Galapagos - Lens Q

[luxborealis]

In March, I will be in Galapagos. Although I'll be leading a group of students, I should manage to get some decent photography done whilst there.

Currently, for telephoto work I'm using a Nikkor 300/4. Paired with a TC-14, it was a great lens combo on my D800E for photographing wildlife in south Florida. The larger birds and 'gators seemed very accessible within this focal length range (see my Flickr Album).

My understanding is that wildlife on Galapagos is "very" accessible, so my question is directed to those who have experience photographing in Galapagos, specifically on San Cristobal and Santa Cruz...

Would the 300/4 + 1.4TC suffice, or would I be better served with one of the following zooms:

• • adding the 70-200/4 to my kit; or
• • selling the 300/4 and purchasing the new 80-400/4.5-5.6 G

Both options add flexibility by being zooms. The 70-200/4 gets exceptionally good reviews with regards to IQ, the 80-400 G less so, but it has greater reach and even more flexibility.

So, I guess I'm asking if the greater flexibility would be helpful or if I would be equally well-served with what I am currently using?

Thanks.

[pollarda]

I haven't been to the Galapagos but I do quite a bit of travel photography for my business including all over Ecuador (which owns the Galapagos).   Here is my take: image quality is of course, quite important. However, the ability to get the photography you want when you want it far outweighs image quality.  When you are out of town, the ability to run home and grab that lens you forgot is an impossibility.  I would opt for taking the 80-400 which I have found to be an exceptional lens.  Yes, there are lenses that are sharper or may win out in a technical comparison.  However, the quality is still amazing.

Here is a panorama that I put together over at Kolob canyon: http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/140376    It was shot with the 80-400 racked all the way out to 400.   It is 6.6 GIGApixels and took 45 minutes to shoot with my D800E.  Zoom up to the top of one of the mountains and you can see the roots of the trees and pebbles and small stones.  My only regret is that I started shooting at the top and worked down where if I had started at the bottom and worked up, the shadow wouldn't have been so deep and I would have caught an incredible moonrise over the mountain.

At the same time, when I head down to Central and South America, I have an F-Stop Satori pack with about 40-50lbs worth of gear so I rarely travel light. (A bit of a mistake at times but at least I can get any photo that I want.)

[digitaldog]

Was there two years ago. I’m a Canon shooter but the 100-400mm was what I used 90% of the time. You get VERY close the animals so I don’t know if you’ll need a teleconverter.

[stever]

the 80-400 is really the best choice for the Galapagos.  you won't need longer or shorter very often and will rarely have to change lenses.  as mentioned you generally get very close to the wildlife.  but there are shots of birds in flight (for which the flexibility of zoom is very nice), shots from zodiacs (depending on your tour) and small bird (if you're interested) where 400 and even longer can be used.

I wouldn't make a trip like the Galapagos with just one body.  a 70-200 on the 800 and a crop frame backup with the 300 (and extender if necessary) is another possibility.

I'm a Canon shooter and sold my 300 f4 quite some time ago as the 100-400 was so much more productive for me shooting wildlife.

[Eric Brody]

I had the privilege of going to the Galapagos with Lindblad National Geographic this past February. I brought my D800E, the 24-70 f/2.8, used rarely, and my 70-200 f/2.8 along with a borrowed 1.7 teleconverter. I was able to do quite well with the 70-200, I thought, but would have done even better with a bit longer lens. Were I to go again, I'd bring an 80-400 or the 200-400. I shot almost all hand held though I had a good monopod, it was too hard to use. The animals are quite accessible. Birds in flight are another matter though. Sea lions and iguanas (iguanae?) are so close you can almost step on them. You can see my efforts at my website www.ericbrodyphoto.com. I agree a backup body is essential. Though I brought my old D700, I fortunately did not have to use it.

[E.J. Peiker]

You can't beat the 80-400 class of lenses there although your combo of 70-200 + 300 +1.4x should give you the versatility you need.  I would definitely also take something like a 24-70 or 24-120 for other types of shots and maybe an extension tube or some other method to get close up little things.

[shotworldwide]

You can get very close to animals - so close you can touch them with your hand. There are some restricted areas where you can't go without permission so I would suggest to check your locations before you will get there.

Regards, Filip

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http://shotworldwide.com

[luxborealis]

Thanks, everyone, for your assistance. Very helpful.