Lens recommendations for Alaska Cruisetour

Well, after much more reading I've narrowed my choices down to:

• Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary OR
• Canon 100-400mm II and TC EF 1.4x III

Any thoughts on which wins out?

Thanks for the feedback - you're not making this easy 

Just being picky, but can I ask when you compared the two setups, were you using the 100-400 on the x1.4 extender? I know the 100-400 stands out as an excellent lens, but less sure about how it compares with the Sigma with the extender on.

CameraCarl wrote:

Have you taken into consideration the difference in weight and length of these two lenses? Four pounds plus the adapter for the Sigma compared to 1.4 pounds plus the 1.4x converter for the Canon? And 10-14 inches (Sigma) versus 6.5 inches (Canon). This itself would make it a no brainer for me.

Are you looking at the EF 100-400L ii or RF 100-400 ?

The EF 100-400L ii (as mentioned above by the OP) is around 1.59kg, which is just under 3.5lbs.

The Sigma 150-600 weighs 1.91kg which is 4.2lbs. It is also 30% longer than the EF 100-400L ii.

Obviously the Canon RF 100-400 is much smaller and lighter and doesn't need an adapter, but it wasn't on the short list posted above by OP.

I wasn't planning to buy - I'd rent them because, as you say, I want to build up my RF lenses.

I'm renting because my 2nd body will by my old 7D - so I want (EF) lenses that'd fit both bodies.

Mahin  I take it there are no shore trips.  If there are then you may be making a BIG mistake.  You dont seem to taking into account the weight of some the lens's your talking about and at the end of July just about the hottest time of the year.  Good luck

There are, but I'm also not sure that I'd need that sort of reach for those excursions. Really, my main concern is being able to capture decent shots of the glaciers and whales (should they turn up!). For other times, I'd probably leave the super-zoom in the cabin.

What would you recommend?

24-240 and rent the 100-500

That would commit me to the RF mount - essentially making the 7D (my backup) redundant 

I've sailed through the inside passage many times and visited Denali twice.  I could help more if I knew your ship's itinerary (which glacier(s) you'll see), what shore excursions you'll be taking and what you'll be doing in Denali for 4 days.

Thanks! We still have a few afternoons to plan out, but what we have so far is below:

Day 1:

• London -> Vancouver
• Afternoon: Wander around Vancouver

Day 2:

• AM: Prince of Whales - whale watching boat trip
• PM: TBD

Day 3:

• Lynn Canyon (walks and waterfalls)

Day 4:

• Grouse Mountain (Skyride)

Day 5:

• Seawall cycle

Day 6:

• AM: Travel: Vancouver -> Anchorage
• PM: Wander around Anchorage

Day 7:

• Travel: Anchorage -> Denali
• One of:
  • McKinley Station trail: an approx 3 mile hike/self guided tour from Denali Visitor Centre to Riley Creek (highlights include historic building remains, geologic features, the railroad trestle, and Riley Creek.)
  • Mt Healy Overlook Trail 

Day 8:

• AM: Hiking (Which ever we don’t do on Sunday)
• PM: Denali: Natural History Tour [PM - 4.5hrs]

Day 9:

• AM Cycle/Free shuttle bus to Savage River Walk
• PM: Cycle/Walk/free bus to Sled Dog Demos.

Day 10:

• Travel: Denali -> Whittier [9.25hrs!]
• Board cruise ship

Day 11:

• At Sea: Hubbard Glacier
  • Glacier close-up excursion

Day 12:

• At Sea: Glacier National Park

Day 13: Skagway

• AM: Rail, Summit, Suspension Bridge & Garden Lunch [7hrs]
• PM (1500-2000) - TBD

Day 14:  Juneau

• AM: Helicopter Glacier Trek
• PM (1130-1530) - TBD

Day 15: Ketchikan

• AM: Totem Bight State Park & Lumberjack Show
• PM (1500-1800) - TBD

Day 16: Inside Passage

• At Sea

Day 17: Return to Vancouver

• Vancouver -> London

Mahin wrote:

There are, but I'm also not sure that I'd need that sort of reach for those excursions. Really, my main concern is being able to capture decent shots of the glaciers and whales (should they turn up!). For other times, I'd probably leave the super-zoom in the cabin.

What would you recommend?

In that case it seems like the RF 24-240 would be the one, I sure do like my copy. Check out any reviews you can find online. Its not perfect but it does a good over all in ONE lens.  Only down side is weight, it is heavy.

Best of luck

See some examples at the end of my post.

Mahin wrote:

Thanks! We still have a few afternoons to plan out, but what we have so far is below:

Day 1:

• London -> Vancouver
• Afternoon: Wander around Vancouver

Wide angle

Day 2:

• AM: Prince of Whales - whale watching boat trip
• PM: TBD

Orcas, possibly Humpbacks. I recommend a zoom with a wide range. Anything over 300mm might be too difficult to use on a small craft.

Day 3:

• Lynn Canyon (walks and waterfalls)

I've not been

Day 4:

• Grouse Mountain (Skyride)

Great views of the city and surrounding mountains

Day 5:

• Seawall cycle

I've not been

Day 6:

• AM: Travel: Vancouver -> Anchorage
• PM: Wander around Anchorage

Just a small city. Eat dinner at Humpy's.

Day 7:

• Travel: Anchorage -> Denali
• One of:
  • McKinley Station trail: an approx 3 mile hike/self guided tour from Denali Visitor Centre to Riley Creek (highlights include historic building remains, geologic features, the railroad trestle, and Riley Creek.)
  • Mt Healy Overlook Trail

You will see some great scenery. You may see some wildlife, but you're not really in the park.

