Lens Suggestions for Alaska

[GDUL]

We are getting close to our Alaska cruise. I have a Canon 50D with the following lenses: EF 50mm f/1.8, EF 70-300mm f/4 - 5.6 IS USM, and an EF 28 - 135 f3.5 - 5.6 IS USM. Should I be thinking about getting another lens for this trip? Since this might be the only time that we go to Alaska, I would hate to think "Boy, I wish that I had a .........." What else would you bring if you were going on this trip?

Thanks!

 

[annnewjerz]

If it were me, I would bring something wider---maybe the Canon 10-22. I would think that to really capture the expanses of the landscapes up there, the wider the better. We are planning to do a land-only self tour of Alaska within the next couple of years and a UWA lens is something I have on my list to bring.

 

[My2Girls66]

If you plan on photographing grizzlies or other wildlife- maybe a loooong lens?

 

[tiggr33]

We are getting close to our Alaska cruise. I have a Canon 50D with the following lenses: EF 50mm f/1.8, EF 70-300mm f/4 - 5.6 IS USM, and an EF 28 - 135 f3.5 - 5.6 IS USM. Should I be thinking about getting another lens for this trip? Since this might be the only time that we go to Alaska, I would hate to think "Boy, I wish that I had a .........." What else would you bring if you were going on this trip?

Thanks!

What is your style of photography and what do you want to shoot? That would be my first questions. Scenic/landscape shooters have one set of needs while wildlife/nature shooters have completely different needs. How much land time will you have? Are you planning excursions with photography in mind? Me personally, I would want at least a 400. I might even consider renting a 600 if in Alaska. Will you be hand holding? I didn't notice a tripod on your gear list. I'd pack a travel tripod and a gorillapod.

 

[GDUL]

What is your style of photography and what do you want to shoot? That would be my first questions. Scenic/landscape shooters have one set of needs while wildlife/nature shooters have completely different needs. How much land time will you have? Are you planning excursions with photography in mind? Me personally, I would want at least a 400. I might even consider renting a 600 if in Alaska. Will you be hand holding? I didn't notice a tripod on your gear list. I'd pack a travel tripod and a gorillapod.

I'm hoping that I'll get to shoot both wildlife / nature and scenic / landscape. Most of our excursions were chosen with photography in mind. I will have a monopod with me. I'm hoping that my 70 - 300 mm will be adequate for the long shots but I can see where a longer lens would be nice. I like the idea of a wider lens as I've seen some amazing photos of the Alaskan landscape. Maybe I'll rent a Canon 10 - 22 mm for the trip and see how that goes.

Thanks all for the suggestions!

 

[Pugrpooh]

We are getting close to our Alaska cruise. I have a Canon 50D with the following lenses: EF 50mm f/1.8, EF 70-300mm f/4 - 5.6 IS USM, and an EF 28 - 135 f3.5 - 5.6 IS USM. Should I be thinking about getting another lens for this trip? Since this might be the only time that we go to Alaska, I would hate to think "Boy, I wish that I had a .........." What else would you bring if you were going on this trip?

Thanks!

Which cruise are you going on? We're leaving 3 weeks from tomorrow and spending 5 days in Alaska before boarding the Sapphire Princess on Aug. 1.

I bought a 70-300mm lens specifically with this trip in mind and I was going to practice stitching shots together to make a panorama. I don't have an ultrawide lens. I don't want to bother with a tripod -- I figure we'll probably be on a ship, train or bus for most of the picture taking opportunities using the 70-300 and a tripod wouldn't work in those situations.

It should be an awesome trip!

 

[prophotogal]

I've cruised Alaska twice (and will keep going back). Both times I've taken my 28-80 and 75-300 (for the Rebel). Both times I came home with wonderfull pics (one I will cherish for a long long time. A Moose! I was on a Jet boat excursion in Haines and was were able to stop a take pics. (got it with the 75-300 lens).

 

[GDUL]

Which cruise are you going on? We're leaving 3 weeks from tomorrow and spending 5 days in Alaska before boarding the Sapphire Princess on Aug. 1.

I bought a 70-300mm lens specifically with this trip in mind and I was going to practice stitching shots together to make a panorama. I don't have an ultrawide lens. I don't want to bother with a tripod -- I figure we'll probably be on a ship, train or bus for most of the picture taking opportunities using the 70-300 and a tripod wouldn't work in those situations.

It should be an awesome trip!

We are also on the Sapphire Princess going northbound July 25 through August 1. We'll be spending a couple of days in Vancouver before the cruise and then a couple of days in Anchorage after the cruise. We'll probably pass each other in Whittier on August 1 - LOL!

 

[pointandshoot]

If you are just cruising with shore excursions, the 300mm will be enough. If you are going to glaciers, it will have enough reach to catch the calving. As for eagle shots, it you are going to Ketchikan, they are so common and fly very close. Now if you are thinking of shooting wildlife regularly, Canon offers some very nice 400mm len options (100-400mm 4.5-5.6 and 400mm 5.6) as well as a lower cost 300mm you can link to with teleconverter. For bears, they do not make a lens long enough for me

You do have a gap on the wide end of your kit. The 10-22mm is nice but will only work on crop bodies like you 50D. For the price, it is a good fit. Have a great trip!

Chuck

 

[pjacobi]

I've cruised on the Sapphire Princess to Alaska.

You will see wildlife, but do no expect to get spectacular animal shots from the regular cruise tour. The best you will get with a 300mm or 400mm lens is a brown/black blob with legs!

To get a good look at the wildlife, you need to get on a float plane and travel to someplace like Katmai or Denali NP. This requires more effort than just taking a cruise.

You need to decide if you are willing to expend the extra effort to get the shot. It's not for everybody.

As a compromise, I cruised with my family, then spent an extra week by myself touring the Alaska interior. I got within 50 feet of wild bear, protected by armed ranger.


-Paul

 

[prophotogal]

I disagree with that. Yes you can get great animal shots on a cruise excursion. It just depends on the excursion & time of day & time of year. Just don't go into an excursion with so much excitement of see animals that if you don't see anything you will be disappointed (go for the landscapes or fishing instead).

Whales and Eagles are abondant. Ketchikan is the best for eagles in flight. Princess will have a Naturalist onboard giving commentary while you are At Sea going through College Fjord & Glacier Bay. If they spot a whale or a bear on the shoreline they will let the whole ship know (great if you have a 75-300 lens).
Moose and Bear - are rare but not very rare. If you have to oppertunity to do a jet boat excursion in Haines (while you are in Skagway). Do IT! Of all the excursions I've done in Alaska this is the only one I've seen a moose in the wild and 2 Eagle nests (with eagles in them). I've seen moose and bear in captivity in Whittier.

There are 2 albums in my webshots albums of my Alaska cruises. Dawn Princess 2003 (Alaska Cruise Aug 28-Sept 8 (that was a cruise tour Started in Fairbanks and worked our way down to the ship 4 days later stopping in Denali)) and Sun Princess 2006 (named TX School Professional Photography Cruise 2006 - Alaska (roundtrip from Seattle)).