Alaskan Cruise and Outings - help w lens choices

[Vern]

Thanks again for all the advice. A brief trip report in return:
Most used lens = 70-200 II, perfect for landscape from the ship. A few examples:


Second = 600 f4 II w and w/o 1.4X III (I used the 2X III as well but was never really satisfied with those.) Some favorites:


to be continued....

[Vern]

The other lenses I used a great deal were the 16-35 II and the 85 1.2 II. While I used the 300 2.8 II and the 24 TS II, I could have done OK w/o them. I was generally too busy and/or with a group to use the 24 - which takes proper concentration and time (for me anyway) and the 300 only occasionally contributed to landscape shots. For wildlife even the 600 + 1.4 was often too short. Having both bodies was a great benefit as I could have the 70-200 II on one and the other mounted on the 600 and a tripod w gimbal. The Lowepro and Lightware worked fine - though a full Lowepro was a chore to carry (47 lbs). The only real disappointment was not seeing any bears in Hoohnah - too early for the salmon run - next time......