Please, please do much research on Svalbard. Lodging, if available, will be expensive. You will be OK exploring on land if with an armed guide. Else polar bears make it very dangerous to be out there...they are carnivorous & most often hungry. Don't know if you are stateside or not. if you are, Icelandair (or possibly Norwegian Airlines) is the least expensive way of flying US-Europe. The animals are everywhere in Antarctica...people are not allowed to approach within 15 feet of penguins. But penguins can't read & will come right up to you & your camera. I expect animal distances to be much greater in the Arctic, so I hope my crop-sensor 300mm zoom will be enough reach.

IDR: Wife & I will also be going to Svalbard in May, 2018. Booked on the National Geographic Explorer. "Land of the Ice Bears" expedition/tour. Are you on the same trip? Will take my Nikon D7200 & Nikon 18-300, f3.5-5.6 lens. Maybe also Nikon 35mm, f1.8 lens. Went to Antarctica last December & did fine with just the 18-300.

Thanks for your quick response...and re-assurance. The $8.95 per month may be an urban legend. But I have heard it.

Have been using Lightroom for about a year. I have about 15,000 digital images stored in LR. Am ready to move from Version 6.6 (purchased software) to CC (monthly rental) for upgrades & Photoshop. Two Questions:
1. Can I expect any problems with moving my LR catalogue from 6.6 to CC?
2. CC is $9.95 per month just about everywhere. I have heard of it being available for $8.95 per month, but cannot find at that price. Any suggestions?
Thank you.

Said I would report back when I decided what to do, so here I am. Visited B&H while in New York last month. Wow! What a camera store! Looked at, handled, & asked questions about a number of different tripods (legs?). Quickly setted on carbon for my uses, then Feisol & Sirui for quality at my price point. Also looked at a few ball heads. Could not then decide between the two brands/models. Got home, thought about it some more, & ordered the Sirui W-2204 legs & the Sirui K-20X ball head from B & H. Remained within my $600 target for both.

Why the Sirui? 1. After listening to the many, many good responses from Hoggers, carbon won out over aluminum because of the good arguments presented RE corrosion, vibration (there was some controversy), & of course "the best tripod is the one you have with you" (weight). 2. I liked the sturdiness. Top tubes were 29.4mm diameter. A Feisol that I looked at had even larger top tube diameters, but the entire unit would not fit, folded, inside my largest suitcase. 3. The Sirui seemed well-made. 4. I just liked it.

My thanks to the many Hoggers who helped with this.

Wow! Great, almost impossible, photos. It opened easily in Window 7.
USAF Retired

Will do.

Many, many thanks to all who took the time to reply to my question. At this time:
1. I do not have the big bucks, nor can I justify to myself or my wife, the cost of a Really Right Stuff tripod.
2. I am leaning toward carbon fiber.
3. My intent is to visit B&H while I am in New York in July. I will then heed the advice sent to me by a Hogger to handle multiple tripods.
4. I will do my best to select the "best" tripod I can find for my $600 budget (legs & Ball head)

Sounds interesting. Any Hoggers have experience with Fotopro tripods? Anyone know of any independent reviews? I just looked at the "Henry's" website (Canadian retailer) & Fotopro is not listed as a tripod brand thjey carry.

In the $400-$500 price range (Thinking Feisol CT-3441T for carbon fiber & Sirui W-2004 for aluminum as examples), what are the pros/cons of both materials?
1. Weight: I get this.
2. Cost: I get this.
3. Vibrations: Some say carbon fiber does a better job of dampening "bad vibrations". Others say this is not significant.
4. Durability: Is carbon fiber more likely to be functionally damaged during airline & in-the-field travel than aluminum?
5. Anything else that should be considered?
I value the opinions of Ugly Hedgehoggers...other than those who put down questioners for asking questions.

Wife & I also used Galapagos Travel (in Toronto) for our trip. Excellent travel agency for all of South America. I referred my brother to GT & he is using them for his upcoming Galapagos trip. The Galapagos Islands is truly a special place for both photographers & non-photographers to visit.

I went to the Galapagos some years ago & loved it! Most of your photo opportunities will be of the many birds, sea lions, & iguanas...you can get within a few meters of each (but please follow guidelines given by your accompanying naturalist). Unless you want photos of birds in flight, 300MM will be more than long enough. I did fine with a zoom to 200MM. In addition to your main camera, you should consider something that will allow you to shoot underwater (tropical fish, sea lions, turtles, penguins) while snorkeling. Perhaps a waterproof point & shoot?

Land Iguana

(Download)

Yes. 100PAX on ship. Multiple landings (ice & weather permitting) by Zodiac boats. Always with a guide. Tremendous opportunity for photography. Cold, but not THAT cold on the Antarctica Peninsula. Much colder inland towards the South Pole.

Wife & I are also going. November, 2016 on the National Geographic/Lindblad "Orion". Falklands, South Georgia Island, & the Antarctica Peninsula. This trip brought me back into photography...Yay!

JayJay
I like your photo. The mystery of what lies just beyond the curve in the road.