Hi Bruce,

As you are discussing with Mike, there are two distinct lighting conditions that you may want to consider, literally, night and day. For night, you likely do want the f/1.4 lens.

For day, or sunrise/sunset, focal length is not much about the "beach" and is more about subject and composition. I've shot beach sunrises with my 16-35 and with my 150-600 and every lens in between. it all depends on what you want in the composition. And I would think about that while you are there. Sometimes it is more interesting to focus on something specific (longer focal lengths) and sometimes it is better to display the entire scene or pull multiple components of a scene together (wider focal lengths).

So, I would be tempted to bring at least the 17-55, 50 f/1.4 and 70-200. The macro would be more if you are planning to take pics of exotic flowers, or something like that. Its the one I would be on the fence about.

But, a few items I would also consider:
  • Good tripod
  • CPL (polarizing filter) can be used to minimize glare from water and even help you see into the water in some conditions.
  • Graduated ND filter to work with that sky land interface for landscape shots.
  • Reverse graduated ND filter same as grad filters but for sunrises/sunsets as the filter is darkest at the horizon and lightens above that.
  • 6-10 stop ND filter, just in case you want longer shutter speeds, to blur the water, blur out people as they walk on the boardwalk, etc.
  • Something to protect your camera/especially if changing lenses on the beach (sand is not your camera's friend)


So, I would think about the type of shots you will be trying to take. I often browse flickr looking for specific forums that focus on pictures I might be taking (a few possible examples: beach, beach, beach and Barbados) and I figure out how they took the shot and what I would need to do something similar.

I would consider something like a 2 stop hard edge graduated ND filter (I recommend Lee), a 3 stop soft edge graduated ND filter (Lee again), a 3 stop reverse ND filter (I own Signh-Ray), and a CPL. I have to admit, I have used my grad ND filters less and less, but that is more about the subjects I have shot and the fact that in the last year or two I haven't shot many sunsets and if I did I waited until after the sunset to get the reflection off the clouds.

Good luck, and enjoy the trip. I've heard good things!