Iceland Trip / What Lenses?
Jul 27, 2022 15:33:30 #
We're planning a trip to Iceland next year, and while I will want to capture as much of the beauty of the country as possible, I also don't want to take a ton of photography gear and spent too much time trying to get the "perfect photo" vs. enjoying the trip. We will be seeing lots of waterfalls, doing some snowmobiling and a glacier hike, plus several other hikes along the coast, seeing whales and puffins, sailing a glacier lagoon, etc.
I'm considering taking my Z7ii with a wide angle lens (14-30mm) and maybe the 24-200mm lens, plus I have a Sony RX10IV that gives me 600mm of reach (just not as many pixels). I want the longer reach for the puffins but thinking I'll also want a wide angle for landscapes. Those of you who have been, do you have any words of wisdom? I'm 65 and pretty active, but don't want to take too much stuff to lug around. And of course, I also don't want to find myself wishing "if I had just brought that wide angle lens....".
I'm considering taking my Z7ii with a wide angle lens (14-30mm) and maybe the 24-200mm lens, plus I have a Sony RX10IV that gives me 600mm of reach (just not as many pixels). I want the longer reach for the puffins but thinking I'll also want a wide angle for landscapes. Those of you who have been, do you have any words of wisdom? I'm 65 and pretty active, but don't want to take too much stuff to lug around. And of course, I also don't want to find myself wishing "if I had just brought that wide angle lens....".
Jul 27, 2022 15:43:14 #
I traveled light there. I just took my 18-200 and a 50 ƒ1.4.
I worked with, and accepted what I had.
I'm pleased.
I also took a bunch of cards, and I think there may be a battery limit on the airline. I took two batteries.
Don't forget to get the plug adapters (two round pin) for the electricity in Iceland. Our chargers were dual voltage (120/240) so we just needed the simple adapters. Three in a pack at Target.
I worked with, and accepted what I had.
I'm pleased.
I also took a bunch of cards, and I think there may be a battery limit on the airline. I took two batteries.
Don't forget to get the plug adapters (two round pin) for the electricity in Iceland. Our chargers were dual voltage (120/240) so we just needed the simple adapters. Three in a pack at Target.
Jul 27, 2022 15:48:06 #
Jul 27, 2022 15:49:44 #
jcwall396 wrote:
Thanks for the tip about the voltage!
They use 240v.
Are you going in the Summer or Winter?
(I have clothing recommendations if the Winter...
)Jul 27, 2022 17:02:14 #
I've been twice, and both times in Winter. The goal of my second trip were the Northern Lights (which appeared, but no spectacularly). One thing I would note is that in Wintertime, especially if you're away from towns and habitation, there's a lot of contrast between the whites of snow and ice, and the blacks of lava. Be prepared to make sure your camera setup is set for this contrasty environment.
Incidentally, it was after my first trip that I found UHH, after realizing that many of my photos were bland or overblown because of the above. Have a great trip!
Incidentally, it was after my first trip that I found UHH, after realizing that many of my photos were bland or overblown because of the above. Have a great trip!
Jul 27, 2022 19:22:05 #
Orphoto
Loc: Oregon
Or....gasp....research. Try looking on flickr for the more touristy sites you will be visiting and then check the exif information on focal lengths.
Jul 27, 2022 20:49:45 #
jcwall396 wrote:
We're planning a trip to Iceland next year, and wh... (show quote)
I returned from my Iceland trip at the first of July. My one and only lens was a 28-300. You want the wide for the terrific landscapes and the 300 was just fine for the Puffins that we saw at the cliffs on Flatey Island.
Jul 27, 2022 23:27:44 #
I'm going to Greenland in three weeks with a Z-5
I plan on carrying my Z24-200; a Sigma Contemp. 100-400 (FTZ); and a Nikon 17-35(FTZ). I mostly know what lens I'll shoot with on which day.
I'll be on a cruise leaving from my home city so weight isn't much of an issue. If it were, I'd eliminate lenses in reverse order as listed..
I plan on carrying my Z24-200; a Sigma Contemp. 100-400 (FTZ); and a Nikon 17-35(FTZ). I mostly know what lens I'll shoot with on which day.
I'll be on a cruise leaving from my home city so weight isn't much of an issue. If it were, I'd eliminate lenses in reverse order as listed..
Jul 28, 2022 01:37:28 #
I brought my Canon G5 X Mk I with it's 24-100mm equivalent zoom. You are rarely far from things (except Puffins), I had no troubles with that short-ish zoom.
Jul 28, 2022 06:01:07 #
Jul 28, 2022 06:40:16 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
jcwall396 wrote:
We're planning a trip to Iceland next year, and wh... (show quote)
When I went last year I took my Nikon D850 and two lenses, a Nikon 24-120, which shot most of the shots, and the Nikon 500 5.6 PF, which I took for shooting the Puffins. Along with a Polarizer filter for my 24-120. Good luck to you, it was one of the best trips my wife and I ever took.
Jul 28, 2022 06:48:29 #
You could probably get along with just the 24-200, as it's an amazingly versatile lens. If you don't mind carrying a second lens, my choice would be either the 50 f1.8 or the 14-30.
Jul 28, 2022 07:18:45 #
BurghByrd
Loc: Pittsburgh
It sounds like a magnificent oportunity; I hope you enjoy it. The following articles from Photography Life may wet your appitite and give some insight into equipment.
https://photographylife.com/landscapes/photographing-in-iceland (2018)
The embedded photos seem to have been taken with either a 50mm or 105mm lens on a D810.
https://photographylife.com/photographing-iceland-winter
In this one the autor used one kit but states: "In hindsight, I should have taken my usual Z7 kit with the 14-30mm f/4 and 24-200mm f/4.5-6.3". I guess he'd agree with your choices.
Enjoy the trip and share the shots when you return.
https://photographylife.com/landscapes/photographing-in-iceland (2018)
The embedded photos seem to have been taken with either a 50mm or 105mm lens on a D810.
https://photographylife.com/photographing-iceland-winter
In this one the autor used one kit but states: "In hindsight, I should have taken my usual Z7 kit with the 14-30mm f/4 and 24-200mm f/4.5-6.3". I guess he'd agree with your choices.
Enjoy the trip and share the shots when you return.
Jul 28, 2022 07:24:07 #
I have never been to Iceland but my retired ophthalmologist has been there a couple of times. Both times he took his D750 with the 14-24 and the 28-300. His images were excellent.
Jul 28, 2022 07:38:31 #
Longshadow wrote:
They use 240v.
Are you going in the Summer or Winter?
(I have clothing recommendations if the Winter... )
Are you going in the Summer or Winter?
(I have clothing recommendations if the Winter...
)In the summer....while I'd love to do a winter trip, I'm afraid I'm freeze to death. So next June is the plan!
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