Galapagos! What lenses to take?
Mar 28, 2017 11:26:46 #
Get a macro/telephoto such as the canon 100 f2.8 macro and an adaptor.
Mar 28, 2017 11:31:27 #
Ksocha
Loc: Bethesda, MD
I've responded earlier, but have few more thoughts. I never once wished I had a wide angle lens with me (though I did have them). I can see how they might be useful in certain situations but this is not a landscape trip (though once we climbed a hill to watch the sun rise and I did use a semi-wide to get the vista (see attachments).
Two other thoughts: (1) if you are a decent snorkeler a little underwater camera like the Olympus Tough series or the Fuji 120 would be essential. We saw huge turtles, rays, sharks, and sea lions up close.
(2) the one thing I didn't have, but really wish I did was knee pads. The ground is rough and a low shooting angle is a good thing.
Two other thoughts: (1) if you are a decent snorkeler a little underwater camera like the Olympus Tough series or the Fuji 120 would be essential. We saw huge turtles, rays, sharks, and sea lions up close.
(2) the one thing I didn't have, but really wish I did was knee pads. The ground is rough and a low shooting angle is a good thing.
Mar 28, 2017 12:20:15 #
Great trip! I took a macro and a 70-200mm which covered 95% of opportunities. Except for on the boat or in town, you cannot use flash on the islands with the animals.
Have a great time!
Have a great time!
Mar 28, 2017 13:03:16 #
I am there now at Rabida. After a nice hike we went snorkeling. If you are going to snorkel also an underwater camera will be useful. Lots of colorful fish, a few sharks rays eels, and today an octopus.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Mar 28, 2017 13:10:33 #
As an owner of the em1 mk2, I would suggest you need wider, and longer.
At the minimum, add the 1.4 teleconverter. It works quite well with the 40-150 Pro.
To go longer, consider the Panasonic/Leica 100-400, if you can afford it (after springing for that wonderful vacation). It does great for closeup portraits of those distant critters.
For wider, as someone suggested, the 12-40 PRO f/2.8 is a superb complement to your 40-150.
If you like ultrawide, either the 7-14 PRO, or the less expensive/slower one would be useful.
It all depends on how much you're willing to carry, and how much you're willing to spend. For a trip of a lifetime, I would max both of those parameters out. You may never get another chance.
My last piece of advice: Spend A LOT of time getting to know your new camera. As you know it is quite complex as well as capable--I love mine, but there is a lot to learn, and you don't want to do that while trying to get that perfect shot.
At the minimum, add the 1.4 teleconverter. It works quite well with the 40-150 Pro.
To go longer, consider the Panasonic/Leica 100-400, if you can afford it (after springing for that wonderful vacation). It does great for closeup portraits of those distant critters.
For wider, as someone suggested, the 12-40 PRO f/2.8 is a superb complement to your 40-150.
If you like ultrawide, either the 7-14 PRO, or the less expensive/slower one would be useful.
It all depends on how much you're willing to carry, and how much you're willing to spend. For a trip of a lifetime, I would max both of those parameters out. You may never get another chance.
My last piece of advice: Spend A LOT of time getting to know your new camera. As you know it is quite complex as well as capable--I love mine, but there is a lot to learn, and you don't want to do that while trying to get that perfect shot.
Mar 28, 2017 13:16:39 #
photogrow wrote:
Hello everybody! br br I'm so excited to be tell... (show quote)
If you were only going to take one lens you already have the best one. I was there last year with a Panasonic GX7 and a GX8. I took the Panasonic 100-400, Panasonic 14-140, and Olympus 7-14. For half a day I traded my 100-400 with the Photo Guide for his Olympus 300mm f4. We both found that the Panasonic 100-400 was much more versatile for a situation where the subjects could vary in distance so much, although the IQ of the Olympus 300 f4 is somewhat better. For the most part I carried the GX8 with the 100-400 and the GX7 with the 14-140. Most of my shots on the islands were with the 100-400 but very few at full extension. I have now switched to Olympus OM-D E-M1 MkII and a E-M1 original. If I were to go to the Galapagos this year instead of South Africa I would get another MkII body and take my Oly 40-150 and My Panasonic 100-400 mounted. I would also take my 14-140 for Quito etc (although, If I felt rich I might get the new Oly 12-100). If your budget is generous I would suggest you get the Oly 12-100 and the Panasonic 100-400 as well as another MkII body.
Olympus 300mm f4
(Download)
Olympus 300mm f4
(Download)
Panasonic 100-400 @ 260mm
(Download)
Panasonic 100-400 @ 400mm
(Download)
Panasonic 100-400 @ 161mm
(Download)
Panasonic 100-400 @ 400mm
(Download)
Panasonic 100-400 @ 224mm
(Download)
Panasonic 100-400 @ 350mm
(Download)
Panasonic 14-140 @ 55mm
(Download)
Panasonic 14-140 @ 140mm
(Download)
Mar 28, 2017 13:22:25 #
As someone else mentioned--Clint I think-- Have spare batteries, and make sure your charger is compatible with the local electricity outlets.