Day 8:

• AM: Hiking (Which ever we don’t do on Sunday)
• PM: Denali: Natural History Tour [PM - 4.5hrs]

This will be your best opportunity to see wildlife. The coach that you will ride in is a former school bus and the windows drop down giving you good photo opportunities. They will stop whenever wildlife is viewable. Bring your longest lens.

Day 9:

• AM Cycle/Free shuttle bus to Savage River Walk
• PM: Cycle/Walk/free bus to Sled Dog Demos.

Savage River can give you some good wildlife. We watched (and photographed) a small group of Dall Sheep cross the Savage River at the end of the loop trail which I shot using a 70-200.

Day 10:

• Travel: Denali -> Whittier [9.25hrs!]
• Board cruise ship

If you're taking the train, try to get some images from the rear car. By coach or train, you will see some great scenery.

Day 11:

• At Sea: Hubbard Glacier
  • Glacier close-up excursion

From your ship, a wide to long is what you'll want; use a long lens for wildlife floating on the ice. If your "close-up excursion" is in a Zodiak, holding a long lens is problematic - and you might get sprayed.

Day 12:

• At Sea: Glacier National Park

Same as Hubbard Glacier

Day 13: Skagway

• AM: Rail, Summit, Suspension Bridge & Garden Lunch [7hrs]
• PM (1500-2000) - TBD

No reason to carry a long lens.

Day 14: Juneau

• AM: Helicopter Glacier Trek
• PM (1130-1530) - TBD

No reason to carry a long lens. Juneau has some of the world's best Humpback viewing on a whale watching tour.

Day 15: Ketchikan

• AM: Totem Bight State Park & Lumberjack Show
• PM (1500-1800) - TBD

No reason to bring a long lens. My recommendation for Ketchikan is a boat trip to Misty Fjords National Monument.

Day 16: Inside Passage

• At Sea

Keep an eye out for whales. You'll need a long lens.

Day 17: Return to Vancouver

• Vancouver -> London

Juneau whale watching tour - 7D 70mm

Alaska Railroad

From the ship; Sawyer Glacier - R7 100mm

Savage River, composite - 7D 113mm

From the ship; Breeching humpback - 7D 500mm

Be sure to shoot some video. Glaciers calving, eagles catching fish, and whales feeding and breaching are good subjects. If the train from Alaska to Whittier has a rear car, try to capture a video from the very back as you enter the tunnel (I went through it by bus in one direction and rental car in the other, so didn't have good photographic opportunities).

Highly recommend Stanley Park over wandering around Vancouver (unless jet lag has you limited). Princess cruise? Any photography will be from 50+ feet above the water. Prince William Sound is beautiful. I hope you get a look at College Fjord or Eaglek Falls. Be on the rail ready to shoot through Inian Pass. We had great eagles, sea lions, and sea otters there. If you pass by Pleasant Island and are really lucky, you may spot some of its wolves.

Dave wrote:

Be sure to shoot some video. Glaciers calving, eagles catching fish, and whales feeding and breaching are good subjects. If the train from Alaska to Whittier has a rear car, try to capture a video from the very back as you enter the tunnel (I went through it by bus in one direction and rental car in the other, so didn't have good photographic opportunities).

Highly recommend Stanley Park over wandering around Vancouver (unless jet lag has you limited). Princess cruise? Any photography will be from 50+ feet above the water. Prince William Sound is beautiful. I hope you get a look at College Fjord or Eaglek Falls. Be on the rail ready to shoot through Inian Pass. We had great eagles, sea lions, and sea otters there. If you pass by Pleasant Island and are really lucky, you may spot some of its wolves.

Thanks for the tips! Stanley Park is definitely on our list - we're planning to do the Seawall on bikes and make our way through Stanley Park as we go.

And yep, it's a Princess Cruise:

https://www.princess.com/search-cruise/details/?voyageCode=H323&resType=T&tourCode=T3ADB4

Day 14: Juneau

• AM: Helicopter Glacier Trek
• PM (1130-1530) - TBD

No reason to carry a long lens. Juneau has some of the world's best Humpback viewing on a whale watching tour.

Day 15: Ketchikan

• AM: Totem Bight State Park & Lumberjack Show
• PM (1500-1800) - TBD

No reason to bring a long lens. My recommendation for Ketchikan is a boat trip to Misty Fjords National Monument.

Day 16: Inside Passage

• At Sea

Juneau whale watching tour - 7D 70mm

Alaska Railroad

From the ship; Sawyer Glacier - R7 100mm

Savage River, composite - 7D 113mm

From the ship; Breeching humpback - 7D 500mm

Thanks very much for all your suggestions. Your photos are really lovely - I love the breeching humpback and Alaska railroad one especially.

It's a Princess cruise.

https://www.princess.com/search-cruise/details/?voyageCode=H323&resType=T&tourCode=T3ADB4

We are taking the train from Denali --> Whittier and they claim the train has areas for taking in the scenery, so I'm hopeful.

You've given me pause for thought on what excursion to do in Juneau!

Based on what you've said so far, I still feel that I need a lens with a long reach, but not necessarily to carry everywhere (e.g. to have on the ship for the Inside Passage).

Which brings me back to:

• EF 17-40 f4L
• EF 24-70 f4L IS

and one of these, which will probably live in the cabin most of the time.

• Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary OR
• Canon 100-400mm II f4-5.6 IS and TC EF 1.4x III

The range of the 100-400 is appealing more now though.