Good plan for Alaska Cruise?

Ironically I am going on this same cruise next week and will be taking three lenses, 17-40, 24-70, and 70-200 with 2X extender. I can't decide if I want to cram the old 1D2 in the bag next to the 5D3 or not, that bag is going to get pretty heavy quick!

Well I just got my rentals and I'm really excited now! That 100-400 is awesome! And the 14mm is pretty sweet too. A coworker offered to let me borrow his 24-70 (version 1) in place of my 24-105. I'm debating. I started packing last night and put the 35L and 24-105 in the kit along with the EOS M3 stuff. Then I'll have these 2 rentals.

Opinions on the 24-70 versus the 24-105 for this trip?

24-105

Given the weight of all your gear, I'd go with the 24-105 also. I would say that even if your friend was loaning you version 2 of the 24-70 f2.8. You are on the boat. IS will help. So will the extra reach. If you are doing events, low light stuff, portraits then, yes ", go ahead with the faster 24-70 but it's a brick.

Thanks. I was thinking the same thing, so I'll stick with the 24-105.

The 24-105 will also serve you well in Vancouver's STANLEY Park where I spent three days in May.

I'd take my old 24-105 instead of the 24-70 too if I still had it. After shooting a 17-40 the last few days, I didn't realize just how heavy that 24-70 really is.

Another vote for the 24-105L over the 24-70. You'll be carrying a lot of gear already, so the added weight of the f/2.8 zoom would be an extra burden.

This was a great post to read as I am leaving for Alaska in a couple of days on a inside passage tours. This is my third trip to Alaska and I am planning on taking the following equipment.

My Canon 7D, a 24-105 4L IS, 70-20 4L IS, and 1.4 Teleconverter. Gonna make use of my Canon G-15 for some of the other shots that I want that are quicker and easier to take so I do not have to lug around a lotta camera equipment.

Debating on taking a 17-40 4L as i am planning on doing a 3 hour Photo Tour in Skagway that is supposed to show you some different areas then you see on a tour. While I figure my G-15 may cover the wide angle sometimes good glass makes a difference.

By the way, I really enjoyed the pics of the Whale feeding that many of you showed. I have many of the same pics. It was great to see and photograph.

17-40 and 28-300L

throw the 14 because you just have to have it although I would go with a 24 myself.... you'll send the fantastic backgrounds into tiny with the 14.

Just got back late Friday and discovered I took a ton of pics. We were also in Skagway but it was probably our least favorite of the four stops we made. I used my 70-200 often, but only got a few shots of orcas, dolphins, and other critters from the boat. Just didn't get the opportunity to get the shots I hoped for. I probably had the most fun with the Rokinon 14mm on the 5D3, what a great little lens! The old 1D2 also got some great pics too switching between the 24-105 and 70-200.

mqqse wrote in post #18076126
Just got back late Friday and discovered I took a ton of pics. We were also in Skagway but it was probably our least favorite of the four stops we made. I used my 70-200 often, but only got a few shots of orcas, dolphins, and other critters from the boat. Just didn't get the opportunity to get the shots I hoped for. I probably had the most fun with the Rokinon 14mm on the 5D3, what a great little lens! The old 1D2 also got some great pics too switching between the 24-105 and 70-200.

What did you do in Skagway? We enjoyed the narrow gauge train through the old Dead Horse Pass, plus also took a four-wheel Jeep excursion in the Yukon Territory. Each port is only as good as what you make of it.

It was quite foggy on our last visit to Skawgway, but it led to a few nice "atmosphere" shots, such as the one below.

Very nice shot

I'll post more later, but I could have done the whole trip with the 5D3 and 24-105 and 100-400. I used the 14 and got some great shots. I used the EOS M3 with a few lenses and got some great shots. But the lions share was with the 24-105.

I got the same awesome shots of bubble feeding! lol The guides were saying there were at least 14-16 and it was "the best they'd seen all summer." It was either really awesome, or they are actually really good actors, which he claimed he was not. lol Though he may have been referring to the fact that they all swam by breathing 10 feet from the boat just after I took this shot! Wish I had thought faster to put my 100-400 away and get my iPhone out! It would have been FAR better at that point!

I got an awesome 13 shot panorama of Hubbard with the 24-105. Not sure it will present well in any format, but I was impressed with how well it stitched together in Lightroom! I also was taking most exposures bracketed and have been playing way too much with Photomatix. I downloaded it while I was on the trip. Trying not to get carried away with it in post but it's hard to resist. It's fun to play with!

A couple of my favorites.