Iceland camera & lens questions

Later this summer I will be spending some time in Iceland visiting friends. I am the only photographer among my friends. We will spend some time traveling the country, but I don't anticipate going off on my own for an extended time to do landscape/street/wildlife photography (a bit of a shame but that is what it is)

My issue is what camera + lenses I should bring. My current thinking is that I can travel light with the Z50II and a minimalist/low key/fun kit - 16-50/25/56 and maybe the 85S - OR the Z8 with a heavier lens set - 14-30/24-120/85S to have more options with me in case an opportunity arises.

My first question is which would you bring - the Z50II or the Z8 (plus lenses, and feel free to change the lens combinations if you think that makes more sense)

My second question is whether I should try and rent/purchase the Tamron 70-300mm to bring with my Z8 kit (if I go that route). I am planning to leave the 180-600mm at home, but am wondering whether I should bring something longer than 120mm if I bring the serious kit.

If you want to think with me about the equipment based on this travel destination I will appreciate your input.

I am also planning to bring a small tripod and some filters (polarizer & ND). Are there any other things you would bring?

Thanks

I've never been to Iceland but I'm going in a few weeks. I'm bringing:

Z8

14--30

24-120

100-400

That's obviously the biggest and heaviest option, but I don't ming lugging it around for a couple of hours at a time.

Born2Code said:

I've never been to Iceland but I'm going in a few weeks. I'm bringing:

Z8

14--30

24-120

100-400

That's obviously the biggest and heaviest option, but I don't ming lugging it around for a couple of hours at a time.

Click to expand...

Thank you! Can I ask what you think you may use the 100-400mm for? Landscape or wildlife?

I go through this every time I go on a vacation. I either take a z7/z7ii or a zfc. The next question is mode of travel.

The only definitive ends of the spectrum are a fun trip with some happy snaps of friends and family, or a scenic area where I actually think photography will be part of my reason for going.

Also air travel these days - if it's even close to the fun kit end of the spectrum, then it's the zfc, SB-300 or SB-400, 18-140 or 50-250 zoom, 12-28 zoom, one or more of Nikon 24 1.7, Viltrox Air 35 or 50 1.7. If there's still room I'll toss in the 16-50 because it's tiny. All that fits in my Manfrotto Large shoulder bag which fits easily into carryon luggage. At the airport I normally just put the whole bag in a bin and don't have to dump it out.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1657626-REG/manfrotto_mb_ma3_sb_l_advanced_iii_6l_camera.html

At the other end of the spectrum is a driving trip with a scenic location, maybe wildlife. It'll be probably the z7 or z7ii, 400 or 100-400 lens, 70-180 (70-200 if there's action), 17-28 or 14-30, 24-70 maybe, 35 or 50 1.8 prime, and a 1.4 TC. I'll toss in a heavy manfrotto tripod or a super light oben monopod. SB-400 or SB-700 flash. All the camera gear will fit in a rolling pelican case with dividers, and the monopod will actually fit in the case as well.

From there it's all down to the spectrum, and my usual is the small kit. With the small kit 1 time in 10 I'm presented with a shot that I made just fine with the 20mp camera, but I do wish I'd had it in 45mp. With the big kit 9 times out of 10 I'm either too busy to use it or the photo ops are not what I expected.

I know I'm not much help, but we all go through this. Iceland for me would probably be a one time trip, and a big part of the draw would be the landscape I think, so I'd probably bring the big kit.

Berend Botje said:

Later this summer I will be spending some time in Iceland visiting friends. I am the only photographer among my friends. We will spend some time traveling the country, but I don't anticipate going off on my own for an extended time to do landscape/street/wildlife photography (a bit of a shame but that is what it is)

My issue is what camera + lenses I should bring. My current thinking is that I can travel light with the Z50II and a minimalist/low key/fun kit - 16-50/25/56 and maybe the 85S - OR the Z8 with a heavier lens set - 14-30/24-120/85S to have more options with me in case an opportunity arises.

My first question is which would you bring - the Z50II or the Z8 (plus lenses, and feel free to change the lens combinations if you think that makes more sense)

My second question is whether I should try and rent/purchase the Tamron 70-300mm to bring with my Z8 kit (if I go that route). I am planning to leave the 180-600mm at home, but am wondering whether I should bring something longer than 120mm if I bring the serious kit.

