Cruise photography

[IanDavidson]

I am going on a month long Caribbean cruise next year, sailing from Southampton. .  I am taking my Z9, a variety of lens, tripod, filters, laptop etc.  This is mainly for the excursions and sea shots.  I am not a land/seascape photographer so any tips or suggestions would be appreciated 

 

The excursion trips have short phot opportunities in most cases so I will not have a lot of time at each opportunity.  The itinerary includes a number of islands such as St. Lucia, Barbados etc.

 

The photography is incidental to the trip as I want to enjoy the experience with my wife first and foremost with the photography for memory and stock as a secondary consideration. 

[MDM]

The Z9 et al is massive overkill for what you are intending to do. Unless you enjoy carrying heavy weights around and sticking out like a sore thumb, get yourself a Z6III with a 24-120 Z lens (maybe you already have one, if not get one anyway as it is an amazing multipurpose lens).The Z6III is basically a mini-Z9/Z8. Leave the tripod at home. The IBIS and low light ability of the Z6III would allow you to capture almost anything you would use a tripod for on a trip like this unless you are planning to do video. And get an iPhone16 Pro as backup. The image quality attainable is unbelievable. For general pictorial photography of the kind you are intending, it would probably be more than adequate for just about anything on a trip like this. 

Edited November 20 by MDM

[Steve Hyde]

Hi Ian, we took an eleven day Caribbean cruise back in 2019. We flew to Miami and sailed, from there, stopping at the Dutch Caribbean Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. I was a total cruise sceptic before the holiday and came back wanting to book another cruise straight away. Covid put paid to that idea!

 

I took all my Fujifilm kit and used it everywhere we went but, looking back, I would have been fine with just my Sony RX100. I suppose I could make that argument for most of our holidays but I still always take the Fujifilm kit with me. That paid off in Marrakesh last month when we had some fantastic storms at dusk. The RX100 would have struggled in the rain and low light but using the XT5 I came away with lots of shots I could use.

 

I found the island stop offs were crowded and just full of the usual tourist tat shops. I enjoyed the days at sea, more than the port stops. There again, if you’re away for a month, I should think you’ll be glad to get off the ship for a few hours. 
 

I would say I came away with exactly what you’re after. Lots of shots for the Amazon Echo screensaver and some stock shots, some of which sell from time to time. 
 

If our experience is anything to go by you’ll have a great time 😎

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 20 by Steve Hyde

[NYCat]

Do be sure to enjoy the trip and not get all caught up in the photography. I suspect the most salable photos will be the ones showing your fellow tourists enjoying the sights. Maybe check on Alamy before you go to see what is already here so you might capture something different. Enjoy!

 

Paulette

[Sultanpepa]

The excursions are a bit rushed, the transport tight and I doubt you'll need a tripod. Sometimes you'll only get 15 minutes or so to grab what pictures you can. I used a mixture of RX100 and D850 with a variety of lenses but It's a heavy load to carry and can get a bit annoying at times. Best tip I could give is not to put a lens on a table. If the boat hits rough seas your lens will drop on the floor. Luckily mine survived intact from the 18" drop. 🫤

 

Edit- Oh and if you're planning any excursions on your own, don't miss the sailing time, the boat won't wait.

Edited November 20 by Sultanpepa

[Robert M Estall]

I did quite a few shoots in the Caribbean; the local lads play up photographers in many sites and will demand compensation. The more professional you look the more persistent they will get. Don't even think about setting up a tripod. Enjoy your cruise, might be more relaxing to leave the camera at home. I once went with some friends to Venice and didn't even take a camera. The world doesn't really need more photos of Venice. I just had a nice holiday!

[Allan Bell]

3 hours ago, Sultanpepa said:

The excursions are a bit rushed, the transport tight and I doubt you'll need a tripod. Sometimes you'll only get 15 minutes or so to grab what pictures you can. I used a mixture of RX100 and D850 with a variety of lenses but It's a heavy load to carry and can get a bit annoying at times. Best tip I could give is not to put a lens on a table. If the boat hits rough seas your lens will drop on the floor. Luckily mine survived intact from the 18" drop. 🫤

 

Edit- Oh and if you're planning any excursions on your own, don't miss the sailing time, the boat won't wait.

