Best Lens for the Job

[fredam]

I am learning to use my D3000 and find myself mostly shooting wildlife and landscapes. For the summer I plan to travel to Denali National Park in Alaska to do some photo walks. What, in your opinion, would be the best lens(es) for the job? Keep in mind that I will be hiking and can't carry alot of equipment. Please let me know any filters you may recommend or precautions for my camera too.

[Samanax]

What lenses do you have now?

If you plan to buy a new lens, what's your budget?

[OsmosisStudios]

Alaska, and Denali in particular, is the perfect place for LONG lenses. Very long lenses. I spent 2 weeks up there with 300mm and it wasn't enough, even on a crop.

You'll want AT LEAST the 70-300 VR. Better yet, though, would be to rent a 400/2.8 VR or 500/4 VR and carry a walk-around zoom.

[inkista]

Errr... what with the lotsa hiking, I'd say a 400/2.8 or 500/4 is out. Them's honkin' big heavy lenses (10 lbs. & 6.3"x14.5", and 8 lbs. & 5.5"x15.4" respectively), and you probably need equally honking tripod gear to go with. If you have to go supertele, the VR 80-400 f/4.5-5.6D might be best (3 lbs. & 3.6"x6.7"), and even that's pushing it given how much smaller/lighter a 70-300 is going to be (<1 lb. & 2.9"x4.6").

Second lens, I'd say an ultrawide, like the 12-24, or if you want to cover the walkaround range as well, maybe the 16-85.

[fredam]

Originally Posted by Samanax

What lenses do you have now?

If you plan to buy a new lens, what's your budget?

Right now the only lens I have is the 18-55 mm that came with the camera as a kit. I really can't afford anything too expensive in the budget but I could go up to $500 if I had to. In reality, I know this isn't enough for the huge lenses that are required for Alaska but I am just starting out with photography and I would like advice on this because I'm uber newbie.

[Mso]

I'd get the 70-300 vr then. I use it to take photos of horse events. A really great lens for the price.

[inkista]

Ah. If that's the budget, and you have the 18-55, I'd also say go for the 70-300 VR and learn how to shoot for panorama stitching and how to stop the 18-55 down to f/8 . If you're on a really tight budget, there's also the Sigma 70-300s.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by inkista

the VR 80-400 f/4.5-5.6D might be best

No AF on the D3000 (no AF-S). Thats why alot are clamouring for Nikon to release the rumoured 100-500 AF-S VRII