If you want to think with me about the equipment based on this travel destination I will appreciate your input.

I am also planning to bring a small tripod and some filters (polarizer & ND). Are there any other things you would bring?

Thanks

Click to expand...

Considering your intention not to go walkabout for extended periods of time dedicated to photography, my advice would be to leave the Z8 at home, and take the Z50II, the 16-50, and perhaps the 24-120. Unless you feel a certain need to shoot with primes, I'd leave them at home as well.

My (vast) experience with casual travel photography has taught me that I use my Z50 with a kit lens 90% of the time (in my case an AF-S 16-80mm f/2.8-4 on an FTZ, which gives me more coverage and more light than the 16-50, although the 16-50 is just a tad sharper when you pixel peep), and the rest of the time an AF-P 70-300mm E. If I'm dumb enough to bring any more lenses, invariably it turns out they contributed nothing more to the trip than excess weight in my bag.

In short: keep it simple. You will not need a bag full of glass. With the 16-50 and the 24-120 you're pretty much covered for any situation you run into. Of course you could leave the 24-120 at home as well and go for that 70-300 rent option, which to me sounds interesting enough. In situations like this, I would prefer that extended 300mm reach over the f/4 aperture of the 24-120.

Needless to say when I do intend to go on that trip to produce them sleek NatGeo-worthy photos, my kit would look entirely different...

Berend Botje said:

Born2Code said:

I've never been to Iceland but I'm going in a few weeks. I'm bringing:

Z8

14--30

24-120

100-400

That's obviously the biggest and heaviest option, but I don't ming lugging it around for a couple of hours at a time.

Click to expand...

Thank you! Can I ask what you think you may use the 100-400mm for? Landscape or wildlife?

Click to expand...

Both, probably. We'll be visiting a colony of puffins, so I'll need the length. As far as landscapes go, I like long lenses for those times when I want to focus in on just what it is that I interests me and sometimes the compressed perspective gives me a look that I like. But that's just my taste -- a lot of people travel with no long lenses at all.

Berend Botje said:

Later this summer I will be spending some time in Iceland visiting friends. I am the only photographer among my friends. We will spend some time traveling the country, but I don't anticipate going off on my own for an extended time to do landscape/street/wildlife photography (a bit of a shame but that is what it is)

My issue is what camera + lenses I should bring. My current thinking is that I can travel light with the Z50II and a minimalist/low key/fun kit - 16-50/25/56 and maybe the 85S - OR the Z8 with a heavier lens set - 14-30/24-120/85S to have more options with me in case an opportunity arises.

Click to expand...

I would bring the better kit. Good photos can be had there in popular spots you might be visiting anyway. And being able to go really wide is useful in Iceland as well.

Berend Botje said:

My second question is whether I should try and rent/purchase the Tamron 70-300mm to bring with my Z8 kit (if I go that route). I am planning to leave the 180-600mm at home, but am wondering whether I should bring something longer than 120mm if I bring the serious kit.

Click to expand...

Having up to 200 mm at least would probably useful. I took a few shots at up to 300 mm when I visited, but there was a fair bit between 70 and 200, including some favourites. 100-400 would probably be useful too.

Berend Botje said:

I am also planning to bring a small tripod and some filters (polarizer & ND). Are there any other things you would bring?

Click to expand...

An ND filter to smoothen out running water when shooting all those waterfalls will be useful, yes.

Born2Code said:

Berend Botje said:

Born2Code said:

I've never been to Iceland but I'm going in a few weeks. I'm bringing:

Z8

14--30

24-120

100-400

That's obviously the biggest and heaviest option, but I don't ming lugging it around for a couple of hours at a time.

Click to expand...

Thank you! Can I ask what you think you may use the 100-400mm for? Landscape or wildlife?

Click to expand...

Both, probably. We'll be visiting a colony of puffins, so I'll need the length. As far as landscapes go, I like long lenses for those times when I want to focus in on just what it is that I interests me and sometimes the compressed perspective gives me a look that I like. But that's just my taste -- a lot of people travel with no long lenses at all.

Click to expand...

