Lens for Antartica
Sep 4, 2019 11:21:01 #
Sep 4, 2019 11:55:45 #
willaim wrote:
Those two lenses should do just fine. Gives you a wide angle to telephoto. Just remember to compensate for your exposures as you'll be shooting snow and Ice. Otherwise your scenes will look grey. Enjoy your trip and shoot, shoot, shoot.
Do you mean white balance? I usually use auto on D7500, but what setting do you recommend for summer in Antarctica shooting icebergs, glaciers, etc? The D7500 has settings ranging from 2500°K to 10000°K. Optimum probably varies with time of day (~20 hours).
Sep 4, 2019 12:01:48 #
Georgesimages wrote:
Have Nikon D800 with 24 - 120 lens. Will this cover most photography in Antartica
Also carrying D200 with 70-300 for ship to shore photos. Thoughts anyone.?
Also carrying D200 with 70-300 for ship to shore photos. Thoughts anyone.?
I agree with all who have advised you that your lenses should cover it. I am also going to Antarctica in December. Lens choices are discussed in
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-605553-1.html.
Perhaps I will meet you on board the Nat Geo Explorer?
Sep 4, 2019 12:10:33 #
Sep 4, 2019 13:39:37 #
Your lenses should to fine. Be sure you have the equipment to get your lenses ashore while keeping them dry. It is almost impossible to not get wet when in a Zodiac
I assume you will be there in the austral summer (Nov-Feb). If so cold weather will not be a problem for your camera. It will usually be within a few degrees of freezing. Keeping your camera dry will be the problem.
Here are a couple of shooting tips. Generally the Antartic is not 18% gray. The automatic exposure system on your camera might under expose. Consider adjusting for that or bracketing exposure. Get low for the best wildlife shots. At least on your knees or even prone. However be advised that many times the surface will have a great deal on penguin poop.
Finally a safety tip. Fur seals, especially the young ones, are aggressive. If you are shooting in an area where they common (like South Georgia) have someone spotting while you are shooting. They will attack from behind. Fortunately they are easily deterred by pointing a walking stick at them.
I assume you will be there in the austral summer (Nov-Feb). If so cold weather will not be a problem for your camera. It will usually be within a few degrees of freezing. Keeping your camera dry will be the problem.
Here are a couple of shooting tips. Generally the Antartic is not 18% gray. The automatic exposure system on your camera might under expose. Consider adjusting for that or bracketing exposure. Get low for the best wildlife shots. At least on your knees or even prone. However be advised that many times the surface will have a great deal on penguin poop.
Finally a safety tip. Fur seals, especially the young ones, are aggressive. If you are shooting in an area where they common (like South Georgia) have someone spotting while you are shooting. They will attack from behind. Fortunately they are easily deterred by pointing a walking stick at them.
Sep 4, 2019 17:29:30 #
You should be fine with what you have. I visited Antarctica in 2017 and had a FF with 24-120 and a D7200 (crop sensor) with 100-400. Have a great trip!
Sep 4, 2019 19:13:08 #
I just came back from Antarctica in January 2019. We had ample opportunity to shoot a plethora of wildlife in the form of flukeing humpback whales, penguins, sea birds, seals, etc. Also plenty of unique icebergs, beautiful 3,000 to 6,000 foot mountain scenery, etc. Absolutely beautiful and wonderful trip.
I went with a EF 24-105 and a EF-S 55-250 on a crop sensor camera. That was not enough reach for many of the best shots I wanted to take, and I often could not fill the frame with the subjects. Most of the photo pro's on the trip were sporting zooms with up to 400 mm telephotos as kind of a sweet spot reach.
When you make a shore excursion by zodiac to visit penguin rookeries the 24-105 was enough to photo the whole rookery, but not to single out frame filling shots of single birds with eggs or chicks. You are only allowed to be "standoff" close to the penguins so you don't disturb or stress them. Yes, some will come right up to you for nice shots, but others performing nicely within the colony for you will require longer lenses. Don't forget that you can always back away farther, but you can't get closer.
It is always a prize photo when you can get a flukeing whale shot. For the most part you will need the 400 or more for a frame filling shot. We had fuking whales close ahead of the zodiac that still needed some lens length for frame filling shots. A 24-105 can be good for mountain scenery, icebergs, and things close to the ship.
About zodiacs !!! While riding in a zodiac you need to keep your expensive camera/lens in a waterproof bag where you can quickly extract it for a shot. Remember, when something interesting to shoot shows up, the zodiac driver will slow down for you to get your shot. When zodiacs are zipping along it is common to get saltwater splash into the boat. I watched more than one person get his expensive camera drenched with a big splash-over of saltwater.
I'm a Canon shooter so not familiar with Nikon lenses, but our ship was full of Nikon people sporting "something to 400 mm" lenses. I think that is likely ideal for some of the more dramatic opportunities you will find on your trip. Enjoy your trip and come back with some great photos to post on UHH.
I went with a EF 24-105 and a EF-S 55-250 on a crop sensor camera. That was not enough reach for many of the best shots I wanted to take, and I often could not fill the frame with the subjects. Most of the photo pro's on the trip were sporting zooms with up to 400 mm telephotos as kind of a sweet spot reach.
When you make a shore excursion by zodiac to visit penguin rookeries the 24-105 was enough to photo the whole rookery, but not to single out frame filling shots of single birds with eggs or chicks. You are only allowed to be "standoff" close to the penguins so you don't disturb or stress them. Yes, some will come right up to you for nice shots, but others performing nicely within the colony for you will require longer lenses. Don't forget that you can always back away farther, but you can't get closer.
It is always a prize photo when you can get a flukeing whale shot. For the most part you will need the 400 or more for a frame filling shot. We had fuking whales close ahead of the zodiac that still needed some lens length for frame filling shots. A 24-105 can be good for mountain scenery, icebergs, and things close to the ship.
About zodiacs !!! While riding in a zodiac you need to keep your expensive camera/lens in a waterproof bag where you can quickly extract it for a shot. Remember, when something interesting to shoot shows up, the zodiac driver will slow down for you to get your shot. When zodiacs are zipping along it is common to get saltwater splash into the boat. I watched more than one person get his expensive camera drenched with a big splash-over of saltwater.
I'm a Canon shooter so not familiar with Nikon lenses, but our ship was full of Nikon people sporting "something to 400 mm" lenses. I think that is likely ideal for some of the more dramatic opportunities you will find on your trip. Enjoy your trip and come back with some great photos to post on UHH.
Sep 4, 2019 19:26:44 #
Many thanks to those who shared their actual experiences in Antarctica! You provided excellent advice that goes way beyond the Expedition Guide and will help us to be prepared and properly equipped. :-)
Sep 4, 2019 23:54:37 #
Georgesimages wrote:
Have Nikon D800 with 24 - 120 lens. Will this cover most photography in Antartica
Also carrying D200 with 70-300 for ship to shore photos. Thoughts anyone.?
Also carrying D200 with 70-300 for ship to shore photos. Thoughts anyone.?
SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD PACKAGE TO ME.
Sep 7, 2019 11:37:54 #
How much memory did you take? I have about 3,000 shots for d800 with 24-120 Raw/normal
and about 1800 shots d200 with 70-300 Raw/Normal
Plus wife Panasonic Z150 with 4000 shooting at 5 megap at RAW /Fine
Thanks for reply
and about 1800 shots d200 with 70-300 Raw/Normal
Plus wife Panasonic Z150 with 4000 shooting at 5 megap at RAW /Fine
Thanks for reply
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