What lenses to take on our cruise?

[MAJPLO]

I know there are a few of you out there who take great shots from your cruise vacations. To answer, "what do you want to shoot," everything. Scenery, the ship, family. I can skip food shots I think. What is the least I could bring but still have the best options?

 

[bob100]

I know there are a few of you out there who take great shots from your cruise vacations. To answer, "what do you want to shoot," everything. Scenery, the ship, family. I can skip food shots I think. What is the least I could bring but still have the best options?

it probably depends on destination, current lens, weight and space in your bag, etc.

For me on a Caribbean cruise it's a 17-50, 30mm 1.4, 55-250IS and maybe one other lens
plus a lightweight tripod
maybe an extra SD card or two

 

[zackiedawg]

I always bring a lot - but I cruise often, photography is a primary part of my cruise planning, and I can often drive to the ship so don't have to worry about packing.

However, if I had to narrow things down to a 'must have' lens range for my own shooting, it would probably be something like:

10mm-18mm ultrawide (can be whatever ultrawide lens you may have - a 12mm prime, 16mm prime, 10-20mm, 10-24mm, 11-16mm, etc.) - especially useful to me for on the ship shots - the lounges and rooms, your cabin, and of course lovely island scenics on narrow streets in the Caribbean of architecture and trees and beaches.

18-55 kit lens (or if you have an ultrazoom lens like an 18-200 or 18-250mm that can take its place as an all-in-one solution)...for the everyday stuff

30mm to 35mm F1.4 to F1.8 prime lens - gotta have one shorter standard focal length lens that's nice and fast, for indoor shots, handheld night shots, etc.

At least one lens that can reach a little farther - either the afformentioned 18-250mm type lens, or a 55-200 or 70-200mm type lens, for those things you may want a little more reach for.

That should do it for the basics - 3 or 4 lenses would cover everything from 10mm to 250mm, plus an F1.4 for the low light needs.

I typically bring two camera bodies, all the lenses mentioned above, plus 2 or 3 additional fast primes, at least one mega-telephoto prime or zoom, a superzoom travel lens, teleconverters, tripod, and more...I'll have up to 26 lenses with me at times. But I'm a photo nut and don't need to weigh to get on airplanes!

If I had to go light and small, the list I gave would probably do the trick. In fact, I went to Disney World in late July and left the DSLR home, bringing only my A6000 mirrorless with a 10-18, 18-55, 55-210, and 35mm F1.8 lens set (plus one manual 35mm F1.4 prime too)...that kit pretty well covered all my needs and fit into a small shoulder bag.

 

[boBQuincy]

My usual assortment of lenses is similar to the previous posters choices: wide, normal, long, and a fast prime. For me (micro 4/3) that means 7-14, 12-35, 35-100, and 25 f/1.4.

 

[SrisonS]

I know there are a few of you out there who take great shots from your cruise vacations. To answer, "what do you want to shoot," everything. Scenery, the ship, family. I can skip food shots I think. What is the least I could bring but still have the best options?

What is your current lens lineup???

I take all of my lenses; but I also only have 3. But they cover everything I know I'll try to shoot. I have a 10-22 for a lot of the ship's scenery. I have a 18-35 f/1.8 for my indoor shots. And a 18-135 for off the ship, when I'm unsure of what my subjects might be. Of course things will switch up, depending on my circumstances. But that's the base of my thinking.

 

[MAJPLO]

what is your current lens lineup???

I take all of my lenses; but i also only have 3. But they cover everything i know i'll try to shoot. I have a 10-22 for a lot of the ship's scenery. I have a 18-35 f/1.8 for my indoor shots. And a 18-135 for off the ship, when i'm unsure of what my subjects might be. Of course things will switch up, depending on my circumstances. But that's the base of my thinking.

10-20, 18-55, 18-135, 50-200, 35 2.4, 50 1.8

 

[zackiedawg]

Of that selection, I think I'd probably bring the 10-20, the 18-135, and the 50 F1.8...with the 50-200 only if you felt you'd need or want the reach for any wildlife or distant scenery. I assume the 18-135 is of as-good or better quality as your 18-55 kit, so it would serve as a more useful all-in-one walkaround lens. You could likely get by without th e50-200 and kit, and still be well covered for most needs with the other 3.

 

[Coach]

I have to agree with just about everyone else here. When I had my D200 I used my Tokina 11-16 MM F2.8 about 85% of the time with my 18-200 filling out the remainder of my cruise pics. Now that I have a D610, my go-to lens is my Nikon 16-35 F4.0 VR. My DW and I will be taking our 10th Disney cruise in April and along with my 16-35 I will also be taking my 70-200 f2.8 and my 50mm f1.4. I always take at least three lenses with me on the cruise but that doesn't mean I'm going to be carrying them with me all the time. I would rather have the extra lenses with me and not use them then need them and not have them. Remember, its not that long of a walk back to your stateroom to get that "right" lens.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Shazzasmd]

I usually take several lenses whenever I travel. However, on cruises, I find I mostly use a wide angle (16-35mm f/2.8). This works well for shots on the ship, and even for food photos.

I would add a zoom to at least 200mm for land tours. (Obviously, more zoom for somewhere like Alaska).

 

[k5jm]

80-200 F2.8L
8mm Fisheye (Great for the tight spaces!)
17-40 F4L
24-105 F4L
and an external flash