Norway fjords: wide or long?

[Roman Fishtein]

Hi guys,

This summer (June) we are going for 12 days Norway fjords cruise. I've never been to fjords and would appreciate any piece of advise on the lenses.

I have D90. Currently 70-300 is my longest lens. Normal zoom is Nikon 17-55. A couple of primes (35 and 85, both 1.8). I also have a very good copy of Sigma 50-150 2.8 (the old one without OS).

Will I miss UWA to capture fjords? I might be able to get a deal on a used Nikon 10-24.

Will 300 max FL be a significant limiting factor? I do not think I will spring for 40-800... but may be upgrade to 7100 with its additional 1.3 crop mode (and have massive resolution upgrade).

Appreciate your advise and, of course, images if you care to share.

TNX,



(Posted also in D90 forum)

 

[Just a Photographer]

Definately wide.

Norway is a beautiful country with spectacular sights. It would be a shame if you couldn't take wide angle shots. There is much more said for a wide angle lens in Norway then you will have with a long lens.

 

[Landsandgrooves]

If you can grab that 10-24, you'll be glad you did.

 

[Jan3x5]

You definitely need UWA lens. 17-55 will be useful as well, super telephoto not that much - you should be fine with 50-150.

 

[afterburn]

Roman Fishtein wrote:

Hi guys,

This summer (June) we are going for 12 days Norway fjords cruise. I've never been to fjords and would appreciate any piece of advise on the lenses.

I have D90. Currently 70-300 is my longest lens. Normal zoom is Nikon 17-55. A couple of primes (35 and 85, both 1.8). I also have a very good copy of Sigma 50-150 2.8 (the old one without OS).

Will I miss UWA to capture fjords? I might be able to get a deal on a used Nikon 10-24.

Will 300 max FL be a significant limiting factor? I do not think I will spring for 40-800... but may be upgrade to 7100 with its additional 1.3 crop mode (and have massive resolution upgrade).

Appreciate your advise and, of course, images if you care to share.

TNX,

(Posted also in D90 forum)

 

[Bob GB]

Roman Fishtein wrote:

This summer (June) we are going for 12 days Norway fjords cruise. I've never been to fjords and would appreciate any piece of advise on the lenses.

Where are going, from where to where? What shipping company are you going with?

I have D90. Currently 70-300 is my longest lens. Normal zoom is Nikon 17-55. A couple of primes (35 and 85, both 1.8). I also have a very good copy of Sigma 50-150 2.8.

The 17-55 is perfect for much of what you will encounter. In certain areas a wider lens would be an asset. You may see narrow sounds with steep mountains on both sides. If you want to take pictures inside the cabin and in similar situations an UWA can be handy.

Will I miss UWA to capture fjords? I might be able to get a deal on a used Nikon 10-24.

If you buy a 10-24, remember practicing with it before the journey.

Will 300 max FL be a significant limiting factor? I do not think I will spring for 40-800... but may be upgrade to 7100 with its additional 1.3 crop mode (and have massive resolution upgrade).

300 mm is OK, IMHO.

 

[Michael Benveniste]

Roman Fishtein wrote:

Will I miss UWA to capture fjords? I might be able to get a deal on a used Nikon 10-24.

On a conventional "Large Ship" cruise, you may find an UWA to be very useful for shore excursions, and occasionally for photographing things on the ship itself. All too often, though, ultra-wide shots while underway result in a lot of ocean, a lot of sky, a small strip of scenery, and a dull shot.

Will 300 max FL be a significant limiting factor? I do not think I will spring for 40-800... but may be upgrade to 7100 with its additional 1.3 crop mode (and have massive resolution upgrade).

It depends on how interested you are in wildlife shots. Even on a 100-ton small ship "un-cruise" in Alaska, I could have used an 800mm lens at one point. If you happen to be a birder and your finances and weight allowances permit, consider renting an xx-400mm or xx-500mm lens.

Appreciate your advise and, of course, images if you care to share.

Here's one I have handy, which was taken at 50mm with a D800:



--
I miss the days when I used to be nostalgic.

 

[mobi1]

I traveled Norway in the past but at that time I didn't have DSLR.

But still, when I looked at my pictures, most of them were shot using wide angle mode (using digital compact camera).

 

[LarsDalsbo]

As our fjords are mountains crashing steeply down in to the sea, you would greatly appreciate a wide lens to capture it all. It also depends a lot where in Norway you are going? Some of the fjords at the south-west have some incredible houses/farms high up in the mountain side, which would make a pretty good tele lens the hero of the day.

But if I was to bring only one lens, I would take a wide angle lens any day.

 

[Grevture]

Roman Fishtein wrote:

Hi guys,

This summer (June) we are going for 12 days Norway fjords cruise. I've never been to fjords and would appreciate any piece of advise on the lenses.

I have D90. Currently 70-300 is my longest lens. Normal zoom is Nikon 17-55. A couple of primes (35 and 85, both 1.8). I also have a very good copy of Sigma 50-150 2.8 (the old one without OS).

Will I miss UWA to capture fjords? I might be able to get a deal on a used Nikon 10-24.

Will 300 max FL be a significant limiting factor? I do not think I will spring for 40-800... but may be upgrade to 7100 with its additional 1.3 crop mode (and have massive resolution upgrade).

Appreciate your advise and, of course, images if you care to share.

