I'll be joining the Turks and Caicos Aggressor in the spring on one of their humpback whale snorkeling trips, and I'm looking for lens recommendations; both underwater, and topside. I'll be using a crop camera (Rebel XT) with Ikelite housing while underwater. I currently have the Canon 17-40 lens, but I'm thinking that won't be wide enough! And for topside, I have the 70-300 IS, but I'm thinking of adding the 400 f/5.6 prime.
For anyone who has done this trip before, what lens recommendations would you make?
Thanks in advance!
you are right, the 17-40 will be too long in some instinces at Silver Bank. I used a 16-35 zoom on a film camera at both Silver Bank and a couple of times in Tonga. I would advocate a zoom because the encounters can be quite varied, very close sometimes, further away other times; one whale, two whales, three whales etc. So for your camera, maybe the 10-22 canon lens or a Sigma 10-20mm are your choices.
darren
Go long for topside...I've been there twice and each time I wish had a longer lens...the buggers always seem to be breaching just a tad farther than I could fill the frame with. Then again on my 2nd trip, we had 5 whales in a rowdy group all over the boat...kinda needed wide there . Your'e gonna love the trip...I'm hooked on humbacks!
For the snorkelling part, I'd recommend something wider, like a 10-20mm lens. This should give you sufficient flexibility if you can't get very close, but should be wide enough for closer encounters too.
. Your'e gonna love the trip...I'm hooked on humbacks!
