tonyjag Loc: Bolton, Ma.

Listed in the table are my lenses. I am going on a photo expedition on the Nat-Geo Explorer to Antarctica in December with my son and will take my D7500 and D5300 so we can each have a DX DSLR as well as our Samsung phones. There is some duplication in focal length, but only certain lenses will be going with us. The Nikkor 16-85 lens has been great, but I am thinking about replacing it with a 16-80, which is about the same size and weight, but newer, more expensive, and faster. However, the long days of Antarctic summer mean there will be plenty of light, so do i really need the faster 16-80? When are the "golden hours" when there is 22 hours of daylight?

Most reports on the 16-80 are positive, but there are a few negative ones and DXOmark has still not published a rating on it. I would appreciate hearing from anyone with experience with the 16-85 and/or 16-80, especially if you did Auto AF Fine Tuning. Any advice on gear or techniques for polar summer photography will also be welcomed. Thanks in advance.

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ELNikkor

16-80 is totally unnecessary if you already have the 16-85. If you and your son travel to each location, he might have the 16-300, or 70-210 on his, while you have the 16-85 on yours. Leave everything else at home.

TonyBrown

I have not tried the 16-85, but i do have a 16-80 and it’s a great lens on my D500.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Two similar lenses sound like a G.A.S. attack. Use what you have and know. You are talking about a D7500 and D5300, not a D850 and D810 or D500 where you might really need new and highest end glass. Shoot, be a photographer not a gear-head. Good luck on your trip.

CO

I have two of the Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 DX lenses. They're excellent. I had purchased the new 16-80mm f/2.8-4. I was disappointed with it. The autofocus was loud and mine had a severe back focusing issue. It's larger in diameter than the 16-80mm but weighs a little less. It seems like they reduced the quality of the lens. It's a lens that's worth $500 to $600 dollars but costs $1000. I ended up returning it.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Use what you have and make sure to contact Nikon to determine if the D5300 will handle the low temperatures.

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

First of all, I understand AF fine tuning for fast 1.4 lenses. But remember, AF fine tuning is for ONLY ONE DISTANCE regardless what anyone here says. PERIOD.
Second, I own and use the 16-80 and love the results, and no, I have not had to fine tune it. It just does not need it.
Third, I feel you really do not need the 16-80 for your trip, unless, GAS has taken over your decision.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I used the 16-85 on our 9 national parks tour 90% of the time. (The other 10% was a rented 10-20.) I get compliments all the time on the quality of the images. It's a great lens to carry around, as I'm sure you know. I loved that lens. The only reason it's past tense is because i needed to lighten the load and switched to micro 4/3s. I'd say go with it. p.s. I have zero experience with the other lens.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Th golden hours would be around an hour before sunset and an hour after, local time.

Robg

I can't help with the lens decision, but I have taken that trip, and if you are going to put money into anything, get a longer lens or one with more zoom. You'll want it for whales and birds, other than penguins, which will be very close to you.

As to someone's warning about temperatures, when I was there, the temp never got below 25 F. You will be there in summer!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Use the 16-85 and the 18-400 .....DONE.
.

terpfan Loc: central coast, California

I did that same trip in January 2018. It was the best trip my wife and I had ever been on. The attached penguin picture was taken with my 70-300. The orca was from the ship with a Tamron 150-600. There were many passengers with long lenses and monopods, no tripods, on deck. The penguiun picture was taken on shore. I also used my 24-105, but the most pictures were taken with the 70-300. Weather never got below 28. The Drake can be rough so take anti motion meds along though ships doc will have them as well. If you have any questions feel free to PM me

Silverman Loc: Michigan

I agree with the G.A.S. warning, remember K.I.S.S.= Keep It Simple Silly.

TonyBrown

I used a 16-80 on my D500 for the first time on a long trip to NZ. Never left my camera. I think it’s a great lens despite some of the negative reports.

tonyjag Loc: Bolton, Ma.

From the OP: This thread has gone quiet, but I have been studying all of your advice and want to thank you all for your help. First, I have decided NOT to replace my Nikkor 16-85 with a 16-80 before going to Antarctica.

The following lenses will go to Antarctica (see table in early post for details):
#1 Tamron 16-300mm on the D5300, which my son will use and serves as a backup.
#2 Nikkor 50mm* on the D7500, in case i need a fast lens... it only weighs 0.4 pounds.
#3 Nikkor 16-85* on the D7500, for wider shots or inside the ship.
#8 Tamron 18-400 on the D7500*, principal walk around that can also go on the Zodiacs.
* These all easily fit in a PeakDesign 10L sling bag.

The following lens MAY go in my check-in baggage, unless there is a weight problem with the airlines:
#4 Sigma 50-500mm on the D7500, for shots from the ship only. But it's only 25% longer that the Tamron 18-400. There may be a Sigma 150-600 contemporary and sport versions available to borrow from the B&H gear locker on-board.

The following lenses will stay home:
#5 Sigma 18-250, #6 Sigma 8-16**, and #7 Tamron 70-210 (already returned to Hunt's)

** for really wide shots, i plan to use a Samsung S10 phone, with 3 rear cameras, including "Ultrawide".

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