TNX,

(Posted also in D90 forum)

--
RF

Reading your subject line, my most immediate answer would be: A typical Norwegian fjord is definitely long rather then wide

As for lenses, I would chime in with the rest: A UWA lens of some sort will be fun, not only for the views, but also for more general shots while on the cruise. And a 300 mm will be used too - as someone mentioned, you will see lots of "small things within the big scenery" where a telephoto zoom can be very useful.

Lenses aside I would make sure to bring wind and water resistant clothing ... The landscape you will encounter in Norway is going to be spectacularly beautiful, while the weather, at times, might not be ... Seriously, you will travel in coastal climate and you can and will see all sorts of weather within a single hour. And the weather changes themselves will at times provide you with good photo oppurtunities, so make sure your dressed to deal with it.

Some images from Lofoten, up north on the Norwegian coast:

300mm, f4, 1/800

95 mm, f7,1, 1/160

50 mm, f4, 1/500

300 mm, f5, 1/250

29 mm, f5,5, 1/250

46 mm, f5.6, 1/1000

50 mm, f4, 1/640

10,5 mm, f5.6, 1/1500

--

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every moment of it!
By the way, film is not dead.
It just smell funny

 

[Michael Benveniste]

Slight correction. The shot was taken at 75mm (equiv of 50mm on DX).

 

[Roman Fishtein]

Bob GB wrote:

Where are going, from where to where? What shipping company are you going with?

Celebrity Constellation is the ship, round trip from Amsterdam. Cruise Schedule: Amsterdam, Holland Bergen, Norway Olden, Norway Molde, Norway Geiranger, Norway Alesund, Norway Skjolden, Norway Flam, Norway Oslo, Norway

The 17-55 is perfect for much of what you will encounter. In certain areas a wider lens would be an asset. You may see narrow sounds with steep mountains on both sides. If you want to take pictures inside the cabin and in similar situations an UWA can be handy.

If you buy a 10-24, remember practicing with it before the journey.

You are absolutely right, UWA is very different, I can tell already from playing a few hours with my brand new (but used) toy (I mean tool).

 

[Roman Fishtein]

Great captures, #3 and #5 in particular!

 

[Roman Fishtein]

Thanks a lot for all your feedback and advise. Based on what you said I purchased Nikon 10-24 in excellent condition and started the exciting process of leaning the new tool. I am pleasantly suprised by its center sharpness (no, it ain't 17-55 but that is expected) and compactness. Naturally, I have no clue how to compose using UWA... It also looks like D90 meters differently with 10-24 - for some reason I get underexposed images compared to 17-55 (both at @24mm). Is that expected?

So I am going to take10-24, 17-55 and 70-300. If I decide to take advantage of the current rebates and get 24-120 it might replace 17-55 to minimize the lens changes... But I will sure miss 17-55 and it is weather sealed which might make a big difference in Norway.

TNX,

 

[Dodi73]

Ciao Roman

first of all I've never been in Norway, so I'm commenting what others said.

Actually I saw lots of people suggesting you a wide angle but most shots were at telephoto range from 50mm to 95 to even more. Only a couple were rightfully shorter, anyway from the boat you'll need a long lens for sure. Besides (and to be honest) rather than filling everything with sea or sky, I prefer a nice frame of a red-roofed house or a colorful boat...

 

[BigJohnL]

I have taken this cruise (18 days R/T from Dover, turning back at Murmansk). What you need depends on your ports of call. My shots range from 18mm to 200 mm (D700), with over 95% in the range from 28mm to 135mm (ashore) and 35mm to 105mm (at sea). Lens speed won't be much of an issue ... it will be daylight for most of the day, and bright from about 3AM until 11PM. Your best photographic opportunities will be Flaam, Geiranger and Bergen, although there will not be any poor locations. Weather can be iffy, though; expect some rain, and there will still be some snow in the mountains. Enjoy the cruise!

 

[EL-Corazon]

welcome to Norway

 

[Bob GB]

Roman Fishtein wrote:

It also looks like D90 meters differently with 10-24 - for some reason I get underexposed images compared to 17-55 (both at @24mm). Is that expected?

No, it is not to be expected. May be the stop need to be calibrated. Let a Nikon work shop have a look.

So I am going to take10-24, 17-55 and 70-300. If I decide to take advantage of the current rebates and get 24-120 it might replace 17-55 to minimize the lens changes... But I will sure miss 17-55 and it is weather sealed which might make a big difference in Norway.

Weather sealing is not a big issue I think.

 

[Leonard Migliore]

Roman Fishtein wrote:

Thanks a lot for all your feedback and advise. Based on what you said I purchased Nikon 10-24 in excellent condition and started the exciting process of leaning the new tool. I am pleasantly suprised by its center sharpness (no, it ain't 17-55 but that is expected) and compactness. Naturally, I have no clue how to compose using UWA... It also looks like D90 meters differently with 10-24 - for some reason I get underexposed images compared to 17-55 (both at @24mm). Is that expected?

I don't see any exposure issues with the 10-24 on my D300. Are you using matrix metering?

With respect to composition, a 10-24 takes some getting used to. Most of the time, 10mm is too wide. Be glad the lens zooms to 24. I have found very few subjects deserve 10mm and I end up cropping most of my 10mm shots. But if you really need the coverage, it's there and the lens is good.

 

[fireplace33]

This is one at 10mm with a D90 from Norway,...

There is a lot of wide open space in Norway! ENJOY.
Great to have an UWA lens avaialable.

When composing a shot with a UWA , try and position something in the foreground, often helps.