mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I may be going to Iceland in early March, Covid willing, and am trying to decide which lenses to bring. I have two Oly m5s that have a 2x crop factor. Trying to travel light, but will bring my tripod. I’m thinking my 9-18 wide angle, 12-40 Pro f/2.0 that’s weathersealed, and a 14-150 that’s weathersealed. I also have a 75-300, a macro, and a 25 f/1.8. Oh, and a Tough TG6! This is a photographer’s trip hosted by Hunt’s here in Boston. There will be an instructor and a local photographer guide.

So Icelandic travelers, what do you think? Do I need 2 cameras? Do I have enough reach with the 14-150? Should I include my 25? how much of a difference is there between 9 and 12 in terms of wide angle?

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Before you do anything else. CALL Hunt's, make arrangements to email or talk to the instructor and local guide. THEY will know exactly what you should include. NOONE here will know. DO IT NOW.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I took my 18-200 and 50 ƒ1.4 (for the northern lights).
I removed the battery grip for the trip.
Everything fit in my messenger bag. Depends on how much stuff you want to haul around.
The camera is an APS-C format.
("Required" reach depends on what you see and your desires.)
A tripod will be very handy as the winds can be brutal.

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

First off you will love Iceland! We went a couple of years ago but during summer. I don’t think you need 2 wide angle, take the weather sealed one. I only took one body to Iceland as there was not as much wildlife. I did wish I had more reach than my 100-400 for the Puffin photos, but in March, not sure you will have Puffins. Take a rain cover, it is damp there! I also don’t think you will really need a macro lens unless it is your passion, I can’t remember wishing I had one. My primary lens was 24-105 on a full frame.
Again we were there in summer, so March can be a different ball game, but a good rain coat, you can get soaked at some of the waterfalls! I also took a lightweight dry bag to keep my camera in while walking to some of the big waterfalls where the mist soaks you. (A material like dry bag you can get on Amazon) I also use the dry bag here in dusty conditions!
Anyway, enjoy! Another’s suggestion is ask Hunts, they will know where they are taking you and what you will need!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

My Iceland trip was in May so somewhat similar time of the year. I took an Oly EM1 and an original EM5 for backup in case of disaster because I couldn't bear the thought of being in Iceland and having no camera in case I somehow broke mine. I used the 12-40 and a fine old 50-200 95% of the time. I did use a 9-18 a few times, but probably not really enough to justify having taken it. Tripod will be useful if you like long exposure waterfall shots, and a good strong ND filter in case you end up having to shoot said waterfall in bright light.

Iceland is the easiest place I've ever been to get around in and find great shooting, and we had no local guide, just a book and a map. And I've never been anywhere that had more amazing scenery with such ease of access.

venkatesh_eng

We went to Iceland in mid October. I took my Sony A6300, 18-105 lens, and a Rokinon 12mm F2.0 manual focus lens (especially for Northern lights) and a Manfrotto tripod. Most pictures were taken with 18-105 lens. And the brief moment that the aurora was visible i used the Rokinon.

PhotoDerek Loc: County Durham, UK.

mizzee
I went to Iceland on board Cunard Queen Victoria in August 2019 - wonderful. I did a review on the Cruise Critic Photographic site worth a read. I will make a few comments, Gitzo carbon fibre tripod, Nikon camera with 24-70 afs F2.8, 70-200 afs F2.8 (whale watching only), Lee filters and Nikon filters. I went in the summer but travelled as if in winter you are around the Arctic circle - fleece, Gore-Tex shell jacket, hat gloves, padded trousers and Gore-Tex boots. Some walking involved so get fit and be prepared for bad weather - wind, snow, rain etc. Lens cleaning cloths and drying cloths if precipitation etc. Mine was not a photo trip so had to know exactly at each location what I wanted to shoot as time constraints - wonderful waterfalls, geysers but we had one morning whale watching and they did not turn up to be photographed. Know your itinerary and what to photograph, usual carry a charger and spare memory cards etc. Have a work flow for when the weather is bad - howling wind and practice before you go etc.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

If you take too much gear, you will regret it.

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Try this link:
https://handandarrow.com/what-photography-gear-should-i-bring-to-iceland/
You might also research National Geographic photographers.

See_the_shot Loc: Bluffton, SC

@mizzee, if you want a preview of your trip to Iceland, go to YouTube, search for itchy boots season 3. This is a super well done video log done by a young Hollander named Noraly. She rides across the entire continent alone on her motorcycle shooting the entire time. She flies her drone while riding and shows a lot of the major points of interest along with a taste of the ever changing weather. Her channel has half a million followers. It's well worth your time.

Lexartiste

Because of the wind, you may want to raise your iso to enable faster shutter speeds even on a tripod.

bikerguy

We went to Iceland in July 2016, 22% of our pictures were ff equivalent between 300 and 600 mm. I would take the 9-18 because it is very small and light and great for the vistas, 14-150 as a general use lens and the others only if you are not carrying all of it on every outing. There is much to see and enjoy without being totally encumbered with too much gear. However, I would bring a backup body. Last year we were in the Lofoten Islands and enjoyed seeing and shooting the aurora. We both got wonderful images using f/4 and f/5.

We always travel light, carry on only, and enjoy our trips because we are not carrying too much gear and we still come back with great shots. No matter how much gear you take you can find a situation where you need something else. Take your favorite gear and use it well. Enjoy the trip.

Linda S.

My initial message was refused and deleted for I included the link for Iceland Photo Tours what equipment to bring! There should be a drafts folder where the unsentimental message goes so it can be edited.

I took a their trip this February 2020 from the last week in February to the 1st week in March . I was with the Iceland Photo Tours group. Iceland is a photographer's candy store!

1. The weather changes rapidly so if your camera isn't weatherproof, it will still be protected.you have weatherproof covers.

2. If they are using their own vehicle for the entire trip, then it is important to find out if the vehicle will be parked close to the site. Sometimes, ours wasn't, which can impact what you bring if you are carrying it over snowy or icy terrain.

3. Ask how long the days are...we went from 7:30 AM to 10:30 PM ... Impacts what a person might bring.

4. Are they providing cleats and high rubber boots? For the Ice Caves and ocean and beaches, all can be needed.

5. Go to the web page where our tour directors have listed the camera lenses you should bring. They were spot-on!

6. Dressing in layers is paramount as the weather changes so quickly and so differently throughout the day and night.

7. Iceland's food is expensive for its has to be shipped in!

The Icelanders are great!! This was an absolutely dream trip!

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

My retired ophthalmologist took only two lenses, the Nikon 14-24 f2.8 and the 28-300 VR.
His images are outstanding.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Having lived in Iceland for a year when Keflavik was still a US Naval Station, I would suggest two camera bodies . Keep your two most used lenses mounted and try not to have to change lenses in the field. If you have any wind (or for that matter no wind) you risk getting lava ash inside your camera, and lava ash is a highly abrasive material. Also for that reason always blow and lightly brush, with a camel hair brush, your glass surfaces before trying anything like lens cleaner and cloth.

In March, it may still be cool/cold, at least enough to make condensation an issue. For that reason, on my last trip I resorted to this protocol. I removed all memory cards and batteries from the cameras before going inside. Once inside I left the camera bags zipped securely and let them warm up overnight, while still having access to download images and charge batters. As a result I had no condensation problems.