Rgandel Loc: South Orange, NJ

Thanks, I will check with the tour operator. It is a photography trip so I expect we won't be rushing when we get to a good spot.

Canisdirus

Been there a half dozen times...it's wonderful. Usually went during winter, but that's just me.
You'll want both a good wide-angle and a long lens.
Bring a good jacket. Their summer is not your idea of summer. A warm rain jacket is best. Maybe one with a liner that can be removed for the 'hot' days (60F).

Rgandel Loc: South Orange, NJ

Thanks, we are really looking forward to the trip. Hope we will have a little better whether in July and will get lucky with the whales.

Rgandel Loc: South Orange, NJ

Thanks,

Rgandel Loc: South Orange, NJ

Thanks, I'll look into it.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Hint: If you use "Quote Reply" we'll know to whom and what comment you are replying.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

While I haven't been there yet, I have a friend who lives there and I have seen numerous photos of Iceland. It is on my bucket list of places to travel to. One impression I have of the place is they have numerous waterfalls. With this in mind, I would take a variable neutral density filter which could come in handy to photograph waterfalls in bright sunlight or to extend the shutter speed to give them a smoother, milky appearance.

Ichiban365

It is good that you have two cameras. Around the waterfalls there is so much spray in the air, it is not a good idea to be changing lenses. Change the lens inside the tour bus. I would suggest an 18-140mm for the D5500, and a 10-20 and 70-300 for scenics and birds.

I suggest a lens blower brush, or better, a small vacuum cleaner designed for cleaning cameras. The dust in Iceland is pumice, which is used for grinding lenses, and it is everywhere.

dave.m

there are plenty of suggestions above for lenses. Having breifly looked through just shy of 1500 images from my 7 day photo trip, I would think that 90%+ were taken with the 24-125 on full frame. A very small number were taken with the 15-35 and even less with the 100-400 tele. I think most of the wide angle could have easily be done with 2 or 3 images and stitching (unless it involved running water). The telephoto was only used a very small number of times for wild life (birds aplenty, anything else - not so much on my trip.)

A tripod was usedprobably 75% of the time, and to get the 'mystical' flowing water you need a multi second exposure it is essential. but mine is carbon fibre and carried in its own shoulder bag so hands free. Andf thats important because if your photo trip is anything like ours there is a fair bit of walking and those carrying tripods 'loose' were at a distinct disadvantage.

Some tips from our experienced guide: all sand is black volcanic sand and extremely abrasive especially if backed up with 30mph winds. keep stuff in bags when you can. I carried most stuff in a backpack and asked the photography guide at each location what I should take for that shoot. I then transferred what I needed to a 'day' bag and went with just that.

A special warning: if you go to the 'ice' beach on the south coast the huge blocks of ice are amazing just to see. When you find a spot to want to photograph at, look behind you to make sure you have an uniterupted run up the beach. Every few waves there is a large one (the very ones you want to photograph water sweeping around the ice). Sometimes they are bigger than you think and you just grab your tripod and run! I personally saw Someone in another party adjacent to our group whi didn't. Suddenly realising he was in trouble he grabbed his camera and tripod turned and ran straight into an ice block, tripped and he and everthing he had including his backpack was completely submerged. They struggled to get him out as he panicked. Meant the whole party had to return urgently to hotel before he got hyperthermia.

Apart from being careful in an environment most of us are not familiar with it is truly an amazing place.

tom hughes Loc: Phila Pa

Yes on the tripod. Very windy in Iceland. Filters needed in July. You will have 20 22 hours of daylight. You will also have to deal with tourists. July and August Iceland’s busiest months.

photoam Loc: Fergus Falls, MN

I bought yesterday at REI this monopod/walking stick.
Haven't used it yet. Looks sturdy. Extends to about 66 inches.
My only question is: how long and how much fiddling to screw the post into the base of my Canon G1X-3?
If this is only a quick stop, will I be slowing the group down?
This pole is in 3 sections with good tighteners on each. I'm hoping that the individual sections will fit into my suitcase. A walking stick is like a cane. Is a cane allowable on the plane??


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Nontaxable

ELNikkor

An 18-300 will cover everything for the D5500. D600?, in my case, 24-120 f4. Leave the long shots to the D5500. Take a lightweight tripod.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

The sun will remain lower in the sky that most are use to. You will be within 7° of the midnight sun. Sun sets about 10 and is back up about 4. Lens hoods will be a must. Temperatures should be mid 60s to mid 70s at best in July. Good jacket is a must. And if your fingers get cold easily, light gloves. A general lens 24-200 will cover most of your needs. If you can bear it, a telephoto lens in the 400 to 600 range plus teleconverters would be a good addition. The need for a tripod will depend on what you intend to shoot in wildlife and how much IBIS and ILIS you have and/or rent. My wife and I will make it to Iceland in the near future, but she wanted Scotland this time. Only slightly lower latitude and slightly warmer due to the gulf stream. And we will also be going in the "heat" of July.

thomseninc

I took my 24-70 2.8 and my 70-200 2.8, and used them both a lot. The only times I used a tripod was to shoot the aurora (tripod mandatory) as well as when I tried a pano. Best photography adventure I have ever had. Have fun!

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

Is this specifically a photography tour? If so, I would expect them to tell you what equipment they recommend. The tour I took on the North Shore of Lake Superior expected people to have a tripod for low light and water movement shots. If you haven't already, invest in a light weight compact travel tripod.