Mar 28, 2017 13:30:32 #
Bring a wide angle and a telephoto. You can get by with a 300mm lens. I brought 2 camera bodies, a 16-35, 24-70, 70-200, and a 300mm prime. I think I could have left the 70-200 home and maybe even the 16-35. But I'm glad I brought two camera bodies because I dropped one of them and it broke. Luckily it was still usable but if it was the only camera and it fell in the ocean, I'd be done. Also, I brought a GoPro for snorkeling. Rent or bring a wet suit, fins and snorkel. Also, rent a weight belt so that you can dive down. With a wet suit on, you are very buoyant and it's very difficult to go down and stay down. I brought a small laptop computer to download all my images every day. On the last night of our trip they asked anyone that wanted to pick out some of their images to show everyone in a slide show.
What outfit are you going with? We went with Galapagos Travel aboard the Tip Top IV. We had 15 passengers, but one went home early because she injured herself and had to be evacuated.
What outfit are you going with? We went with Galapagos Travel aboard the Tip Top IV. We had 15 passengers, but one went home early because she injured herself and had to be evacuated.
photogrow wrote:
Hello everybody! br br I'm so excited to be tell... (show quote)
Mar 28, 2017 13:31:16 #
Also, take enough memory cards, since there are NUMEROUS photo ops; take extra batteries and take charger and plugs that will work on the boat you will be on. I felt that a moderate zoom and tele( 24-85 VR and 70-300 VR- Nikon) were all that I needed. The 500 mm lens is grat but too heavy and big to handle, since once you get off the rubber raft at the beach you will be walking a lot.
Mar 28, 2017 13:31:25 #
Cdouthitt wrote:
That may be the case, but those of us that have been shooting m4/3 can still provide some valuable information on what we would shoot or recommend. It's then up to the OP, not you, to decide what to do. I'm assuming, but it sounds like they're fairly new to the m4/3 family, and the lens lineup can be a bit confusing, especially if coming from Canikon.
For sure , I'm with you 100 % I'll be adding my suggestions later ,
Mar 28, 2017 13:54:11 #
lightyear wrote:
Also, take enough memory cards, since there are NUMEROUS photo ops; take extra batteries and take charger and plugs that will work on the boat you will be on. I felt that a moderate zoom and tele( 24-85 VR and 70-300 VR- Nikon) were all that I needed. The 500 mm lens is grat but too heavy and big to handle, since once you get off the rubber raft at the beach you will be walking a lot.
Realize she is using micro 4/3 gear, so the equivalent of say a 600mm f/4 lens is about the size and weight of a Nikon 70-200 f2.8. Also, the Panny/Leica 100-400 is much smaller than that, equivalent FOV to 200-800.
Mar 28, 2017 14:05:58 #
photogrow wrote:
Just six months, I guess.
:-)
:-)
Well you better get cracking , unless you know it like the back of your hand , you will miss some shots , or they could have been better on a different setting , I was still finding things that I never come across in six years later, and that was on a nikon , and I know that the OLM
Is a much more difficult camera to master , I don't know you may be a master at it now , I'm just saying that if your not quick at finding the key , Points of that camera you may miss some shots , I'll send more later got to run
Mar 28, 2017 14:15:52 #
Go spend $500 and get the Nikon P900 (24-2000mm optical zoom with image stabilization). Leave everything else home and enjoy your trip.
I know I keep pushing this camera but, it's because I own it, have used it, and have confidence in it.
The ONLY thing it can't do is shoot RAW but image size is significant and if you want to get reviews, go to dp review and look it up. Link provided below.
https://www.dpreview.com/search/?query=P900&product=nikon_cpp900
Or...https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2015-roundup-long-zoom-compacts/3
I know I keep pushing this camera but, it's because I own it, have used it, and have confidence in it.
The ONLY thing it can't do is shoot RAW but image size is significant and if you want to get reviews, go to dp review and look it up. Link provided below.
https://www.dpreview.com/search/?query=P900&product=nikon_cpp900
Or...https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2015-roundup-long-zoom-compacts/3
Mar 28, 2017 14:15:53 #
Personally, I'd set the custom buttons for the following setup:
1. Normal shooting: SAF Aperture Priority, Single shot
2. Birds/Action: C-AF BBF Shutter Priority, Electronic Shutter, Low burst 11 or so.
3. Landscape: High Res Mode.
For everything else, I'd shoot in manual mode.
But that's me. Chances are, I wouldn't use Pro Capture on a trip like this.
1. Normal shooting: SAF Aperture Priority, Single shot
2. Birds/Action: C-AF BBF Shutter Priority, Electronic Shutter, Low burst 11 or so.
3. Landscape: High Res Mode.
For everything else, I'd shoot in manual mode.
But that's me. Chances are, I wouldn't use Pro Capture on a trip like this.
Mar 28, 2017 14:16:43 #
GAlanFInk wrote:
Go spend $500 and get the Nikon P900 (24-2000mm optical zoom with image stabilization). Leave everything else home and enjoy your trip.
One doesn't buy an EM1ii and leave it at home...just sayin'.
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