Super telephoto lens recs for Alaska cruise

[larissaannb]

We are headed out in June to Alaska and we have a Nikon D 3000 and a couple do good lenses. However, I am considering renting a super good telephoto lens for the wild life and landscape that we will see. Does anyone have a recommendation to steer me in the right direction? I am actually looking to rent one for the cruise.

Thank you!

 

[photo_chick]

Define what you think of as "super good"? Sharp, long, fast aperture? Which aspect is most important to you?

Also keep in mind that while wildlife tends to call for a really long lens landscape is usually shot with a wider lens. So you may find yourself a little frustrated with your field of view if you plan to use one lens for both.

 

[havoc315]

I'd plan on 2 lenses... 1 for landscapes, 1 for wildlife..

For wildlife, I'd look at something like this:

http://www.borrowlenses.com/product...on-SP-150600mm-f5663-Di-VC-USD-Lens-for-Nikon
Or this:

http://www.borrowlenses.com/product/nikon_super_tele/Nikon_200-400VRII

For landscapes, I'd go with:
http://www.borrowlenses.com/product/nikon_wide_angle/Nikon_AF_10-24mm_DX

Nice thing about this lens, is it would go from ultrawide (equivalent of 15mm on your camera), to more of a regular field of view (equivalent of 36mm)

Or, if I didn't feel the need for ultra-wide, and wanted more walk-around ability, I'd consider:

http://www.borrowlenses.com/product/nikon_wide_angle/Nikon_16-35mm_vr
Or

http://www.borrowlenses.com/product/nikon_wide_angle/Nikon_17-55mm_f2.8_AF-S_ED_DX

 

[nigelp]

It will all depend on what tours you are doing.

Are you going with DCL? We went last August and the widest we had available was 18mm. We didn't feel that we needed more.
The longest reach we had was 300mm which was used on a whale watching experience. We went on the photography wildlife tour which Disney offer - mainly because they use smaller boats that can get you closer.

My wife used a 100-300mm and while I used a simple 18-200. At one point when the whales came very close, the 100mm was too close for my wife to take any photos!

They weather was dull and grey yet we could get decent shutter speeds with kit lenses.

some examples ...
200mm ISO 400 1/1000 f6.7 with a bit of cropping (300mm might have filled the frame with the tail):

K30 3 by makingplansfor, on Flickr

55mm (from cruise ship):

Kx 1 by makingplansfor, on Flickr

 

[bob100]

We are headed out in June to Alaska and we have a Nikon D 3000 and a couple do good lenses. However, I am considering renting a super good telephoto lens for the wild life and landscape that we will see. Does anyone have a recommendation to steer me in the right direction? I am actually looking to rent one for the cruise.

Thank you!

I agree with the others, depends on what you mean by "super good" and you're better of using two lens for landscapes and wildlife. I shoot with Canon but the Nikon equivalent of the 100-400 or 400mm prime should be good for wildlife
also check out the new Tamron 150-600 it seems to be getting good early reviews

 

[Ljbadfan]

We have done the Alaska cruise the last 2 years and the only lens I take are the 18 -55mm and my 55-300 mm lens. These seem to work great for me. I also shoot with a Nikon d5000 which I feel is my most trusted camera I love shooting with.

 

[DoDaLeCa]

I've used a Sigma 50-500 OS which is probably the most flexible lens I have on full frame but I found it a bit too long on a crop camera at the short end to get my unequivocal recommendation for an all round lens on that camera (but it was awesome in terms of apparent reach!).

Image quality is pretty decent up to 400 mm and then falls off towards 500 mm. People often recommend a 100-400 or 80-400 but being able to get 50 mm on the wide end is what makes the lens usable for me in a wide variety of circumstances.

 

[NWDAD]

[U[/U

We have gone twice and had a D7000 with a 18-200 and a 70-300. The second trip we had a D7000 and a D7100. We took a 10-17 along with the other 2 on that trip. I kept.the 70-300 on my camera almost all.the time. It was perfect on Tracy Arm day and most of the excursions. Even got a whale shot on the ride the duck tour at Ketchikan.

Kevin

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We have done the Alaska cruise the last 2 years and the only lens I take are the 18 -55mm and my 55-300 mm lens. These seem to work great for me. I also shoot with a Nikon d5000 which I feel is my most trusted camera I love shooting with.

That's good to know. I also love my D5000 and have both lenses. Good to know I can get by with those and not have to have anything longer.

 

[Ljbadfan]

I also have the new Nikon 18 to 140mm lens. I use it now to replace my 18mm to 55mm lens.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I also have the new Nikon 18 to 140mm lens. I use it now to replace my 18mm to 55mm lens.

Sweet!