If you had a choice, which Nikon zoom lens would you take to Alaska?

wildviper

Sup All,

I am planning a trip out to Alaska in the begining of September. I have a D70s, 18-70mm, 70-300mm Sigma APO, 50/1.8 that I will for sure take there.

However, I was thinking of renting a wide angle and a Nikon zoom. Which would you take:

Nikon AF VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D or
Nikon AF VR 70-200mm f/2.8D or
Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF or lastly:
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II

I am not so keen on the 18-200 cause I already have a good 18-70 with the Nikon DX lens.

Apprecaite any guidance. I like to take pictures of just about anything that looks good...wildlife, nature, people, architecture and so on.

Also, I am going to be hiking a bit and going on a day cruise to check out the glaciers.

thanx

Scott_Quier

If you are going to be driving along Turnagain Arm and/or down the kenai peninsula, I think I would take along a longer lens - your 400mm reach might be an option. The target? How about Dall Sheep and/or Mountain Goats, or bears, or ....

The opportunity for capturing wildlife is just too good to pass up and you may end up kicking yourself if you don't bring along a longer lens.

Aside from that, and not really knowing the Nikon lineup of lenses, I would think the other choices are pretty good. I might take a pass on the Sigma 70-300 though as it doubles the coverage provided by the 80-400.

brianb

Will you have a tripod? Even with VR, the longer lenses may be too long for handheld. Also, you may want to consider the 70-200 2.8 + a 1.4x teleconvertor, so you'll have the 2.8 option for low light/creative plus be able to go out to almost 300mm at f4.

Brian

Scott_Quier

brianb wrote:

Will you have a tripod? Even with VR, the longer lenses may be too long for handheld. Also, you may want to consider the 70-200 2.8 + a 1.4x teleconvertor, so you'll have the 2.8 option for low light/creative plus be able to go out to almost 300mm at f4.

Brian

- didn't even think about NOT having a tripod as I always take mine when I go to AK (been there 4 times in the last 4 years or so).

wildviper

Scott_Quier wrote:

- didn't even think about NOT having a tripod as I always take mine when I go to AK (been there 4 times in the last 4 years or so).

First of all thank you.

I agree with the Sigma lens. That is staying at home. As for a tripod, yes I intend to take one with me.

I am not so sure about these going to Turnagain Arm and/or down the kenai peninsula. Current plans are to drive to Seward from Anchorage and then drive up to Denali.

You recommend Kenai?? We have one day that we could do, but not sure.

Scott_Quier

wildviper wrote:

First of all thank you.

I agree with the Sigma lens. That is staying at home. As for a tripod, yes I intend to take one with me.

I am not so sure about these going to Turnagain Arm and/or down the kenai peninsula. Current plans are to drive to Seward from Anchorage and then drive up to Denali.

You recommend Kenai?? We have one day that we could do, but not sure.

Seward is on the Kenai Penisula. Unless you fly, to get from Anchorage to Seward, you must drive Turnagain Arm - it's the only road between those two points.

bham

Scott_Quier wrote:

Seward is on the Kenai Penisula. Unless you fly, to get from Anchorage to Seward, you must drive Turnagain Arm - it's the only road between those two points.

Its is scenic but is it very curvy. I think this is probably about the only time I ever almost got car sick, probably from trying to look at things out the windows the whole time.

I suggest taking the 80-400, due to the extra reach. I found (from my trip to AK) I either shot pretty wide or zoomed in as much as I could, with some in between, but mostly at the extremes.

tonichelle

bham wrote:

Its is scenic but is it very curvy. I think this is probably about the only time I ever almost got car sick, probably from trying to look at things out the windows the whole time.

I suggest taking the 80-400, due to the extra reach. I found (from my trip to AK) I either shot pretty wide or zoomed in as much as I could, with some in between, but mostly at the extremes.

I don't think it's all that curvy... the moutain roads in Northern California are way more curvy (and way less interesting, and horribly maintained, and I thought ALASKA roads were bad lol)

There's nothing better than the Kenai Peninsula! Seward is so much fun! Be sure to check out one of the sled dog tours/kennels (there's one that goes up on the glacier, though I think that closes around the time you're talking about coming up... there's also a dry land tour at the Seavey homestead)... and then there's the Kenai Fjords tour that is a must do IMHO... (I've never done it as we have our own boat, but if you don't have that option...) great photo ops and great Alaskan experiences... have fun! nothing beats it up here!

wildviper

Hey thank you everyone for your inputs. I agree that the 80-400 should be the way to go, but I like what Brian says as well about the teleconverter.

How about the 70-200 /2.8 with a 2x teleconverter? Would that work? I have never really used teleconverters and not sure how much quality I would loose to it.

Also, our plan is to drive frm ANC to Seward and spend a couple of days there. One day for the boat cruise to see the glaciers and the other day just to chill and see things on our own.

Then we drive to Denali from Seward (whole day dedicated to this) and spend a couple of days in Denali. Just FYI.

I am looking forward to this trip.

Thanx

Art Scott

For Ak I would go for the 80-400 and the TC ....... I have read a lot of the PROs that shoot the whales and they are using very long lenses and TC even from the boats that seem to be very close to subjects......that 80- 400 with 2x tc gets you out to 800mm.....so do use the t-pod all the time:D and you'll need a very wide angle zoom also to capture those landscape vistas properly

Since you don't own the 80-400, why not take the SIGGY and if you need to rent.....why not the BIGMA(Sigma 50-500).......now couple that with a Sigma 2xtc and look out Dall Sheep a mile away.....but it is HEAVY!!!

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!

wildviper

One more question, what about a Polarizer? I have never used one. Would that be beneficial?

Thanx