Thank you. I am considering the Tamron 70-300mm for landscape. I doubt we will get to puffins, or whales for that matter, otherwise I would bring the 180-600mm But for landscape it feels like overkill.

BasilG said:

Berend Botje said:

Later this summer I will be spending some time in Iceland visiting friends. I am the only photographer among my friends. We will spend some time traveling the country, but I don't anticipate going off on my own for an extended time to do landscape/street/wildlife photography (a bit of a shame but that is what it is)

My issue is what camera + lenses I should bring. My current thinking is that I can travel light with the Z50II and a minimalist/low key/fun kit - 16-50/25/56 and maybe the 85S - OR the Z8 with a heavier lens set - 14-30/24-120/85S to have more options with me in case an opportunity arises.

Click to expand...

I would bring the better kit. Good photos can be had there in popular spots you might be visiting anyway. And being able to go really wide is useful in Iceland as well.

Click to expand...

Thank you. I agree. One of the reasons I am considering the Z8 is that I can go to 14mm. In the case of the Z50II I can only get to 21mm equivalent by bringing the 14-30mm.

BasilG said:

BasilG said:

My second question is whether I should try and rent/purchase the Tamron 70-300mm to bring with my Z8 kit (if I go that route). I am planning to leave the 180-600mm at home, but am wondering whether I should bring something longer than 120mm if I bring the serious kit.

Click to expand...

Having up to 200 mm at least would probably useful. I took a few shots at up to 300 mm when I visited, but there was a fair bit between 70 and 200, including some favourites. 100-400 would probably be useful too.

Click to expand...

Thanks - I could rent the 100-400 perhaps, but for that money could almost purchase the much lighter 70-300

BasilG said:

BasilG said:

I am also planning to bring a small tripod and some filters (polarizer & ND). Are there any other things you would bring?

Click to expand...

An ND filter to smoothen out running water when shooting all those waterfalls will be useful, yes.

Click to expand...

Thanks, indeed.

DVF Photography said:

Berend Botje said:

Later this summer I will be spending some time in Iceland visiting friends. I am the only photographer among my friends. We will spend some time traveling the country, but I don't anticipate going off on my own for an extended time to do landscape/street/wildlife photography (a bit of a shame but that is what it is)

My issue is what camera + lenses I should bring. My current thinking is that I can travel light with the Z50II and a minimalist/low key/fun kit - 16-50/25/56 and maybe the 85S - OR the Z8 with a heavier lens set - 14-30/24-120/85S to have more options with me in case an opportunity arises.

My first question is which would you bring - the Z50II or the Z8 (plus lenses, and feel free to change the lens combinations if you think that makes more sense)

My second question is whether I should try and rent/purchase the Tamron 70-300mm to bring with my Z8 kit (if I go that route). I am planning to leave the 180-600mm at home, but am wondering whether I should bring something longer than 120mm if I bring the serious kit.

If you want to think with me about the equipment based on this travel destination I will appreciate your input.

I am also planning to bring a small tripod and some filters (polarizer & ND). Are there any other things you would bring?

Thanks

Click to expand...

Considering your intention not to go walkabout for extended periods of time dedicated to photography, my advice would be to leave the Z8 at home, and take the Z50II, the 16-50, and perhaps the 24-120. Unless you feel a certain need to shoot with primes, I'd leave them at home as well.

My (vast) experience with casual travel photography has taught me that I use my Z50 with a kit lens 90% of the time (in my case an AF-S 16-80mm f/2.8-4 on an FTZ, which gives me more coverage and more light than the 16-50, although the 16-50 is just a tad sharper when you pixel peep), and the rest of the time an AF-P 70-300mm E. If I'm dumb enough to bring any more lenses, invariably it turns out they contributed nothing more to the trip than excess weight in my bag.

In short: keep it simple. You will not need a bag full of glass. With the 16-50 and the 24-120 you're pretty much covered for any situation you run into. Of course you could leave the 24-120 at home as well and go for that 70-300 rent option, which to me sounds interesting enough. In situations like this, I would prefer that extended 300mm reach over the f/4 aperture of the 24-120.

Needless to say when I do intend to go on that trip to produce them sleek NatGeo-worthy photos, my kit would look entirely different...