 

Was that comment from experience.😉

 

Allan

 

[Mr Standfast]

 

For sitting on the deck and watching the world go by, two pairs of binoculars, one for you, one for herself. No arguments about re-focusing them!

 

A maybe a short zoom or maybe just a 35mm prime for the Z9. Photographers with a prime lens always look a bit enigmatic, you aren't on a cruise just for the pictures...

 

My rules for tripods are simple, you need two. One to leave in the car and one to leave at home.

 

Sun cream!

 

Have a good one.🙂

 

 

[CAROL SAUNDERS]

7 hours ago, IanDavidson said:

I am going on a month long Caribbean cruise next year, sailing from Southampton. .  I am taking my Z9, a variety of lens, tripod, filters, laptop etc.  This is mainly for the excursions and sea shots.  I am not a land/seascape photographer so any tips or suggestions would be appreciated 

 

The excursion trips have short phot opportunities in most cases so I will not have a lot of time at each opportunity.  The itinerary includes a number of islands such as St. Lucia, Barbados etc.

 

The photography is incidental to the trip as I want to enjoy the experience with my wife first and foremost with the photography for memory and stock as a secondary consideration. 

Wow I have cruise envy.  Have a brilliant time, I love the Caribbean !

 

Go with what MDM and Steve say and see my comment under Smartphone.

 

Also yes if you book the cruise excursions they can be rushed and depending on time of year how busy the ports are and how many other ships are visiting.  You can find out in advance by googling.

 

If you don't use cruise excursions I can recommend Viator who I have found brilliant and no rushing, or alternatively a local taxi driver who can show you whatever you want and again no rushing.  We had a brilliant one in Funchal, the whole day for 100 Euros, he was fantastic but always ensure you are back to the ship in time - it won't wait of course!  Can I ask what ship you are going on?

 

Anyway have a blast and enjoy ....  oooh just see you are going for a month 😃take elasticated clothes, am very envious and hope the Bay of Biscay is calm for you.  If you don't have car parking/hotel sorted out at Southampton, I can recommend, though you probably have...

 

Carol

Edited November 20 by CAROL SAUNDERS
change

[Sultanpepa]

2 hours ago, Allan Bell said:

 

Was that comment from experience.😉

 

Allan

 

 

No Allan but the boat was late leaving one evening because we had to wait on a boat excursion arriving back. I watched it unfold from my balcony. Crew were pacing up and down looking at watches. 😏

[IanDavidson]

19 hours ago, CAROL SAUNDERS said:

If you don't use cruise excursions I can recommend Viator who I have found brilliant and no rushing, or alternatively a local taxi driver who can show you whatever you want and again no rushing.  We had a brilliant one in Funchal, the whole day for 100 Euros, he was fantastic but always ensure you are back to the ship in time - it won't wait of course!  Can I ask what ship you are going on?

It is Queen Mary II. All the excursions are booked via Cunard.  I know it is expensive but there is a guarantee that the ship will wait.  We have a hotel booked at Southampton. Thanks.

[Phil Robinson]

I'd say take two lenses at most. I can't remember what a 'holiday' is - I haven't been travelling for a long time and when I did it was very much for photographic purposes. If I was doing what you are I would tend to take as little as possible. Not sure if you've got a short zoom - if I was doing it I'd probably just take my 24-200 and maybe a backup. You might miss a few shots but you'll probably enjoy the trip a lot more. (I'd certainly leave the 150-600 at home)

Edited November 21 by Phil Robinson

[geogphotos]

What an exciting business trip!

[Alexander Hogg]

What a trip Enjoy yourselves 

[Phil Robinson]

If you aren't averse to spending a bit more money, Nikon now do a 24-400mm zoom. The quality is supposed to be surprisingly good and if you don't mind f8 at the long end it might be all you need.

[Betty LaRue]

I didn’t do the ship, but during my vacays in St. Croix, my 18-200 was all I needed. Stand in one spot & get two totally different shots. Funny thing. I thought these pictures would sell like hotcakes. Not so. Local pictures of storefronts where I live sell better, so don’t have high expectations.

