Going to Alaska...what new lens?

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/05/2005 05:03:08 PM · #1

Hey all,

Next spring I'm going to Alaska, but for the Christmas season I'm in the market for a new lens and I wanted it to be one I could use for the trip. For those of you who have been to Alaska or similar places, what's the best type of lens to get for there? I am shooting with the D100 and currently own the lenses in my profile. I am looking at either a super-wide angle so I can get good wide angle landscapes on the digital, something from 10-20mm, or I am looking for a fast telephoto going as high as 200-300 with a max aperature of f/4 though i'd prefer f/2.8. Which of these two should I go for? Also, in order to keep costs down, I think I will have to abandon my only Nikon Lenses rule and go for an off-brand like Sigma, anyone have any suggestions on what brands in particular are best? Or would it be best to save my dough and go whole-hog on a Nikkor?

Whoo, that was a lot of questions...

Thanks a ton,

Rando D300

12/05/2005 05:13:13 PM · #2

Adam you should rent good glass for the trip. It would keep the cost down. Just my opinion.
Check out this guys stuff //www.wildthingsphotography.com/detected.php?page=&pass=

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

12/05/2005 05:15:08 PM · #3

I'd opt for wide rather than zoom. For the landscape/scenery you'll be seeing at nearly every turn, you might never even take a good wide off your cam.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

12/05/2005 05:21:04 PM · #4

Renting is something I hadn't thought about. Do you have suggestions on where I can rent equipment? My local area is a bit deprived so far as photo stores go, I usually order everything through B&H. Is there anywhere on the web to rent?

Strangeghost, that's what I was thinking.

Rando D300

12/05/2005 05:23:01 PM · #5

You can rent at Vistek.ca

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

12/05/2005 05:46:20 PM · #6

Are you going on ship or by land? We went on a cruise on the inside passage. There you need 28-200 or so, e.g., normal to telephoto. Lots of scenery from the ship.

If you are going to do a lot ashore, where you can take advantage of wide angle perspective and depth of field, then absolutely 10mm! (10-20mm is fine, but I mostly find myself at 10mm so I wouldn't be afraid of a prime there!)

Azrifel

Nikon Coolpix P340

12/05/2005 05:49:53 PM · #7

The downside of a 10-20mm wide, especially 10mm wide, is the perspective. Stuff soon looks too distant and small when you go that wide for a landscape, unless you have some seriously interesting things in your foreground. I'd stick with the 18-70 and 24 wides for the landscapes and get a decent tele for wildlife and landscape isolation with compressed perspective.

Lot of money: Nikon 70-200 VR (or the 80-200 f/2.8) + 1.4x TC.
Less money: Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 and a Sigma TC.

yido

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

12/05/2005 06:52:30 PM · #8

If you plan on doing landscape,
Perhaps the Nikon 12-24, Tokina 12-24, or Sigma 10-20.
If you plan on shooting animals/nature, a macro lens or a long zoom.
70-200 lenses from Nikon and Sigma both come in f2.8 (which I think you mentioned fast lens as a need), but I think these would be too short. I'd recommend looking at longer but slower lenses such as sigma 50-500 for this purpose.

Sony 16-35mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE ZA OSS Lens

12/06/2005 01:17:47 PM · #9

It's going to be about 10 day trip to include land and sea. I'm guessing I'll want to take both wide-angle and telephoto shots, so I think i'll buy the Sigma 10-20 and rent a supertelephoto for nature shots.

crabappl3

12/06/2005 02:06:02 PM · #10

Originally posted by adurity:

I have a barely used 50-500 Sigma with a Nikon mount that I'd be willing to sell you.

This photo was taken by it up in Alaska.

Let me know if you're interested and we can work out some sort of deal.

-danny

bryanbrazil

Sony Alpha a7R III

12/06/2005 02:12:17 PM · #11

I was in Alaska for 2 weeks last summer and I would recommend at least a 300mm telephoto lens. Wide angle won't be any use if you want to shoot grizzlies, caribou, wolves, etc. I would also highly recommend going to Denali National Park if that's not already on your list.

Flash

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

12/06/2005 02:15:21 PM · #12

I've been to Alaska twice. Once in January for some dogsledding/photography and once in July for cruising the inside passage and photography. Both times my longest lens was a 300mm on a film body.

I am a great fan of my Sigma 50-500 and in Alaska it would be my first choice having been there. Coupled with a medium wide angle you would have the greatest range with the minimum of weight.

For Alaskan wildlife you simply need 500mm for decent frame filling captures. That translates to a 750mm on your D100. You will need the reach if eagles, otters, moose, blacktail dear, brown bear, or other marine/land animals are on your shooting list.

Edit...I'd contact Danny about his Sigma, take your Dx18-70 and your 50 f/1.8. You would have all bases covered with minimal cost and only have 1 non-Nikkor lense.

Message edited by author 2005-12-06 14:26:28.

dahkota

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

12/06/2005 02:22:08 PM · #13

Try penncamera.
They ship and have discounts for longer rentals. I buy from them and their service is great.

cpurser

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/06/2005 02:39:39 PM · #14

Originally posted by crabappl3:

Originally posted by adurity:
It's going to be about 10 day trip to include land and sea. I'm guessing I'll want to take both wide-angle and telephoto shots, so I think i'll buy the Sigma 10-20 and rent a supertelephoto for nature shots.

I have a barely used 50-500 Sigma with a Nikon mount that I'd be willing to sell you.

This photo was taken by it up in Alaska.

Let me know if you're interested and we can work out some sort of deal.

-danny

Dude, your Alaska gallery is freakin' awesome.

-Chad

crabappl3

12/06/2005 02:44:04 PM · #15

Originally posted by cpurser:

Dude, your Alaska gallery is freakin' awesome.

-Chad

Thanks! Wait until you see my Big Bend gallery ;-)

-danny

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

12/06/2005 03:08:42 PM · #16

Originally posted by crabappl3:

You went to Alaska???? ;)

eaglebeck

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/06/2005 04:24:21 PM · #17

The days are long in the summer. I had a nice spot for some sunset pictures and set up my camera about 9PM. Gave up about 11 PM because the sun did not appear to be setting. Great place and the most scenic place for pictures. I would use a 200-400 Zoom.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

12/06/2005 04:26:09 PM · #18

Originally posted by eaglebeck:

Sunset is probably after 1am in the summer.

bryanbrazil

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony 16-35mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE ZA OSS Lens

12/06/2005 05:05:41 PM · #19

I was there in July, and the sun went down and the moon came up about 1-2 AM every morning.

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Originally posted by eaglebeck:
The days are long in the summer. I had a nice spot for some sunset pictures and set up my camera about 9PM. Gave up about 11 PM because the sun did not appear to be setting. Great place and the most scenic place for pictures. I would use a 200-400 Zoom.

Sunset is probably after 1am in the summer.

bryanbrazil

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony 16-35mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE ZA OSS Lens

12/06/2005 09:34:48 PM · #20

Here are a few more shots from Alaska...

Kivet

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

12/06/2005 09:45:31 PM · #21

Are you going inland at all or are you staying on the coast? I know the interior around Fairbanks pretty well. Dont know much about the coast, though Ive been to Kodiak, that was great, incredible coast and wildlife.