[usconservative]

I also recommend an 18-200mm zoom lens, which is good for about 99% of an average amateur photographer’s needs.

Thanks, that's just the kind of information I'm looking for.

[Errant]

They're expensive (around $600), but it's the only lens you'll likely need unless you wish to get into really long range telephoto lenses. You can get a 24MP Alpha for around the same amount or for a few hundred dollars more at the higher end models.

Sony has recently came out with a new alpha model that doesn't actually use SLR, but offers framing through the lens without the speed limiting of having to move a shutter out of the way to take the picture. Might be worth looking into.

You're going to love Alaska. Almost any direction you look is like looking at a picture postcard.