Maybe I just took the wrong kind of shots which was heavy on people enjoying themselves.

My RX100 was used heavily and there was no lugging heavy gear, although the first time I had a Nikon D800 plus the RX100, & the second time my Fuji + RX100 which was a treat.

[Foreign Export]

I will be on Queen Elizabeth next month for a few days, am planning to take 100-400mm for land shots from the ship, and 24-70 for use when in port.

Won't be taking a tripod, even though it might be useful for setting up on the room balcony- but will I really use it that much

[Chuck Nacke]

On 20/11/2024 at 04:57, IanDavidson said:

I am going on a month long Caribbean cruise next year, sailing from Southampton. .  I am taking my Z9, a variety of lens, tripod, filters, laptop etc.  This is mainly for the excursions and sea shots.  I am not a land/seascape photographer so any tips or suggestions would be appreciated 

 

The excursion trips have short phot opportunities in most cases so I will not have a lot of time at each opportunity.  The itinerary includes a number of islands such as St. Lucia, Barbados etc.

 

The photography is incidental to the trip as I want to enjoy the experience with my wife first and foremost with the photography for memory and stock as a secondary consideration. 

Low be it for me to give you advice, but...  as many have written "Leave the tripod at home." which I would agree with.  As far as traveling with "real cameras" as opposed to "pocket cameras" I have always gone with "Real" bodies.  I am even trying to create a harness to ski this winter with two D800s.  I like my RAW files large.

 

The QEII Sounds pleasant.

 

Chuck

[MDM]

8 hours ago, Chuck Nacke said:

Low be it for me to give you advice, but...  as many have written "Leave the tripod at home." which I would agree with.  As far as traveling with "real cameras" as opposed to "pocket cameras" I have always gone with "Real" bodies.  I am even trying to create a harness to ski this winter with two D800s.  I like my RAW files large.

 

The QEII Sounds pleasant.

 

Chuck

If you are intending to do action photography with the D800s, you might want to consider upgrading to a D850 or two. They are still available new as well as secondhand at decent prices. While the D800 is a venerable old machine with excellent image quality, it is not built for speed. The D850 is way faster in every way (AF tracking, burst shooting, vastly bigger buffer) and has the benefit of an even bigger sensor than the D800 for those who like large sensors (me too). It’s not on the level of the new mirrorless Z9 and Z8 but it is very very good for action. 
 

As for raw image size, the latest iPhone Pros can shoot 48MP raw images with ProRAW Max. Initial reaction might be and most probably will be poo poo, it’s just a phone with a tiny sensor. But then you go out and actually shoot ProRAW Max - it’s an eye-opening WOW. A phone can actually produce this quality? 7 weeks ago I would have said poo poo too. Now I say WOW, yes it can. Not for everything of course. This applies only to ProRAW Max using the main 24mm lens. A real camera is still far superior for many types of photography. But for certain things, such as general scenes, architecture, urban and rural landscapes where a 24 mm lens is appropriate, an iPhone can produce astonishing quality. If I was going on a cruise, this would be the second thing in my bag along with a small mirrorless Nikon and 24-120 Z lens (also astonishing quality for a zoom)

Edited November 23 by MDM

[Malcolm Park]

Ian, one lens will suffice - the Z 24-200mm. I can use it in the gloom of London so it will cope with the light of the tropics. Your camera has 45mp to play with, plenty of crop room.

[Phil Robinson]

2 hours ago, Malcolm Park said:

Ian, one lens will suffice - the Z 24-200mm. I can use it in the gloom of London so it will cope with the light of the tropics. Your camera has 45mp to play with, plenty of crop room.

If I'm going to London for no particular reason (eg something indoors or Downing Street on a really dull day) these days I tend to take one body with the 24-200. As Malcolm says, with your camera sensor that's like having a 400mm anyway. It's really all I need and my shoulders always thank me for it at the end of the day. 

