We will be headed out for an Alaskan Cruise in a short while, and I found my baby boomer self having minor heart palpitations about seeing breaching humpback whales and not having the proper lens to catch all the action.

My standard travel lens is an AF-S NIKKOR 18-135mm 1:3.5 – 5.6G ED which is mounted on my well traveled Nikon D80.  I have been happy with this lens as it gives me a little wide-angle and a little zoom.  For the bulk of our travel photography, this lens has performed admirably.

However, from past experience in Hawaii, I knew that this lens was going to fall short when I was standing on the balcony of my Norwegian Cruise Line room and I happen to see a breaching whale in the distance.

I have put off buying any new lenses for my camera because I don’t want to carry them around.  With computers, iPad, iPhones, video cameras, my Nikon D80, and a seemingly endless number of cables to carry around, I just don’t need any more weight and/or bulk to lug around.

So, what to do?  How was I going to capture one of those cool shots of water droplets coming off the tale of a humpback?

Solution?  I am renting a Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D VR from my local camera shop.

The lens is a mere $60/week, solves my immediate need, and has completely arrested my photography induced heart palpitations.

Have you ever considered renting a specialty lens for your vacation?  If so, share your success story with us.