did too. You need the reach to catch pictures of the wildlife.

I'm another 18-300mm lover. Very handy on the whale watches.

 

[jdg345]

I'm another 18-300mm lover. Very handy on the whale watches.

I'm looking at the new VRII, smaller and lighter (and cheaper) than the 1st Gen glass. If I take that and a 35mm/1.8 I think I have all my bases covered.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

DW and I each carry our DSLRs on vacation trips. She’s the real photographer and I play at it. We both go with DX camera bodies and zoom lenses, hers an 18-300 mm and mine an 18-200 mm. Both are VR II lenses. The extra reach of the 300 makes a significant difference. She also carries a 35 mm/1.8.

 

[jdg345]

DW and I each carry our DSLRs on vacation trips. She’s the real photographer and I play at it. We both go with DX camera bodies and zoom lenses, hers an 18-300 mm and mine an 18-200 mm. Both are VR II lenses. The extra reach of the 300 makes a significant difference. She also carries a 35 mm/1.8.

Thank you! Have you every had a situation where the 18-300 and 35/1.8 didn't cut it? I would imagine the 35mm is used mostly indoors (dinner, around the ship, etc.) and the 18-200 is taken for excursions or shooting landscapes from the deck?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I carried my DLSR DX with the 18-300 lens everywhere, even on the ship. You never knew when a whale was going to be sighted.