[Chuck Nacke]

8 hours ago, MDM said:

If you are intending to do action photography with the D800s, you might want to consider upgrading to a D850 or two. They are still available new as well as secondhand at decent prices. While the D800 is a venerable old machine with excellent image quality, it is not built for speed. The D850 is way faster in every way (AF tracking, burst shooting, vastly bigger buffer) and has the benefit of an even bigger sensor than the D800 for those who like large sensors (me too). It’s not on the level of the new mirrorless Z9 and Z8 but it is very very good for action. 
 

As for raw image size, the latest iPhone Pros can shoot 48MP raw images with ProRAW Max. Initial reaction might be and most probably will be poo poo, it’s just a phone with a tiny sensor. But then you go out and actually shoot ProRAW Max - it’s an eye-opening WOW. A phone can actually produce this quality? 7 weeks ago I would have said poo poo too. Now I say WOW, yes it can. Not for everything of course. This applies only to ProRAW Max using the main 24mm lens. A real camera is still far superior for many types of photography. But for certain things, such as general scenes, architecture, urban and rural landscapes where a 24 mm lens is appropriate, an iPhone can produce astonishing quality. If I was going on a cruise, this would be the second thing in my bag along with a small mirrorless Nikon and 24-120 Z lens (also astonishing quality for a zoom)

One interesting note;  I did try the 24-120 ED f4 on an 800 body and then I tried the 24-85 ED f3.5-4.5 G and now I am using the 24-85.  Smaller, Lighter and cheaper and with VR the loss of less than a stop is no big deal.  While it is possible that the newer Z lenses are better?  I was not impressed with the 24-120 f4.  

 

Yes Michael, the Zs are cool, but I will not work with an EV viewfinder, I will be adding an 850 soon.

 

Chuck

[Jeffrey Isaac Greenberg]

On 21/11/2024 at 08:20, geogphotos said:

What an exciting business trip!

Random thoughts, no particular order;
several cruises using lightweight RX10 IV only;
(as are almost ALL my other images)
of course results can license, your destinations are homes to others;
if tripod, lightweight mini or travel tripod for timed exposures;
if no tripod, then solid surfaces, café tables, walls, etc.;
comment above about “business trip” is significant:
IDK UK rules, here if travel purpose is taking new photos, then deductible;
& wifey constructs port walk-around itineraries & is my second set of eyes;
I don’t “get” advice to put down camera, forget taking photos…
if one gets thrills-rush taking new salable photos,
if one gets thrills visiting new places,
why wouldn’t one get a greater thrill doing both?!!
maybe issue is way one shoots at home…?
see travel as opp to experiment, shoot more, e.g., easy-on-the-mind grab shots…?
31-day, guessing crossing Atlantic = 8-10 days at sea…?
IMO wear half smile & keep moving shooting on ship, no close-ups of people
in sensitive areas = pool, casino, kids unless passengers OK;
its not illegal, its that one don’t want to be confronted or complained about…
ultimately, on ship & land, act like a snap-happy tourist…

[MDM]

3 hours ago, Chuck Nacke said:

One interesting note;  I did try the 24-120 ED f4 on an 800 body and then I tried the 24-85 ED f3.5-4.5 G and now I am using the 24-85.  Smaller, Lighter and cheaper and with VR the loss of less than a stop is no big deal.  While it is possible that the newer Z lenses are better?  I was not impressed with the 24-120 f4.  

 

Yes Michael, the Zs are cool, but I will not work with an EV viewfinder, I will be adding an 850 soon.

 

Chuck

 

Yes I never got the 24-120 F mount as it was pretty poor in terms of sharpness across the field of view according to the tests. Definitely not suitable for a high MP camera like the D800 or similar where you need superior glass. The 24-120 Z mount is a completely different story though. If I could only own one lens, this would be it. The Z lenses are amost invariably better than the F mount equivalents, especially those with the S designation. Good choice to get a D850 - the best DSLR ever made in my opinion. 

Edited November 23 by MDM

[Michael Ventura]

1 hour ago, MDM said:

Good choice to get a D850 - the best DSLR ever made in my opinion.

 

I agree.  I use mine nearly everyday and it is solid and dependable.

 

I also agree what others have said about leaving the tripod at home.  Maybe bring a little tabletop pod.  You can always brace it on something, if not a tabletop.