Click to expand...

Thank you. The Z50II & some lenses fit in a sling bag that I can have always with me. That is a large part of the attraction of the small kit.

Carrying around semi-professional gear might get in the way of enjoying time together - until that NatGeo situation appears and obsession takes over

I do most of my photography during travel. As such, I want a capable system that has as wide a focal range as possible and still be light enough to carry.

I should note that for years and year I carried too much in a large shoulder bag. That experience led me to find a way to cut the weight to a maximum that I could carry all day, and the bag I carry it in makes a big difference.

Long story short, I use a large waist bag that holds a gripped camera along with a wide, normal and long zoom. I originally did this in 2013 with a D300, 12-24, 24-70f2.8 and 80-400. This worked out so well that I just kept updating cameras and lenses within the same bag, always with the 3-zoom setup.

I had tried a superzoom plus long lens (18-200 and 70-300), but I did not like the IQ of the 18-200, even on a 10mp D200. I decided to build around the 24-70f2.8 as the 70-120mm range of a 70-120 didn't really get me much. (I tried it once on a motorcycle trip, but switched back to the 24-70 next trip.)

I currently carry around a Z9, and I value that big battery somewhat. Besides, when I bought it the Z8 wasn't out yet, though I would have just added a grip to it anyway.

Zooms: 14-30, 24-70 and 100-400. The 100-400 barely fits my waist bag, certainly not like the 80-400's did, but it gets in there.

I could eliminate the 14-30 if I wanted as 24mm is generally as wide as I like to go, but when traveling, you need to prepare for unknowns, perhaps the inside of cathedrals.

One lens kit: 28-400

Two lens kit: 24-xx, Tamron 70-300? Perhaps a 24-120 and something longer. (70-180f2.8?) Hard to say what longer here as it depends a lot on whether you shoot wildlife or not on a trip.

Three lens kit: wide, normal, long zoom of your choice for weight and budget.

With my kit I cover 14mm to 400mm, and I bring a 1.4tc for the 100-400 as well, just in case. It's nice that I can simply grab that waist bag and be mostly ready for anything.

Lately I'm into big primes, and wow, do you get a lot less focal range for the bag when trying to carry 2-3 F1.2 lenses and/or a Plena. I now have a backpack for the primes, which works for car trips.

Berend Botje said:

Thank you. I am considering the Tamron 70-300mm for landscape. I doubt we will get to puffins, or whales for that matter, otherwise I would bring the 180-600mm But for landscape it feels like overkill.

Click to expand...

Well, what if you come onto a great wildlife scene, or want to image that erupting volcano from miles away?

Huge difference between those lens sizes! I can see not bringing the 180-600 unless wildlife is involved.

But here are some examples of what you can do with a long lens (80-400 in these examples) for non-landscape, non-wildlife subjects. Basically, it's either subject isolation, or distant subjects.

From Milan, Italy.


16-35 - I want to see those statues up there.




OOh - a zombie pope






Pope Dumbledore?






Friends learning to paddle in Hawaii.




Raining, and on a motorcycle. Stopped for a moose, pulled out the 80-400 and got a shot as the rain picked up again.



--
Phoenix Arizona Craig
www.cjcphoto.net
"I miss the days when I was nostalgic."

I know it's a favourite for visiting photographers and an open secret. I would recommend bringing the 35mm 1.8 for the Icelandic Phallological Museum and don't forget visiting the museum store afterward for memories and gifts.

Berend Botje said:

Later this summer I will be spending some time in Iceland visiting friends. I am the only photographer among my friends. We will spend some time traveling the country, but I don't anticipate going off on my own for an extended time to do landscape/street/wildlife photography (a bit of a shame but that is what it is)

My issue is what camera + lenses I should bring. My current thinking is that I can travel light with the Z50II and a minimalist/low key/fun kit - 16-50/25/56 and maybe the 85S - OR the Z8 with a heavier lens set - 14-30/24-120/85S to have more options with me in case an opportunity arises.

My first question is which would you bring - the Z50II or the Z8 (plus lenses, and feel free to change the lens combinations if you think that makes more sense)

My second question is whether I should try and rent/purchase the Tamron 70-300mm to bring with my Z8 kit (if I go that route). I am planning to leave the 180-600mm at home, but am wondering whether I should bring something longer than 120mm if I bring the serious kit.

If you want to think with me about the equipment based on this travel destination I will appreciate your input.

I am also planning to bring a small tripod and some filters (polarizer & ND). Are there any other things you would bring?

Thanks

Click to expand...

I've been to Iceland twice and hope to go a third some time soon. My first reaction was Z8, 14-30, 24-120 - done. It's Iceland. The views and sights are stunning.

My first trip to Iceland was with an Olympus E-M1 II with a 12-100 (24-200 EQV). It was light, compact with more than good enough IQ. I mention that because the E-M1 is virtually the same resolution and dynamic range of the Z50II. I've looked at and printed many of those images and have no regrets about the kit. If I ended up in Iceland with my Z50II I'd be fine with it.

My second trip was with the Z6, Z7, 24-70 f2.8, Voigtlander 40 f1.2, Nikon 24-200, and Nikon 70-300. The 70-300 was too short for catching puffins and the 24-200 good enough to taking some shots of sheep, some of the beautiful Icelandic horses, and compressing some of the landscape images. The 70-300 was superfluous.

If I was going now, I'd take the Z7 (Z8 certainly if I had one), the 14-30, 24-120, and perhaps a high quality faster prime (Voigtlander 35 APO f2), Nikon 20 Z, etc. As good an optic as it is, I'd skip the 85. A lightweight alternative might be the 50-250 DX which would give you some reach with near 20mpx resolution on the Z8. And again, if it were me, I'd sneak the Z50II with the 16-50 in the bottom of my bag as a back-up. Bare bones, the Z8 and 24-120 is probably all you really need if you are just traveling with friends to enjoy the landscape and not trying to make a full photo expedition out of it.

Hell yeah!

i was there 3 years ago, but during winter.



i don’t think Iceland is a place you mind carrying weight. You do a lot of driving and most places are by the highway. There is no point to be discrete either. It’s landscape and wildlife.

in summer, you can see puffins too, so a telephoto is worth it.

I always think “go small”, then I always take:

• Z8
• 14-30 S
• 24-120 S
• 180-600
• TC14
• Peak backpacker tripod
• Filters for each lens

I always end up using everything at some point on the trip.

So, you find an amazing scene to photograph. How much time will you have before your friends want to move on down the trail or street? Seconds? or minutes? or "we'll regroup at X location in about an hour"?

When hiking locally with a small group of friends, I have just seconds to shoot and then hurry up down the trail to catch them. I don't like to ask them to wait while I compose. It's not easy to get good shots that way. When solo, I spend many minutes in a good location.

Maybe they will stop anyway to take in the amazing scene, and you'll have time to compose some decent photos.

I’ve been to Iceland 12 years ago and my 18-200 (dx) and 50mm were completely fine. I’m supposed to go again next year and it’ll be the 14-30, 28-400 and a couple of fast primes. That will be sufficient imo

jthomas39 said:

So, you find an amazing scene to photograph. How much time will you have before your friends want to move on down the trail or street? Seconds? or minutes? or "we'll regroup at X location in about an hour"?

Click to expand...

Not the OP, but my strategy: "I'll catch up." I'm always a faster walker than those I travel with. They've come to expect it.

jthomas39 said:

When hiking locally with a small group of friends, I have just seconds to shoot and then hurry up down the trail to catch them. I don't like to ask them to wait while I compose. It's not easy to get good shots that way. When solo, I spend many minutes in a good location.

Click to expand...

Me too. See above.

jthomas39 said:

Maybe they will stop anyway to take in the amazing scene, and you'll have time to compose some decent photos.

Click to expand...

jthomas39 said:

So, you find an amazing scene to photograph. How much time will you have before your friends want to move on down the trail or street? Seconds? or minutes? or "we'll regroup at X location in about an hour"?

When hiking locally with a small group of friends, I have just seconds to shoot and then hurry up down the trail to catch them. I don't like to ask them to wait while I compose. It's not easy to get good shots that way. When solo, I spend many minutes in a good location.

Maybe they will stop anyway to take in the amazing scene, and you'll have time to compose some decent photos.

Click to expand...

Same travelling with family but x2